Out of My League: Complete Box Set

by Sharon Cummin

  When I went to bed, I closed my eyes, thinking sleep would come even less than usual. Between Cassie, my kids, and being traded, I was barely getting a couple of hours a night. Add to that the pain in my hand and the fact that I could have totally screwed up my career, and I was pretty sure I wouldn't even get one full hour.

  I was wrong. My eyes closed, and I was gone. When I opened them again, I couldn't believe it. I'd gotten ten full hours and had slept so damn good. That hadn't happened in a very long time. When I sat up in bed, I felt great. Then I moved to push off of the bed with my hand, and the pain that shot through it had me clenching my eyes closed and gritting my teeth. That shit hurt. I knew for sure it would be a few days before I'd be going to Sammie's place. One, there was no damn way I was throwing a ball or swinging a bat. Two, I didn't want my hand to remind any of them what had happened. Three, I didn't want Sammie or Lauren pulling me to the side to ask who I hit. Finally, I didn't want to run into any of the guys. I didn't need a single one of them asking me about Cassie or anything else either. Letting my hand heal would give me time for it all to blow over, and that was exactly what I was going to do.

  I didn't want anyone else to see my hand, so I decided I'd be staying home for a few days. Cassie might not have known who I was, but other people did. Being in the hometown of the team, people paid attention. It would be bad enough when her ex came out and blasted me for what I had done. I wasn't going to bring light to it any quicker.

  I'd been sitting in front of the television for a few hours when I heard the ding of my phone and quickly reached to grab it, letting out a hiss the second the pain hit me. When I looked down at it and saw her name, I was surprised.

  Princess: How's your hand?

  I thought about blowing her off, but I didn't. It wasn't easy for me to just sit home and do nothing. When I found myself thinking or wanting to get out, I usually went to Sammie's place. Since I couldn't do that, I was stuck at home and so damn bored.

  Me: I'm not going to lie, the damn thing hurts.

  I should have said okay, but it wasn't, and I didn't want to lie to her. She drove me crazy, and I wanted to whoop her ass every single time she opened her mouth, but she'd been lied to enough, and I wasn't about to add to it. It was kind of nice letting it out there. The damn thing did hurt. It hurt a lot.

  Princess: You think maybe you should go to the hospital? Do you think it's broken? Is it swollen? Is it bruised?

  Me: No, I'm not drawing attention to it. It's bad enough that your family knows. I'll just stay home and keep to myself for a few days. It's swollen and bruised, but I don't think it's broken.

  Not to mention that asshole Jeff, I thought. He surely knew.

  Princess: Is that what you usually do, stay home until it passes?

  Leave it to her to piss me off with just a few short words.

  Me: So not funny. It doesn't usually happen. This is a first actually. I don't make a habit of defending girls when assholes talk shit about or to them. My mistake. I won't let it happen again.

  Princess: I'm sure she was happy you did it.

  Wow! That was it. Nothing shitty about me fucking her after or anything, I thought.

  Me: She doesn't even know. How are you? Everything going okay with the family over there?

  Princess: It's been pretty quiet actually. They haven't said much, but most of them are at Lance and Lauren's trying to finish up. My parents and grandma are staying until New Year's.

  Me: I'm surprised they haven't tried to talk you into going back with them.

  Princess: Trying to get rid of me?

  Me: I will neither confirm or deny that.

  Princess: Not until after the divorce.

  So she's going back, I thought but didn't reply.

  Princess: That's what they are saying anyway. I'm not so sure though.

  Me: About going back before that.

  Princess: About going back at all. James is giving me a job.

  Me: Seriously?

  Princess: Not one word about it, Parker. It's true that I have never had a job, but I am very capable. Do not give me shit right now.

  Me: What? Me? I would never.

  I couldn't help but laugh as I typed that.

  Princess: :-)

  Seeing that little smile emoji made me smile too. It was nice being able to make her smile for a second. She deserved it.

  Me: When does the big job start?

  Princess: The day after my parents leave. I'm looking for a good daycare place now.

  Was she serious? That was bullshit. I saw her house. The woman was loaded. Why the fuck would she put the kids in daycare if she didn't have to? I was pissed, and they weren't even my kids. Daycare was for people that didn't have a choice. She did.

  Me: Why?

  Princess: I can't take them to work with me. James is my brother and all, but that's not going to fly.

  Me: You shouldn't have to work.

  Princess: I don't have a choice, Parker. I can't live off my brother and his wife forever. I need to take care of my kids myself. I won't have a dime to my name until the divorce is over. Jeff locked me out of the accounts, remember?

  In that moment, reading her text, I wished I'd hit him twice as hard as I had. Who does shit like that to their own kids?

  Princess: A job will look really good to a judge too.

  Me: Can't Sammie watch them?

  Princess: She's pregnant and has two kids of her own. Not to mention her love of baseball and the place she's worked so hard to build. I've already abused her services enough. I need to do this.

  I didn't reply for a few minutes. Instead, I grabbed my laptop and started looking up daycare places in the area. If she was going to put her kids in one, it needed to be a good one. I heard a ding and looked back at my phone.

  Princess: I'm worried about your hand. Can you send me a picture of it.

  Before I even had to the chance to take a picture, the ding came again.

  Princess: Just your hand. Do not try to be funny and have it wrapped around your dick. I don't need my grandma seeing that.

  I took a picture of my hand and sent it. Then I typed out a message.

  Me: Seriously! Get your mind out of the gutter. That thought never even crossed my mind. Do not type the words dick and grandma seeing that in the same message ever again.

  Princess: Shit! It looks really bad, Parker. Are you sure you shouldn't go to the hospital? I'd hate to see the other guy.

  That one made me smile. She might not have minded seeing the other guy after everything he'd done to her.

  Princess: My mind was not in the gutter. Now I know what to send, if your with a girl, so you won't be able to get it up.

  Me: Wait a second. Why would you not want me to be able to get it up if I was with someone? Would you be jealous if I was?

  Princess: No!!!! You can be with whoever you want. I don't give a shit. What would I care?

  Me: That's what I'm asking. What would you care?

  Princess: I wouldn't.

  Me: Just so you know, those words wouldn't stop me from getting it up. No worries there.

  Princess: Fuck you! Never said I was worried.

  Me: There you go, being dirty again. Offering to fuck me and all.

  Princess: I did not. Those words were innocent.

  Me: Those two words are never innocent. By the way, why would your grandma see a pic of me holding my dick?

  Princess: I didn't tell you. She was in my room the other night when you sent a message.

  Me: And?

  Princess: She saw the message that said Goodnight, princess.

  Me: What does that matter? I'm listed in your phone as Wannabe, remember?

  Princess: It wouldn't have mattered if you hadn't come over yesterday.

  Me: How did that matter?

  Princess: You called me princess in front of her.

  Me: Oh!

  Princess: She didn't miss it either. I assured her she was wrong.

  Me: What did she
say?

  Princess: That you're a good guy.

  Me: I am, but that has nothing to do with it.

  I'd been looking online at daycare places the whole time we were talking. There was one that looked pretty cool and was really close to where James' company was located. I typed the link into a message and sent it. Then I typed out another.

  Me: Check this place out.

  That was as good of way as any of getting off the other subject, and that had to happen. Being on the other subject never ended well for us, and it was actually nice having someone to talk to while I was stuck at home.

  Princess: I saw that one. It does look nice. A bit expensive though. People had nice things to say in the reviews. I think I'm going to check it out.

  Me: If you have to put them in one, make it a nice one.

  Princess: Yes, Sir!

  Me: I like it. You can say that to me anytime.

  Princess: Who's being dirty now?

  Me: What? I can't believe you. I hadn't even thought of that.

  Princess: Parker.

  Me: Cassie.

  Princess: Take care of your hand. Goodbye!

  Me: Thank you for caring. Goodbye!

  I knew there was no way she was going to say anything after we'd both said goodbye. She'd been the one to end the conversation. Her saying something would take that back, and she wouldn't let that happen. That didn't mean it wasn't working on her mind though. If I had to bet, I'd say it was taking all she had not to type back that she didn't care. Letting it go, with me thinking she did, would drive her crazy. There was no doubt in my mind about that.

  The next four days went by quicker than I thought they would. I stayed home the whole time. That was not easy. My friends and parents had probably heard from me more through text in those days than they had in months. I was definitely bored.

  I hadn't heard a thing from Jeff's world, and I couldn't believe it. By then, he'd had to have gotten his nose checked. That shit was broken for sure. I heard the crunch myself. If he was coming after me with the law, it would have happened by then, and it didn't. There was no way he was going to be able to sue me if he hadn't even filed a police report. It would have been his word against mine and the guys I was with that day. Unless he had cameras in the house. Did he have cameras? There was only one person to ask, and there was no way I could ask her without ratting myself out.

  Cassie had sent me a message each morning asking about my hand, and I always replied with a new picture. Honestly, it took all I had not to send one with my hand wrapped around my cock. She was the one that put that shit in my mind, so she would totally deserve it. I didn't do it though. Why? Because that text was always the start to our daily conversation, and I knew if I sent it, the conversation would be over before it even started, and I didn't want it to be. Not to mention the fact that I didn't want her grandma to see that. She was on my side, and there was no way I was going to lose her. That woman had power when it came to Cassie and the rest of their gang. She was the one that held it all together. She was the one with all the control, and that was not something I was taking lightly.

  Cassie had found a good daycare center, the one I'd sent her. The kids were all signed up. I wasn't happy about it, but I'd asked around during the week and had heard some awesome things about the place.

  That was pretty much how my days between Christmas and New Year's Eve went. I thought about Jeff and waited to see if I'd hear from his lawyers or my manager about what happened. I thought about Cassie, her finding out about what I did to Jeff, and her putting her kids in daycare. If she did find out about Jeff, she didn't say anything. I thought about Cassie and Jeff. Was he always that way with her? How could she have loved someone like him? Had it really all been because of his money? Sammie and Lauren had both sent me a few messages, but I blew them off each time. I told Sammie my hand still hurt, and I told Lauren I was busy with the team. If their men had told them what happened, they hadn't mentioned it. I definitely wasn't going to be the one to out what I had done, not to anyone. It was a week in the life of a Pirate, one that didn't want to be seen anyway.

  I sat on my couch, with a beer and a bag of chips, watching the bright ball slide down the pole as people on the television screamed out the count. If Cassie saw me, she'd definitely rethink the things she'd said about me. My life wasn't exciting at all, not in the way I'd want it to be anyway.

  The exact moment the year lit up on the television screen, my phone dinged. If it was my mom, I was going to cry, I thought, as I reached for the phone.

  Princess: Happy New Year, wannabe!

  I couldn't help but laugh when I read it.

  Me: Happy New Year, princess!

  Princess: I won't bother you. Just wanted to say Happy New Year. I know you're probably busy.

  Me: I bet you're way busier than I am.

  Princess: I doubt that. I'm surround by kids and the rest of the gang.

  I thought for a moment before sending a reply. It could go two ways. I could let her believe that I was out having a great time, or I could let her see the real me. Did I really give a shit what she thought? For some reason, I did.

  I held my phone out as far as I could and snapped a picture. You could tell I was on my couch, with my feet up, a beer and bag of chips in my lap, alone.

  Me: Don't discount what you have, princess. It's actually pretty amazing. Goodnight!

  I attached the picture to the message and hit send. She needed to know how lucky she was to be sitting there with her kids and all of her family. I would have given anything to be sitting in the spot she was in right then.

  Chapter 11

  Cassie

  After two months, Lance and Lauren's house was finally perfect. We all showed up there with food and drinks to ring in the new year. The kids were having a blast. They were running from room to room, playing with Jackson's toys, and having a party with hats, streamers, and horns. The closer it got to midnight, the slower they moved. By the time we sat down to watch the ball drop, there were sleeping kids everywhere. Sammie had fallen asleep, leaning in against James' shoulder. Lauren was sitting on Lance's lap. My dad had my mom wrapped in his arms. Lance was on the floor, leaning back against the couch, with Lucy sitting between his outstretched legs. She was leaning back against his chest, and his arms were wrapped around her. Grandma was sitting on the couch, and I was squeezed in next to her.

  It was my first New Year's Eve alone, and I was okay with that. As I watched the ball slide down the pole, I thought about Parker. Was he out having a blast, or was he with his kids? I pulled my phone out of the back pocket of my jeans and brought it to life. When I thought about saying Happy New Year, he was the one I thought of. The second it turned midnight, I hit send on the message. When his reply came, I was happy to see that he'd even taken the time to read what I'd wrote. I didn't want him to think I was going to be a pain, so I told him I wouldn't bother him. When he said I was busier then him, I looked around the room and laughed. Then I replied. What I got back shocked me. He was alone, or at least that was how he made it look. It wasn't the picture but the words that went with it that got me.

  Wannabe: Don't discount what you have, princess. It's actually pretty amazing. Goodnight!

  That was it. He was done talking. That had quickly become our way of telling the other the conversation was over. I'd been the one to start it, but just like other things, he began using it too, especially when I didn't want him to.

  I let it go, but I thought about his words as I helped my dad get my kids into my Escalade. Then again as we carried them up the stairs at Sammie and James' house and to their rooms. I kissed them each on the forehead as I tucked them in, one by one. Once I said goodnight to my parents and grandma, I went to my room and got into bed. Then I thought about his words again. He'd been alone, without his kids or his family, all night. I'd been surrounded by screaming kids and crazy adults, but they were my family, every single one of them. It had been a fun night, even if I'd ended it alone.
r />   As I closed my eyes and drifted off to sleep, I realized that not once that night had I thought about Jeff. I didn't care where he was or what he was doing. If we'd been together, I would have been sitting with him, while the kids would have been in their beds as if it were any other night. Was that what I would have wanted? No. Not after I'd seen how much fun the night could really be. Not at all. Not ever again.

  When my parents and grandma said goodbye, which was a day later than it was supposed to be, my mom cried. She'd wanted me to go with them. So had my dad, but my grandma was right there by my side. They knew it wasn't a good idea for me to be that close to Jeff, but they were sad they wouldn't see me. Even though I was going to start my job with James, my mom kept saying I'd be back once the divorce was final. I didn't argue. There would be plenty of time before that would need to happen. Not to mention the fact that I hadn't even decided what I was going to do. There was a chance I would move back to Michigan, but there was also a chance that I wouldn't.

  “We'll see her,” my grandma said, trying her best to reassure my mom.

  Then she turned to me, took my hands in hers, and leaned in close to my ear.

  “Take some time,” she whispered. “Make some friends. Not everyone is like Jeff. There are good people in the world, good men. Even if they aren't what you originally expect them to be. They might not all be superheros, but they definitely aren't all wannabes. I love you, Cassie. Don't throw away everything good just because you had something bad.”

  “I love you too, Grandma,” I said, as I kissed her cheek and pulled back to look at her. “I get the feeling you'd definitely approve.”

  A huge smile covered her face.

  “Approve of what?” my mom asked.

  “I was just telling Cassie she needs to pay more attention to the Pirates,” grandma answered.

  “She's never liked the Pirates,” my mom said.

  “She does now,” grandma said, with a laugh. “Let's go. Cassie needs to rest for her first day on the job.”

  I hugged them all again. Then I watched as they walked to the car and backed down the driveway. When I took a step back and closed the door, I jumped.