The Game Changer: A Novel

by Sterling, J.

  “I can’t let her keep doing this to you, Jack.” Her voice broke, but I remained unconvinced and questioned anyone who could stay best friends with a person like Chrystle. “I didn’t know she faked her pregnancy,” she whispered before continuing. “I mean, at first I didn’t know.”

  “Did you know at the wedding?” I asked through gritted teeth.

  “No. She was still lying to everyone then.”

  I didn’t care. “Get to the point.”

  “After seeing you at the bar and hearing the things she said to you, I tried to talk to some sense into her. But she won’t listen. She got even crazier after that night. Like more determined or something…” Her voice trailed off.

  Annoyed, I huffed into the phone. “Vanessa, I don’t have time for this. Either get to the point or I’m hanging up.”

  “I’m trying to say that I’ll testify on your behalf. I’ll talk to your lawyer, or judge or whomever. I’ll tell them that everything you wrote in those annulment papers is true. And I’ll tell them everything they need to know that not even you know, Jack.”

  My chest heaved as disbelief and elation coursed through me. The air around me thickened as I struggled for a response. “Why would you do that?”

  “Because you don’t deserve what she’s doing to you. It’s wrong, and I don’t want to be a part of it anymore.”

  I wanted to believe her. “If you’re serious,” I paused, still unsure of truth versus lies when it came to those girls, “I’d like to pass your phone number along to my lawyer and have him call you. Is that OK?”

  “Yes, of course. I’m really sorry, Jack. I hope this helps.”

  “Thanks, Vanessa.”

  Cassie swiveled her head back and forth in disbelief. “This story. Seriously. Crazier and crazier.”

  “I know, but thank fucking God Vanessa e-mailed me when she did. Marc was just about to file the divorce papers when I called him.”

  “Of course. Just in the nick of time, like a well-played movie.” She raised her eyebrows.

  “A well-played Lifetime movie,” I added with a smirk.

  “So, Vanessa followed through? She wasn’t lying?”

  I knew Cassie’s mind wandered to the same places mine had originally. Was this another trick, a lie, another baited hook I was sinking my teeth into? “Not only Vanessa, but she got their friend Tressa to make a statement corroborating my claims on the annulment. Chrystle signed the papers that week.”

  “Wow. Wow.” Her hand covered her now gaping mouth. “Just like that? That’s all it took to get her to sign?”

  I raised a hand in the air. “Just like that.”

  “Unbelievable.”

  With her head back on my chest, I wound my fingers in and out of her hair. “Yep. That was spring training, then the season started, and here we are.”

  She lifted her head back up from my chest, a wicked grin covering her face. “Uh-uh. I want to hear about you seeing me at the field with Joey the other night.”

  “The other night? That was weeks ago,” I complained.

  “It sometimes feels like the other night.”

  “You’re a cruel girl, Cassie Andrews. Anyone ever tell you that?”

  “Maybe once or twice.” She leaned in, her soft lips pressed against mine.

  “That’s the perfect way to get me to stop telling you stories.” I deepened the kiss, my tongue pushing its way into her mouth.

  “Tell me first; kiss me after.” She leaned away from my face, and I thought briefly about teaching her a lesson. One that included the fact that I’d kiss her whenever I damn well pleased. But I was close to finishing my story and I wanted to move on.

  I kicked the mound of dirt at my feet, adrenaline coursing through my veins. I fought with my head to keep its focus, but it kept drifting to thoughts of Cassie. I was in New York, and she lived here.

  She won’t be here.

  She doesn’t come to your games anymore.

  My stomach twisted as I faced my catcher, tossing warm-up pitches into his glove. I’d thrown no less than ten pitches when a man’s voice shouting stopped me mid-pitch. I almost threw my fucking arm out stopping like that.

  “Cassie! Cassie, wait!”

  The air in my lungs escaped without warning, and I almost dropped onto the dirt mound at my feet. I glanced in the stands toward the sound of her name, catching sight of her long blonde hair flying as she ran. I’d know her anywhere. A guy chased after her, and my chest blazed with jealousy. I clenched my jaw, every muscle in my body tensing at the sight of her with someone else. She turned around to face the guy, and her eyes met mine for a brief moment as my temper raged like an out-of-control inferno. The guy put his arm around her, and I forced back the urge to charge him like a bull in a bullring. I wanted to break his fucking arm. No one touched my girl but me.

  “Carter, let’s go!”

  I turned away from her, refocusing on the batter’s box, and threw the ball with all my strength.

  “I didn’t know he was taking me to the game.” Her eyebrows creased as her expression turned remorseful.

  “That…” I paused, reliving the feeling of seeing him toss his arm around her shoulders again, “made me almost come unglued.”

  “Well, I’m glad you didn’t. I’m so sorry you saw me there with someone else.”

  “It’s in the past now. Ready to hear how nervous I was when I got here last night?” I played with her hair again.

  She moved to straddle me, sweeping her legs on either side of my waist. “I’d like to hear about that in a minute.” She leaned down, sucking my bottom lip into her mouth, her hips grinding into my waist.

  She thinks she’s in control.

  In one quick movement, I flipped her onto her back. Pinning her beneath me, I pressed my hard-on against her shorts. “Is this what you want instead of story time?” My mouth plunged toward her neck, nipping gently before licking and kissing up to her ear. “This what you want, Kitten?” I breathed against her.

  “Mm-hmm,” she moaned softly, her back arching.

  “Say it.” My hands wandered up her thighs before finding the sweet spot between her legs. “You’re burning up down there,” I said. Knowing how hot she was for me fueled my hard-on even more.

  She moaned my name, and I covered her mouth with mine. “Say it,” I demanded, breathing into her.

  Her eyes opened, her chest rising and falling. “I want you instead of story time. Now, stop fucking around.” Her hands wrapped around the nape of my neck, tugging and pulling my hair. I leaned away from her, enjoying the control.

  I pulled her clothes off, tossing them over my shoulder before adding mine to the pile. Bringing my fingers and body back to hers, her back arched and writhed as she begged, “Jack, please.”

  “You need to learn some patience.”

  “Fuck patience. Get in me!” she practically screamed, her hand wrapping around me. I bucked against her gently before peeling her hand away. I tried to be strong, but who was I fooling? I wanted her just as badly as she wanted me.

  Maybe more.

  I placed my arms on each side of her gorgeous naked body before guiding myself inside her. “So wet, Kitten,” I said, instinct and need taking over.

  Her eyes closed as her fingertips pressed hard against my shoulders, working their way down my back and settling on my ass. I moved in and out of her, slowly at first. The feeling of her tightness surrounded me. Coupled with my feelings for her, I knew I wouldn’t last long.

  This girl is ruining my ability to last in the sack.

  “Jack. Faster.” Her voice was breathy and filled with need.

  Goddamn, she’ll be the death of me.

  I quickened my pace as she pushed and pulled against me, her breathing accelerating. I drove myself into her with more force, fighting the urge to explode right then. I leaned into her mouth, gliding my tongue along her bottom lip before pushing it inside her mouth. We breathed into each other, tongues desperate and needing, as her body starte
d to quiver.

  There is a God.

  I refused to stop, pushing deeper as pleasure-filled screams tore from her lips and filled the air between us. Her body trembled as I grew harder, the blood draining from the rest of my body and pooling in one central location.

  Her eyes focused on me just as I closed mine. A growl escaped as I called her name. I released myself inside her, my hips slowing before finally stopping. I collapsed on top of her with a laugh.

  “Seriously? Get. Off,” she demanded, gasping as she exaggerated her inability to breathe.

  “I thought I just did.”

  Cassie rolled her eyes, shoving me with all her strength. “OK, OK. I’ll move.” I wrapped my hands around her shoulders and rolled us both over. I pulled her naked body against mine, refusing to let her go.

  “Now I’m hungry again.” She kissed the top of my nose. “And ready for the rest of the story.”

  “You’re bossy.”

  “You like it.”

  I’ll Never Leave You Again

  Jack

  I waited for Cassie on the couch in the tiny living room. Looking around, I surveyed the small apartment and thought to myself that we’d need a bigger place soon. And I needed a gym. But we could deal with that later. She walked out in her pajamas, grabbed one of the boxes of pizza, and tossed it on the coffee table near our legs.

  “I’m ready now.”

  I walked into the lobby of Cassie’s apartment building and was immediately greeted by an older gentleman in a dark gray suit and black bow tie. The doorman’s kind face almost set my rattled nerves at ease. Almost.

  “Good evening, sir. May I help you?” he asked, eyeing the packages in my arms curiously.

  “Yes.” I forced a smile before asking, “I was wondering if you could help me out?” I moved toward him and placed the packages carefully on the tiled floor. His eyes raced between my now revealed Mets jersey and the boxes at my feet. I could sense he was nervous, or maybe it was caution I picked up on, but I immediately wanted to put him at ease.

  “These are for Cassie Andrews. She lives here.”

  A large grin covered his face, replacing the uncertainty. “I know Miss Andrews. Lovely girl. Talented, too.”

  I knew that tone. It was pride, and even the doorman in Cassie’s apartment building felt it for her. “Yes, she is.”

  I extended my hand toward him. “I’m Jack.”

  “Fred. How can I help you, Jack?” he asked, gripping my hand with more strength than I expected.

  I sat for a moment wondering just how much to tell this stranger and how. “Long story short, Cassie was my girl. But I fucked everything up and lost her.” I eyed him apologetically after swearing. If Gran heard me talk like that to an older person, she’d smack me upside the head. “Sorry for the f-word.”

  “It’s fine. Go on.” Fred leaned against the reception desk, his eyes sparkling with interest.

  “I’m here to get her back. Each one of these packages is a different gift. I need to get them to her, but I can’t be the one to do it.” My voice shook as I tried to explain. “Am I making any sense?”

  “Yes.” He smiled again. “Do they all go at once?”

  I threw my hands in the air, thankful for his question. “No!” I shouted a little too aggressively. “Sorry. They go separately. There’s an order to them.”

  “Do you know which gift goes first?”

  I looked down at my feet. “Yeah. It’s really heavy, though.”

  “That’s OK. Here, let’s hide the rest behind the desk. Just in case she wants to come down and get the first one.”

  “OK, so what’s the plan?” I stared at the man I now found myself depending on.

  “I’ll call her and let her know that a package arrived. She can decide if she wants to come down to get it or if I should bring it up. We’ll go from there.”

  “Sounds good,” I said, before cracking my knuckles and pacing nervously.

  Fred pressed a button and began speaking. “Miss Andrews, there’s a package down here for you. Do you want me to bring it up, or would you like to come get it?” His eyes met mine as we both waited for her response.

  The speaker crackled and her voice filled the otherwise empty lobby. “Can you bring it up, Fred? I’d really appreciate it.”

  I literally had to brace myself against the wall at the sound of her voice. That voice filled my dreams at night. That voice belonged to the girl who belonged to me. That was my voice, and I wanted it back.

  “Unless you’re busy, then I can come down. Whatever is more convenient for you, Fred. Thanks.”

  That’s my kitten. So considerate of others all the time. I took a deep breath as my chest relaxed. “OK, Miss Andrews. I’ll be up soon,” Fred responded politely.

  “Ready?” Fred asked me with a smirk.

  I nodded, bending down to lift the weightiest box first. “It’s really heavy,” I warned him before dropping it into his arms.

  “Jesus, what’s in this?” Fred remarked, his voice strained.

  “Quarters. A hell of a lot of quarters,” I said with a smile, and rushed over to press the elevator button for him.

  When the elevator doors opened with a ding, I watched him walk inside, press a button and cock his head at me. “Wish me luck,” he added with a smile.

  “Hell, wish ME luck!” I shouted back as the doors closed.

  Fuck. What if she gets pissed off? What if she hates me? Why did I let so many months pass by without talking to her? I smacked the side of my head with my palm and reminded myself that I was a fucking idiot. No girl in her right mind would take someone like me back. I suddenly found myself praying that Cass was crazy. Or at least half crazy. That way I’d have a shot.

  A few moments later, the elevator doors dinged back to life and Fred stepped out, a smile on his face. “One down.”

  “What’d she say? Anything?”

  “She thinks someone is sending her weights.” He chuckled.

  I laughed loudly just imagining her saying that, and it echoed through the small lobby. “OK, here’s the next one.” I watched as his body braced and tensed at the anticipation of the second box. “Don’t worry, it’s not heavy,” I said and watched as Fred exhaled in relief. “But it is fragile. There’s a bunch of picture frames in there.”

  “Be right back.” Fred’s smile was contagious, and I found myself smiling just as broadly as he was.

  I paced the tile floor, waiting for his return. This had to work. This was my girl we were talking about. If wasn’t going to be Cassie by my side, then it would be no one. I’d never love anyone the way I love this girl. There’s no way we went through all of this bullshit for nothing.

  The elevator ding interrupted my thoughts. Fred stepped out, his face still scrunched up from the force of his smile.

  “What’d she say this time?” I searched his eyes for answers.

  “Nothing. She wondered if this package arrived with the first one. I told her no.” He shrugged. “What’s next?”

  “You’re enjoying this, aren’t you?”

  “Actually, yes.”

  “Well, here you go,” I said, dropping another light box into his waiting arms.

  That delivery was filled with Cassie’s rules and all the ways in which I’d broken them. And all the ways in which I’d never break them again. I made promises to her in that box and by the grace of God, or whatever higher power exists in this world, I hoped she’d give me the chance to make good on those promises.

  Another ding and Fred emerged. “She’s confused,” he admitted. “She doesn’t know what’s going on.”

  “Confused is good. It’s better than mad. She’s not mad, right?”

  “She doesn’t seem mad. She did want to know who was bringing the packages.”

  “What’d you say?” I asked as nerves shot through my body.

  “I told her some kid was dropping them off one at a time.”

  “She bought that?” I huffed out a laugh.

&n
bsp; “She bought it.” He grinned mischievously.

  “You’re good, Fred. Thank you. Here’s the next one.” I handed him a manila envelope as he entered the waiting elevator.

  This was the next-to-last gift I had, the gag about eye-rolling and all the ways in which it was bad for you. There was only one more small box to go before I stood outside of her apartment door and hoped she’d open it. I looked down at my Mets jersey and ran my hands over it, making sure I looked presentable.

  “She’s crying,” Fred said, the moment he exited the elevator.

  “Shit,” I exclaimed as my heart fell into the pit of my stomach.

  “She said they were good tears, though, so I think you’re in the clear,” he added, patting my shoulder.

  I looked up at the ceiling and swallowed hard. “Whew. OK. This is the last one, Fred, but I have to come up with you. Is there anywhere for me to wait without her seeing me while you deliver this last package?”

  “You can wait in the hallway, around the corner. She won’t see you there,” he suggested.

  “Sounds good. You ready to see if I get my heart back?” I asked, clutching a dozen red roses.

  “I have a good feeling,” he said, glancing at the flowers.

  We stepped out of the elevator together and into the illuminated hallway. Fred pointed at the door marked #323, and I nodded, hurrying around the opposite corner. The knock on the door was soft, but the sound carried. I heard Cassie tease Fred about how she should just leave her door open all night.

  Fred informed her that this would be the last package. Was that disappointment I heard in her voice as she thanked him? Her door closed softly, and Fred cleared his throat. I peered around the corner, and he waved me over. “Good luck, Jack.” He reached out his hand.

  “Thank you so much for all your help. I couldn’t have done this without you.”

  “Yeah, you could have,” he said with a grin before stepping into the elevator and disappearing.

  The last package simply contained a letter from me and a small note asking her to open her front door. I hurried to Cassie’s apartment door and waited with the roses clutched in my sweaty hands, right in front of the Mets logo on my jersey. It was in this exact moment that I realized I’d left my confidence somewhere between my old life in Arizona and my new one here. I was nervous as hell. What if… so many what-ifs plagued my mind as the door flew open.