Do Not Fall For The Baseball Captains novel Chapter 11

Baby, That’s Not Helping

Victoria’s POV

“I thought you didn’t want to go to the bonfire. What made you change your mind?”

I looked up from the paperwork, startled.

Eva was watching me through the mirror, her head tilted as she fastened a heavy statement earring into her lobe.

15 panus

I didn’t answer immediately. My brain scrambled for a halfway decent excuse while guilt started to simmer in my stomach.

She’d asked me to go with her days ago, and I’d given her a flat, uninspired no.

Now, suddenly, I was getting dressed up. What she didn’t know was that “choice” had very little to do with it.

“Uhm… actually…” I swallowed, smoothing a stray hair behind my ear. “Elijah insisted I come.”

Eva’s hands froze. She spun around to face me, her eyes glowing with a mix of mischief and genuine shock.

“So… you two are really a thing? Oh my god, Tori. I honestly thought it was just a rumor and a couple of blurry photoshopped images.”

Ever since the “pool incident,” Eva had been uncharacteristically quiet about it.

She must have noticed how badly it was eating away at me that whole week, because she never once brought it up or asked questions.

I really appreciated that about her. She respected my space instead of feeding her own curiosity.

Tonight, though, was the first time she’d actually poked at the wound.

“Tell me everything,” she shrieked, leaning against the vanity. “When did he ask? How did it even happen? You literally never leave this room!”

I forced a smile. Oh boy. How was I supposed to answer that?

Elijah and I hadn’t even discussed a solid backstory for this fake relationship.

But that was partly my fault. I still hadn’t fully agreed to any of this, so the conversation had never happened.

‘Uhm, well…”

Thankfully, her phone let out a loud chime, stealing her attention. I let out a breath of relief, looking back down at the

papers.

Elijah was dead serious about this arrangement and his goal to get Lexi.

But why Lexi? I wondered for the thousandth time.

kept looking for what they saw in her, but I always came up empty.

Lexi was beautiful, sure–the kind of girl who looked like she’d never had a bad hair day in her life–but she was cold. Mean,

even.

It was a sick joke that she was the common denominator between the two guys who occupied even thought in my head.

One was the man I’d loved since I was old enough to know what the word meant, and the other was… Elijah.

She really is lucky.

“Keith is here! I have to go!” Eva’s voice broke through my thoughts. She scrambled to shove her feet into her heels, nearly toppling over.

“Why the rush? The bonfire doesn’t even start for another two hours.”

“Yeah, but Keith and I have an… appointment. We need to be there now.” She gave me a cryptic wink that I didn’t care to decipher. “See you later, Tori! You look hot, by the way!”

She grabbed her bag and dashed out, the door clicking shut and leaving me in the sudden, ringing silence of the room.

I stared at the closed door for a moment before looking back down at the contract Elijah had given me.

I had read it so many times the words were starting to feel familiar, but I went over the clauses again anyway.

Twenty–six weeks of pretending to date. Public displays of affection: pretend kisses, hugs, holding hands.

We had to attend events together, go on person Successfully unlocked! other’s families if the situation called for it.

Everything had to stay completely secret. No telling anyone about the agreement. And neither of us was allowed to be with anyone else until the six months were over.

Date Than Nit Helpen

I scoffed softly when I realized there was no clause forbidding actual physical intimacy behind closed doors

the only requirements were for public affection, and even that was supposed to look natural and subtle

Tmade a mental note to bring that up with him tonight. He wasn’t getting a free pass on everything.

When I finished reading. I let out a long sigh and set the papers down.

Did I really want to do this? Was there even a good enough reason?

Caleb had made his choice painfully clear. He was with Lexi now, happy and completely wrapped up in her

But there was still that stubborn, hopeless romantic part of me; the girl who had read too many books and watched too many movies.

That part kept pulling up a specific kind of story: the one where the boy doesn’t notice until he sees someone else noticing Where proximity to loss does what years of presence couldn’t.

I knew it was fiction. I knew the odds. And yet I wasn’t ready to be done, not really, not until Thad something concrete to point to and say: ‘that’s it, it’s over, there is genuinely no road here.‘

Six months wasn’t forever. If nothing shifted by the time it ended, then at least I’d know.

I also wondered–if I actually went through with this–what life would be like with Elijah in my space.

I hated to admit it, but despite his arrogance and the way he delighted in getting under my skin, I kind of enjoyed the energy he brought.

A sharp knock sounded at the door.

My heart jumped straight into my throat. I felt the pulse beating fast under my skin.

Get it together, Tori. It’s just Elijah Carter.

hurried to the mirror to check my dress one last time. It was an orange summer dress Elijah had sent over: sleeveless, hitting mid–thigh, and clinging to my body especially around my chest, showing more cleavage than I was used to.

hadn’t realized just how revealing it was until now.

The knock came again, louder this time.

This is it,” I whispered to my reflection.

shoved the papers into my White faux fur tote bag, blew out a breath, and walked over to the door.

took one more steadying breath before opening it.

What took you so-” Elijah’s voice trailed off.

He stood in the hallway, his eyes traveling slowly from my face down to my hemline and back up again.

The way he looked at me… it felt like he was soaking me in, and the attention sent warmth rushing through my cheeks

Elijah,” I whispered, because I needed to say something.

He was dressed simply in a black t–shirt and dark pants, but he still looked unfairly good.

His familiar oud scent drifted toward me, momentarily filling my olfactory nerves.

He cleared his throat and shifted his gaze to the wall behind me.

‘No makeup?”

instinctively touched my face. I had only applied gloss and curled my lashes.

(*

I… uh, I don’t really know how to do makeup properly, and my roommate didn’t have time to help. Besides, it’s just a bonfire at night. I didn’t think it was necessary.”

My voice came out softer than I intended. A sudden spike of insecurity hit me.

Was I not pretty enough the way I was? Did I need makeup to look striking next to him?

Tears prickled behind my eyes, but I blinked them back quickly.

‘Let’s go.” He turned on his heel and headed toward the stairs.

I took a moment to gather myself, then stepped out, locked the door, and followed him.

When we reached his car, he surprised me by walking around and opening the passenger door for me.

“Wow, a gentleman,” I remarked sarcastically as I slid in. “Did you read a ‘how to be a good boyfriend‘ manual on the way over?”

Elijah rolled his eyes, his mouth twitching.

flats That’s Not Helping

“Don’t get used to it I’m just practising.for our ‘audience.”

He got into the driver’s side, his hands gripping the wheel. He tilted his head to look at me.

“Do you want to have dinner before we get there, or would you rather eat the snacks from the food trucks at the bonfire? The vendors there usually have decent sliders.”

I bit my lip, thinking it over, then decided, “I’ll eat there.”

He nodded and shifted into reverse. Itdjed not to stare, but I couldn’t help it.

My eyes locked on his hand; the way the veins stood out as he pulled the car out of the parking lot with one hand.

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