Do Not Fall For The Baseball Captains novel Chapter 6

Red is Your Color

Victoria’s POV

The door clicked shut behind me, and I finally let out the breath I’d been holding since Monday.

The silence of my cramped apartment was the best thing I’d heard all day.

I kicked my shoes off without untying the laces, letting them land wherever they pleased.

It was Thursday. Four days. Four long, grueling days since that kiss, the one that had effectively set fire to my life and then moved into my head to haunt my dreams.

Every time I closed my eyes, I felt the pressure of his lips, the scent of his cologne, and the terrifying realization that my world had shifted.

I didn’t even want to think about the offer he’d made before I practically sprinted away from him.

‘Be my girlfriend, Victoria.’

The words stuck with me, no matter how hard I tried to shake them.

I pulled my oversized hoodie over my head, tossing it onto the armchair, and stood there in just my leggings and bra, enjoying the cool air against my skin.

Finally, a long weekend. No classes on Friday meant three days of hiding from the world, eating cereal for dinner, and pretending the world didn’t exist.

I was halfway to the kitchen to find a snack when my phone chirped on the counter. My heart kicked hard against my ribs.

I lunged for it, my thumb hovering over the screen as I prayed for Caleb’s name to pop up.

It was a notification for a 20% discount on pizza.

I tossed the phone back down, the disappointment settling in my gut.

Caleb hadn’t reached out. Not since that disastrous phone call where Elijah had picked up my phone and played the part of the overprotective boyfriend.

I wondered what Caleb was thinking—shocked, disgusted… or just angry at me.

Not knowing ate at me more than anything. And the fact that he hadn’t reached out? That stung.

Maybe he was still processing it. Maybe it wasn’t the kiss that got to him—but who it was with. Of all people, the one guy he couldn’t stand. His rival. Now suddenly… my supposed boyfriend.

I’d wanted more from Caleb than friendship for longer than I could admit, and the fear that this mess might cost me even that friendship made my throat tighten.

I sucked in a breath, forcing the stinging in my eyes to fade.

I was halfway across the room, already eyeing the bed and the promise of my comforter, when a knock sounded at the door.

My nose scrunched up in irritation. I stayed perfectly still, holding my breath, hoping that if I acted like a piece of furniture, the intruder would get bored and vanish.

However, the knocking continued, repetitive and demanding.

With an annoyed huff, I stormed toward the door, ready to bite the head off whoever was standing there.

“Look, I’m not…”

The words died in my throat.

Elijah Carter stood there, looking every bit like the guy who didn’t care what anyone thought.

Black hoodie pulled low over half his messy hair, hands in his pockets, a lollipop stick poking from the corner of his mouth.

The candy had turned his already full lips a brighter red. He smelled clean and warm, like fresh soap with a hint of something Smokey.

And yeah, I found the whole picture annoyingly attractive.

He looked me up and down, his expression never changing from that detached, cool exterior.

I just stood there, eyes wide, my brain short-circuiting. It was one thing to see him at a party or on campus, but seeing him at my door, in my space, felt like a breach of some universal law.

“I know I’m attractive, but you don’t have to make it so obvious. Are you done staring? My legs are starting to cramp,” he said, his voice dipping into an easy, lazy tone.

The cockiness snapped me back to reality.

“What the hell are you doing here? How do you even know where I live?”

“I’m a resourceful guy, Victoria,” he said, popping the lollipop out of his mouth with a soft click. “And I’m here to pick up my girlfriend. We have a date.”

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