Do Not Fall For The Baseball Captains novel Chapter 22

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Lew Loses Control

Lexi Loses Control

Victoria’s POV

We ended up on the couch watching an old sitcom we used to binge when we were kids.

Caleb had suggested it like it was the most normal thing in the world, as if nothing had changed between us.

I sat there, my knees pulled up to my chest, staring blankly at the bright television screen,

The brightly colored studio sets and the canned laughter felt completely hollow.

There was a time–years ago–when I would have counted down the hours to a moment like this.

50 bonus

I used to scrub my little bedroom until it was spotless, steal a few spritzes of my mother’s floral cologne, and beg her to make a giant bowl of buttery popcorn for us.

Or I’d put on my favorite playdate outfit, the one that made me feel pretty, and walk over to his house with my heart hammering against my ribs.

Back then, every time he smiled in my direction or his shoulder brushed against mine, a dizzying rush would steal my breath.

Now, sitting next to him on this expensive gray sofa, all I felt was a dull, aching emptiness. I didn’t even recognize the girl I used to be.

On the screen, a funny scene came on, and Caleb burst into a loud, genuine laugh.

‘Tori, remember when we tried to act out this exact episode in your backyard? You kept forgetting your lines and we ended up laughing so hard we fell in the grass.”

He turned to me, his chest still shaking with mirth.

‘You cried for two hours, and I….”

He was mid–laughter when he realized I wasn’t joining in. He stopped, his voice trailing off as he looked closely at my face. The joy slowly drained from his expression, replaced by a heavy confusion.

‘Tori, what’s wrong?”

slowly turned my head away from the screen to meet his eyes. I forced the corners of my mouth upward into a tight, artificial shape and shook my head.

‘Nothing.”

He searched my face, clearly not buying it, and let out a long breath.

You can’t say it’s nothing. Something is clearly bothering you. You’ve barely uttered a word for almost an hour now. And this…” He pointed a finger at the television.

This used to be your absolute favorite episode. You used to laugh so hard you’d choke on your drink during this scene, but it seems like you’re a million miles away.”

He sighed, his hand coming down to rest gently on my thigh.

‘Talk to me.”

I shuddered, a sudden jolt rushing through me at the contact.

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My skin felt overly sensitive, and for a split second, the old habit of wanting to lean into him flared up.

Before I could pull away or find my voice, the heavy front door swung open with a loud click.

“Baby! I brought some…”

Lexi’s voice cut through the apartment, bright and loud, but the words trailed off into a dead silence the moment she stepped into the living room. She wasn’t alone.

Standing right behind her were Amelia and another girl from their wealthy, tight–knit campus circle–Mila, or maybe it was Lila–all of them loaded down with designer shopping bags from their afternoon trip.

Lexi’s eyes locked onto Caleb’s hand resting on my thigh. In a fraction of a second, her face contorted from a pleased smile into one of pure rage.

The shopping bags slipped from her fingers, hittin Successfully unlocked!h a heavy thud.

“What the hell is this?”

Caleb instantly yanked his hand back as if he’d been burned, clearing his throat.

Len Loves Control

“Lexi, it’s not-

But Lexi was already moving. A guttural sound left her thruat as she lunged straight at the couch.

50 Dom

Before I could even plant my feet to stand up, her fingers hooked violently into the hair near my temple, pulling my head backward with a brutal yank

“You absolute slut!” she shrieked, her voice echoing off the high ceilings. “A boyfriend snatcher! That is exactly what you are!”

“Lexi, stop! What the hell are you doing?!”

Caleb yelled, struggling to shift his injured leg to get between us, but his movements were clumsy and slow.

The absolute shock of the physical attack left me entirely paralyzed. I had never been in a fight in my life.

Lexi’s grip was tight, pinning my head down against the cushions so that every time I tried to raise my hands to protect myself, she landed another stinging slap against my shoulder and face.

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