Stealing His Heart (The Kingston Heat Series) (18 page)

“What does that mean?” She’d never seen him like this before.

“It means I need some space.”

“Oh.” She pushed back the lump that formed in her throat as she fought the tears that burned the corner of her eyes. “From me?”

“I’ve been to the play-offs before, but it’s always just been me. I’ve never been this close to a major win. Not like this. The pressure is...well, I never imagined being this overwhelmed. My mother and brothers are coming into Chicago and I need to meet them there so I’m leaving a day early. I have three interviews tomorrow morning and one when I get off the plane. I need to meet with Doc so he can stretch me and make sure I’m ready to pitch. My mind is all over the place.”

“You don’t need any more distractions.”

“I’m sorry, Sophie, but I have to do this.” He stroked her cheek. “I need to get through this next week without any complications.”

“Good luck.” She smiled, because now wasn’t the time to convince him how wrong he was. “I know you can do this.”

“I’ll be in touch.” He leaned forward. “Can I kiss you goodbye?”

“Yes.” She hiccupped as the tears she’d tried so valiantly to hold back streamed down her cheeks.

“Don’t cry.” He brushed his lips across hers before capturing them. He didn’t hold back. He deepened the kiss as he probed her mouth with his tongue, seeking out hers. He continued his exploration as he bit and nipped at her lips before placing a soft, tender kiss on the corner of her mouth. “I don’t want to be the reason you cry, but I… I have to go.”

She nodded.

“You’ll be here with me.” He took her hand and placed it on his heart. “Never doubt that.”

“Just go.” She removed her hand from his chest. “I need to… Sorry.” She ran down the hall and to the restroom. Her hands trembled as she pushed open the stall door. The room spun, and before she could stop herself she vomited.

She had been putting off the inevitable but a trip to the drugstore was in order. If her fear was confirmed, it would be the last thing she needed now.

Why is this happening?

Chapter 20

It had been a long and anxious series, coming all the way down to game seven on the road. Every house, restaurant, and bar was tuned into the game. The streets were quite. There had been an anxious crackle in the air all week.

Soph sat on the edge of the couch taking deep breaths every time the ball left Pax’s hand.

“Fantastic pitch,” her father said.

Her mother squeezed Soph’s hand. “You have to relax, sweetie.”

“I just want him to win this.” Despite what had happened between them she wanted this for him. He deserved it. They hadn’t spoken since that night in the locker room. Not even a text.

“Two outs,” her dad said. “He just needs one more. He’s on fire tonight.”

“Shh.” Soph studied the TV. Pax looked calm and in charge. To everyone’s surprise they left him in the whole nine innings. He’d gained the lead early. The Crushers were up by seven runs. They had dominated the field tonight, and Paxton was on his way to leading them to victory.

“Yes!” Her father jumped out of his chair when Pax struck the final batter out.

“He did it.” Her eyes filled with tears. She’d been with him the whole season. She knew how much he wanted this. “He did it!” She hopped up and hugged her dad. “They did it.”

Her mother hugged her too. “I know this has been hard for you. I’m sure it was just as hard for Paxton.”

“He had to do what was right for him in the moment.” She wiped her tears. “I get that.”

“Good, because you have something really special,” her mother said. “I’ve seen the way he looks at you. The way he cares for you. Men sometimes do things we can’t always understand.”

“Hey,” her dad said. “You’re ruining my moment.”

“Trust me.” Her mother laughed. “I know these things.”

“Mom, it’s okay. You don’t have to try and make me feel better.” That wasn’t true. She needed her mother’s comfort more now than ever.

“All I’m saying is, this was a very important time in Pax’s career. He handled it the best way he could. It was one week of your life. If he’s the one, then move past it.”

“He’s the one,” she whispered. There was no doubt in her mind. “I know he’s busy right now but I’m going to text him my congratulations. At least he’ll know I was with him as he rejoiced in this moment.”

“Good idea.” Her mom turned to her dad. “How about a cup of tea, old man?”

“Sounds good.” He walked toward the kitchen. “I want to watch some more of the coverage, but I can wait.” He smiled at Soph, but she knew he didn’t want her to be upset if Pax was in some of those interviews.

“It’s okay, Papa.” She kissed his cheek. “I’m going to text him and then get ready for bed.”

“Have a good night, sweet girl.” He hugged her. “It’ll all work out.”

I hope you’re right.

The doorbell rang as Soph was headed to her bedroom and her parents went to the kitchen. “I’ll get it,” she called as she pulled open the door.

“This town is hyper.” Maggie came through the entryway. “Did you see they won?”

“I watched it.”

“You did? You were cool with that?”

“It was tough, but I wanted to see him win.” No matter what had happened between them she wouldn’t have missed it. “I bet Bennet’s is going crazy.”

“Yeah, I just left so I could check on you.” Maggie gave her a big hug, holding her a little longer than usual. “You sure you’re okay?”

“Let’s go to my room.”

Maggie followed her down the hall and up the stairs to her bedroom. Soph shut the door behind them. “You didn’t have to leave Kyle and the others. I bet the whole stadium staff was in there.” She sat on the edge of the bed as Maggie plopped down on the window seat.

“They were. It was really cool and thrilling to experience such a huge win.”

“I’m sure they’re all so proud.”

“The city is already planning the parade. Mayor Dilks was at Bennet’s. He said they had it tentatively scheduled for the day after tomorrow.”

“That’s when I go to my doctor’s appointment.”

“I’m still going to go with you,” she said. “I don’t need to be at the parade.”

“Thanks, I’d ask my mom to go but…”

“You haven’t told her yet.”

“I want to make sure first.” She rubbed her temples. “It’s kind of ironic that the appointment I made to get on the pill might now be the one where I find out I’m pregnant.”

“You took two pregnancy tests. I think it’s a done deal.”

Maggie was right. Soph was over a month late. She was tired, moody, and nauseous all the time. She cried over everything. All she wanted was for Pax to hold her and tell her he’d take care of everything.

* * * *

A few days later, Sophia stood on Pax’s front porch and debated with herself. Should she knock or use her key? Would he care if she used her key? This should be her new house. She should be living there with him, not standing on the porch trying to figure out how to approach him. They were in love. They’d had a fight—a major one—but all couples fought. They could get past this. They had to.

She thought back to the night before the big game, the game that would determine if the Crushers would win the division and go to the World Series. Pax had been on edge. She’d tried to calm his nerves and reassure him that no matter what had happened he’d had the best season of his career. She promised him she’d be there with him, and then her stupid car broke down and she failed him. The fight wasn’t about her car. It was about her letting him down. That argument not only ruined the high he was on over winning the division championship, it robbed them of being together when his team won the World Series. How could they have been so stupid?

Giving him his space seemed like the right thing to do, but now she wished she could take back the things she had said. She could excuse the way he acted because he was gearing up to play the most important game of his career. She should have apologized and let it go. They could have worked it out once the series was over. She could have been in Chicago when the Crushers won instead of crying on her couch as her parents tried to console her. Missing the parade yesterday was hard but going to the doctor’s was more important. Now they would have to make up. They had a future. One fight wasn’t going to deter her.

He had responded to her congratulation text with a quick thanks. She figured he was busy but now that that he was back in town she wondered why he hadn’t reached out to her. Both Maggie and her mom encouraged her to go to him. Pax wasn’t used to serious relationships. Maggie had said he probably knew how much he screwed up and now he was too embarrassed to come groveling back. Soph hoped her intuitive friend was right.

Just as she was about to retrieve her key from her bag the front door flew open. She looked up, expecting to see Pax. She wanted to congratulate him and tell him how proud she was. How excited she had been for him. Her smile disappeared when Kenny stepped out on to the porch.

“Well, if it isn’t the ex-girlfriend.”

I don’t need this.

“Is Paxton here?”

“No.”

“Do you know when he’ll be back?”

“Not anytime soon.”

“Where is he?” She shouldn’t even be bothering. Kenny had never liked her. That had been clear from the beginning. “I need to talk to him.”

“Like he needed you to be in the stands last week?”

“That was a misunderstanding and none of your business.” She wasn’t going to get anywhere with him. “I don’t expect you to deliver any messages. I’ll call him.”

“He can’t be reached.”

“Why?”

“He’s on a plane to Belize.”

“Belize?”

“Yeah, a little post-season relaxation. I’d say he deserves it.”

“How long will he be gone?” Her stomach flipped when she realized he had left without contacting her.

“A couple weeks, but I wouldn’t bother calling him. He’s gonna be pretty busy.”

“Doing what?”

“He didn’t go alone, sweetheart. As a matter of fact, Miss Texas is accompanying him. They’re old friends. You do the math.”

“Why would I believe you?”

“You don’t have to believe me,” he said. “His reputation speaks for itself. I’m sure you’ve seen the recent pictures on Facebook and Twitter.”

There had been a picture circulating with a woman sitting on Pax’s lap. Maggie explained what had happened that night. Soph decided to delete her accounts. She couldn’t take everyone tagging her in pictures of Pax winning the World Series or sharing interviews and media coverage of him. She needed a break from social media.

“Pax is my best friend. I know him better than anyone. You got in the way. He almost blew a crucial game because he didn’t know where you were. If you want to be with a man like Pax you need to make sure you’re there when he needs you. He’s never going to let that happen again.”

“That’s not your call.”

“No, it isn’t, but considering he’s just left the country to have a fling I’m guessing he figured it out all by himself. Paxton never loses focus. You were a mistake. He knows that now.”

“My relationship with him is none of your business.”

“From where I’m standing you don’t have a relationship with him.”

“Screw you,” she said. “You’ve been an asshole from the first time we met. You’re not his friend. You’re a leech.”

“Nice.”

“You take advantage of his kindness. You live your easy life while Pax does all the work. You should be happy for him. Instead you’re trying to destroy what we have.”

“Say whatever you want, but I’m not the one who messed up your relationship. You did that all by yourself. You couldn’t handle a man like Pax. You couldn’t be there for the most important time of his life. He told me he asked you to come to Chicago with him, and you turned him down.”

“He told you that?” He must have been really torn up for him to open up to Kenny about their relationship.

“He told me everything. Trust me, I’m never going to let him get hurt like that again.”

“That night was confusing. Neither of us was thinking.” She’d replayed that conversation in her head a hundred times. “My car broke down. I’m sure he understands that now.”

“Do you honestly think this is over your car?”

“What do you mean?”

“I’m not playing mediator. He’s got his head back where it belongs now.”

“I need to speak to him.”

“I guess you’ll have to wait until he gets back from vacation. That’s if he’s ready to tear himself away from that gorgeous beauty pageant contestant.”

“He wouldn’t do that to me.”

“Why, because you’re so special? You’re the one who rejected him.” He locked the door and walked down the porch steps. “He put himself out there for you. Think about that when you’re wondering why he isn’t here.”

She watched as he headed to the side of the house to the garage. She dropped down on the steps and waited for him to go. He had to be lying. Pax wouldn’t do that. She pulled out her phone and did a quick internet search of Pax and any beauty contestants. Several came up but only one stood out. She clicked on the image of the blond beauty from Texas standing inside the stadium in Chicago surrounded by members of the Crushers. To her right, holding her hand was Pax.

How could she have been so stupid? Why hadn’t she learned her lesson when Ryan had burned her?

Once a player, always a player…

Chapter 21

November came and went. The excitement over the team winning the series had died down and the townspeople went back to their normal routines. Sophia busied herself with some major changes in her life. She was going to have a baby in the spring. She had the support of her parents and Maggie. The demands of her job became more intense as the school year got underway. She found an apartment a block away from Hemingway Academy. Her parents didn’t want her to go but the cottage was too small for a new addition. She wasn’t that far from them. She thought it was best to move before the baby came. She needed to start her life and being on her own seemed like the right thing to do.

Pax had called her several times and left messages. She never responded. Seeing the picture of him and that girl hours after he won the series had hurt her. They had one misunderstanding and it only took him a week to recover and leave the country with another woman. He had broken her heart, and she wasn’t about to let him destroy her any more than he already had.