I got to my feet, but my QB was focused on Hadley. He was in protective mode.
“You knew who he was the night you met him, and you followed him outside. We’ve shared what we’re going to share.” He looked over at me, and I gave a slight nod to tell him I was on board. “And now I think we’re done. Dust?”
His interruption was exactly what I needed. I’d been thinking with my dick, and before he finished speaking, I’d already decided it was time to go; he knew it when he glanced my way again.
I didn’t quite manage to meet her look when I spoke next. “Yeah. I’m done.”
He opened the door, not knowing Milly was a flight risk, and Hadley let out a shriek as she dashed after the cat. In one smooth move, Dante caught the cat, lifted it into the air, and Hadley had it cradled against her chest, with no idea how it happened.
“Did you justthrowmy cat?” she demanded, clutching the squirming cat to her chest.
“Don’t be ridiculous,” Dante scoffed. “Dust, you ready?”
I hesitated. Was I? Dante gave me the ‘bro’ look. Itsked, but he was right, and I knew it. “See you, Peterson.”
The sound of the door slamming shut echoed off the walls as we went down the stairs to the main door.
“What were you thinking?” he murmured, and sniffed. “Have you been drinking?” He looked more scandalized at that than at the fact that he knew he’d just interrupted me making out with the reporter. “During spring training?”
“Yeah, I know. I saw the van and just... reacted.” I shoved my hands in my pockets and followed him as he led me away from the truck. “Can we let it slide?”
He wanted to argue. I know he did. Instead, he nodded. “Just be careful, yeah?”
“Yeah.” We walked home. “Thanks for coming, I was almost...”
“Yeah.”
We carried on.
“Dante?”
“Mmhmm.”
“You threw the three-legged cat?”
“Threw? Nah.” He grinned. “You know that was a simple toss.”
I started to laugh. “And you call SavvySavage.”
“Told you, we’re perfectly matched,” he said smugly. “Are you and Hadley?” he asked me quietly.
I didn’t answer, and I didn’t look back. He took my silence for what it was.
I’d made the right call. It didn’t make it feel any less like walking away from something that I wasn’t finished with, though.
There wouldn’t be a repeat. That was the smart play.
I almost believed it.
Chapter 19
Hadley
The door had barely shut before the burn hit my lungs.
Not embarrassment. Not shame.
Anger.