Do Not Fall For The Baseball Captains (Victoria and Elijah) novel Chapter 170

Do Not Fall For The Baseball Captains

You Deserve Better

Leo’s pov

Down the hall, things were far from peaceful. At least, they weren’t for me.

86

55 vouchers

Nate had dragged Jace into my room to play console games on the wall–mounted screen, but I wasn’t even watching the display.

I was sitting on the edge of my bed, staring blankly at the wooden floorboards, my hands clenched into tight fists against my thighs.

Nate paused the game, turning around in his chair to glance over at me.

“Bro, what’s your problem? You’ve been sitting there looking like you’re about to put your fist through the wall for twenty minutes.”

I let out a long, heavy breath, leaning back against the headboard.

“Caleb is an absolute idiot. An ungrateful, clueless asshole. How can a guy be that dense?”

“Damn,” Nate said, leaning back. “What’s he do now?”

Jace didn’t even look up from the board game set up on the small table in front of him, sliding his bishop forward.

“Did he do something to you, or is this about that ex girlfriend showing up?”

“How can someone be that blind?” I hissed.

“First, he had Victoria devoted to him for years and completely took her for granted. Now he has someone like Nova right in front of him, and he still goes running back to the absolute worst choice possible. He really thinks he’s hot shit just because girls keep falling for him. Man’s got a decent face, but his personality is complete garbage.”

Nate scoffed, a quick, lazy smirk pulling at his mouth as he picked up his controller again.

“Hey, don’t hate the player, man. Some guys just don’t have to work that hard for it.”

Jace paused, his hand hovering over his chess piece. He looked up, his sharp eyes settling directly on my face.

“Yeah, Caleb’s making bad choices,” Jace said slowly, leaning back against the dresser with his arms crossed. “But you’re carrying this awfully heavy on your own shoulders, Leo.”

I frowned, looking up at him. “What?”

“Since when do you care this much about Caleb’s love life?”

Nate’s grin widened instantly, a spark of mischief lighting up his face as his eyes darted between Jace and me.

1/4

14:46 Tue, Aug 18

Do Not Fall For The Baseball Captains

86

55 vouchers

“Yeah, Leo… why do you care so much about who Ashfield is screwing or breaking the heart of? Unless, of course, it’s someone you-”

I rolled my eyes, snagging a stray throw pillow off the armchair and launching it full force straight at his head.

“Get rid of whatever stupid thoughts you’ve got running through your head right now.”

Nate caught the pillow with a laugh, tossing it onto the floor while Jace just chuckled and returned to his chessboard.

I didn’t answer them. I just sat down on the empty chair, forcing myself to wait out the clock.

Around late afternoon, as the cabin grew quiet again, I went down to the kitchen and poured a tall glass of fresh apple juice.

Carrying the glass carefully, I made my way back up the stairs and stopped in front of Nova and Adele’s room.

I knocked three times softly against the wood.

No answer.

I turned the knob slowly, pushing the door open a few inches to peek inside. “Nova?”

No response came from the bed. My eyes scanned the room, and my heart instantly plummeted.

Nova was lying crumpled on the wooden floor beside the nightstand, her body curled into a tight, motionless ball.

“Nova!”

Panic surged through me. I set the glass of juice down on the nightstand with a loud clatter and dropped to my knees beside her.

The moment my hands touched her skin, heat radiated off her.

She was burning up with a fever. I lifted her up in a bridal carry, her head resting limp against my chest, and carefully laid her onto the soft mattress.

I pulled the heavy comforter up over her shoulders as her body began to shiver violently against the chill.

Her eyelids fluttered open, her unfocused gaze slowly finding my face.

“Leo…?”

“Hey, I’m right here,” I said quickly, scooting onto the edge of the mattress beside her. “I’m right here.”

Her trembling hand reached out from under the blanket, searching blindly for mine.

I offered my hand immediately, and she gripped my fingers with surprising strength, as if she were drowning and trying to hold on.

2/4

14:46 Tue, Aug 18

Do Not Fall For The Baseball Captains

86

55 vouchers

Looking down at her tear–stained face, I felt a deep pang of pity for her. Then my attention shifted to Caleb, and the pity quickly turned into anger.

I wanted to drag Caleb out into the driveway and tear him apart with my bare hands for doing this to her.

“Leo…” she choked out again, fresh tears tracking silent paths down her temples.

“I’ve got you,” I assured her softly, smoothing her thumb with mine. “I’m not going anywhere.”

Nova looked up at me with raw, pleading eyes.

“Will you… will you stay with me? Can you lay down with me?”

I stared at her, caught off guard.

“Nova… do you know what you’re asking me right now?”

A small, weak laugh escaped her lips, completely devoid of joy.

“It’s nothing bad, Leo. I’m not asking for anything like that. I just… I don’t want to be alone. I just need my friend close to me. I need your warmth.”

“You’re not in the right state of mind right now,” I said gently, trying to keep a rational boundary between us. “You have a high fever, Nova.”

“Please,” she whispered, her voice cracking as she held my hand tighter. “Please don’t leave me alone in this room.”

I held her gaze for a long moment before letting out a quiet defeat. I kicked off my shoes, unbuttoned my heavy flannel shirt, and tossed it onto the chair nearby.

I carefully pulled back the corner of the comforter and slid into the bed beside her, keeping a respectful distance as I pulled the blankets back over us both.

Once I settled in, Nova moved closer and rested her head against my chest.

Her warmth seeped through my shirt, and that strange feeling returned. I’d first noticed it when I started paying attention to her, really paying attention, and I still hadn’t figured out what the hell it meant.

I slipped an arm around her shoulders, letting her settle against me.

We lay there in silence for a long time, watching the golden light of the late afternoon gradually fade outside the window as the sun began its slow set over the mountains.

“It hurts so badly, Leo,” Nova whispered into the quiet room, her breath warm against my neck.

I didn’t answer right away. I kept my chin rested against the top of her head, staring at the ceiling for a long moment before I spoke.

VERIFYCAPTCHA_LABELVerify