Crimson Catch (Game Time #1)

by S. M. Donaldson

  I nod but start to cry the tears I can’t hold back anymore.

  When he goes to wipe my face, I wince. “What happened to your face?” he grinds out.

  “I…ugh. I got backhanded. It was after you left.”

  “What the hell?” He turns his head toward the house.

  “He’s gone now. My mom kicked him out. I just can’t stay there tonight.”

  He nods with fire in his eyes but calmly opens the door for me to climb in. As we drive off, he looks at me. “You’re not going to school tomorrow. We’ll have my mom call in for both of us. I’m taking you where I planned to take you tomorrow night. You need some time away from this. I’ll have Mom call your mom in the morning.”

  “Can we stop somewhere? I need some food and something for a headache.”

  He nods, pulling into the Wendy’s. “I’m getting you a large Frosty and French fries.” He orders both of those things plus several burgers. Next, he grabs a bottle of Motrin from his glove box. “I stay stocked up on Motrin for football.”

  “Oh.” I nod. “Thanks.” I take a sip from my coke as I swallow the pills. “My crazy family hasn’t run you off?”

  He shakes his head. “No, Jo. Never.”

  After I cram my belly full of food, I start to doze off. I hear him answer his phone.

  “Yes, Mom, she’s with me. Tell her not to worry. She just had to get out of there.” “I know, Mom, but her face is bruised. There is no way she’s going to school tomorrow.” “To the lake house.” “I know, Mom. No one will know if you don’t say anything. She just needs downtime.” “I understand, but can you just give me a little trust? Give her a little time in the middle of nowhere. She’s exhausted, Mom. She ate and passed out in the car.” “Mom, I respect her more than that. I understand you’re emotional. I’ll tell her you care about her, too. I love you, Mom, we’re about to hit the dead zone. I’ll call tomorrow.”

  I sit up in my seat. “We’re going to a lake house?”

  “Yeah, sorry to wake you. I guess your mom went in your room to check on you and you weren’t there so she called my mom. My mom is worried I’m bringing you here to defile you or something, but I really just figured you could use some time away. She’s worried about my dad’s image. I told her no one will know. She wanted me to make sure that I told you she cares about you. She would’ve liked to have checked you out herself. She’s got hormones going crazy right now. Your mom is upset, you should call her. My mom is going to, but I think she wants to hear from you. We have about ten more miles before we hit a dead zone,” he says.

  I grab my phone and call my mom. She picks up on the first ring. “Joelle. Young lady, you scared the hell out of me.”

  “I’m sorry, Mom. I was selfish, I just couldn’t breathe in there. I needed some space. Collin is taking me to their lake house. His mom knows. I’m embarrassed, Mom. I can’t go to school like this tomorrow,” I plead.

  “I understand, sweetie. Really I just wish you would’ve talked to me before you left. I’m so angry about everything else right now, I just need a break, too, I guess.” She pauses. “Just please don’t do anything stupid. I had you put on those pills for a reason. I know you guys will be unsupervised up there-.”

  I stop her. “Mom. I have a throbbing headache and I need to take some more ibuprofen. I promise I’ll call you tomorrow.”

  She sighs. “Put me on speaker.”

  I do. “Okay, Mom.”

  “Collin, keep an eye on her tonight. You’re a ball player so you understand the importance of watching out for a concussion.”

  “Yes, ma’am. I will.”

  “Oh, and you better respect my daughter.”

  “Yes, ma’am. Always.”

  “Goodnight, you two. Travel safe. Call me tomorrow, Jo.”

  She hangs up and I laugh. “Jeez, does everyone think we’re coming up here for a scrog-a-thon or something?”

  He shrugs. “Well, that kinda was my plans for tomorrow,” he says with laughter.

  I shake my head. “Shut up, I have a headache.”

  “Oh, how original,” he says, laughing.

  How did this happen? I need a break, Collin is right. I need room to breathe, scream, cry…jeez, whatever.

  Slumping back in the seat again, I feel myself being lulled to sleep by the road.

  CHAPTER 27

  Collin-

  Waking up this morning with her ass pressed to my crotch is a wonderful, yet painful experience. Thinking about it, I’ve been with girls, but I’ve never slept with a girl. I want to move, but this feels so good. She was so tired when we came in last night. I sent her to take a hot shower while I scarfed down two of the burgers I brought. I didn’t know what kind of food would be here so I brought extra burgers to throw in the fridge. Hey, I’m a guy, I’m not a grocery shopper.

  By the time I walked in here, she was curled up sound asleep and I couldn’t resist climbing in next to her. She smells like my body wash, which is funny since she normally has the scent of coconut.

  “Are you sniffing me?” she mumbles.

  I chuckle. “I am. You smell like me.”

  She rolls over onto her back. I run my hand up her leg, feeling the small sleep shorts she wears. Her tiny tank top gives me the perfect view. “Wicked woman,” I grumble. It would be so easy to go for it right now, but we need to talk before this happens.

  She giggles. “I need to brush my teeth before you come closer,” she says as she covers her mouth.

  “I’m gonna shower, you brush your teeth and we’ll go for a walk down by the lake. We need to talk about some stuff,” I say, walking to the bathroom. I’m trying my best, but I’m sure not succeeding in covering the problem in my boxers.

  Thirty minutes later, the two of us are sitting on an Adirondack chair by the lake. “Jo, you mean a lot to me. More than any girl I’ve ever been with. I know what you saw that night at the Monroe party with Callie. I’m sorry. She and I had hooked up a couple of times, that’s all it was. I would never treat you like that. We were both just…going through some stuff, for lack of better words.”

  “I’ll admit, while it’s hard for me to forget about it, it’s not like we were together. I mean I know you have a sexual past, it’s not like I can forget it.” She laughs.

  “Are you feeling okay today?” I ask.

  “Yeah, my face is a little sore, but not too bad. I’m not ready to go back though.” She sighs. “I’m just upset we can’t go out on our date.”

  “Let’s do it here. I’ll take you to a local place,” I suggest.

  “No, I hate the way my face looks right now.” A bruise has formed along her cheekbone and her lip is split on the corner. It’s not horrible though, but she’s hurting more than just where she was hit.

  “You look beautiful to me.” I hang my head for a second. “But I understand.” An idea hits me. “You go watch movies or something and relax. I’ve got to run into town and take care of a couple of things.” I jump up from the chair, almost tipping her out.

  “What?” she asks, confused.

  “Just roll with it.” I run through the house and grab my wallet, stopping long enough to check a couple of things in her bag. I see the packet of pills, so that answers that question.

  I set off to town to plan the perfect at home date.

  ~*~*~

  Two hours later, I return to the house with steaks, potatoes, salad fixings and cheesecake, which I picked up from a local steakhouse. Along with a couple of other surprises.

  “Jo,” I call out to her as I come in the front door.

  “In here,” she calls from the den. I step in there to see her on her laptop where she’s typing like crazy with the TV going.

  “What are you doing?”

  “Um, something for a class and watching a funny movie. I never get to really watch movies, so this is nice.” She sighs, putting away her laptop.

  “What’s the deal with you and that laptop? Are you looking at porn on it?” I wink. “I promise I wo
n’t tell, I may watch with you.”

  She throws a pillow at me. “No, asshole, I’m really working on something.” She throws up her hands. “No porn here.”

  “Damn.” I act disappointed and walk down the hallway to set a bag on my bed. As I come back into the living room, I see she’s watching the movie again. “Well, go to my bedroom. There is a surprise for you, for our date. You just do whatever you need to do to get ready and I’ll do the same here. Don’t come out. I’ll come get you.”

  After she walks down the hall, I get to work setting up for a romantic evening on the deck. Jo has to be one of the most supportive and giving people I know. Hell, look at the shit she’s seen me do and she still likes me. After what I heard her dad say to her last night, she deserves something nice. I’m going to give her fucking nice. I’m going all out with the dinner, a table cloth and candles. I checked her sizes in her bags earlier and bought her a nice dress to wear. I could tell she was really hurt that our date got messed up. I really wanted to take her out, too. I know she’s had to endure some catty remarks from bitches like Ciara, but she’s stuck to her guns. She’s the girl I want. I’ve told her that those girls’ attitudes make them ugly.

  A little bit later, I’ve changed into some khakis and a blue plaid button up shirt from one of the other closets. Walking down the hall, I knock on my bedroom door.

  She swings open the door wearing the black sundress I bought her with a red shrug. I never knew what a shrug was until today, but the lady selling me the dress said it was too cool for her to wear it without a shrug. So I bought a shrug.

  “You look gorgeous.” I lean in and give her a kiss on the cheek.

  “Thank you, but you didn’t have to buy me this dress and all, it’s too much.”

  “Never, come on.” I take her hand, pulling her to the back deck. “Welcome to Prescott Café. I hope you enjoy the cuisine because I let professionals cook it,” I say with a wink.

  She laughs so hard she snorts. “Well, thank goodness for that. I’m not really in the mood for the ER.” She looks around at everything I’ve done. “Wow, this is really beautiful. Prescott, you didn’t have to work so hard to get in my pants. We pretty much knew it was going to happen.” She winks.

  “Yeah, but it’s not just about getting in your pants. I wanted to show you how much I appreciate and care about you.”

  “Well, thank you. This is a wonderful first date.” She smiles shyly, sitting down.

  That’s something I’ve noticed about Jo. If it really touches her heart, she gets shy, no other time do I ever notice her get this way.

  CHAPTER 28

  Joelle-

  The food was awesome. I’ve never eaten a steak so tender in my life. And this cheesecake is to die for.

  “Thank you, Collin, this was awesome.” I take a bite from my cheesecake. “Especially the cheesecake.”

  “You deserve nice things to happen for you, Jo. I have one more surprise for you. I actually got these a couple of weeks ago and I was going to give them to you a little later, but I feel like now’s a great time. Also, I’ve already okayed it with your mom.”

  He slides an envelope across the table to me. I open it carefully and my breath catches. “Oh my god! No you didn’t! Holy shit! Is this for real?!” I squeal. I don’t think I’ve ever squealed in my life. I can’t come up with a decent way of saying thank you. I’m in such damn shock. “You got me tickets to STD! The show in Birmingham over fall break! Holy shit!” I can’t hardly breathe and right now, the sexiest guy I know is sitting across from me grinning like a cat that just ate the canary. I stand up and walk around the table, straddling his lap. “You’re so sexy when you do sweet things. And Memphis Black is just plain fucking sexy. Well, that whole band is sexy. But you’re here right now and none of them are, so…I guess I’ll have to be happy with you.”

  Leaning down, I start to kiss him. He pulls back. “So let me get this straight, you’re settling for me?”

  I nod. “Sorry, that’s just the way it is.” I start to kiss him again.

  “Damn, I guess I’m lucky then,” he mumbles before kissing me again.

  He lets out a deep moan. As always, our mouths work together in perfect sync. He stands, picking me up and walking me to his bedroom. Once we’re inside, he looks at me. “Are you sure?”

  I nod and he sets me down and we both start taking off our clothes. Our hands wander around each other’s bodies. Once I’m laid back on the bed, he grins. “I owe you one, remember? Well, I’m giving now.”

  As his hands creep up my thighs, I start to get nervous but then the intoxicating freedom sensation takes over. It’s like fireworks on the Fourth of July, mixed with that laughing gas the dentist gives. A few minutes later, he reaches over to his nightstand and grabs a condom. Kissing me full on, he asks again, “Are you sure?”

  I nod quickly. “Yes. Never been more sure. I want my first time with you,” I say quietly, praying he won’t stop. Gah, I’m being so girlie.

  As he lines himself up, I get nervous. “Babe, you have to relax, just stop me if it’s too much.”

  As I feel myself start to stretch, it’s a strange but exciting moment. Finally, he reaches the barrier. The barrier that say’s I’ll no longer be a virgin. The one that says I’ll no longer be that band geek girl who lets people run over her. For me, this is more than just sex. He looks me in the eyes again and I nod. As he pushes through, I cry out and he freezes. “Do I need to stop?”

  I shake my head. “No. J-just go slow.”

  I feel my heart speed up and beat rapidly with his movements. Soon, it’s like fireworks again going off in my body, making me forget my worries, even if only temporarily.

  A little while later, we are lying in bed wrapped up with each other. “W-was I okay?” I say a little nervously.

  That startles him. “What?”

  “Well, I mean I don’t have that much experience, not with any of it. I just wanted to make sure I did things right,” I mumble. Now I’m really nervous. What if he’s comparing me to the other girls he’s been with? I know I told him it didn’t matter, but it does. He’s my only, I don’t even know what number I am to him.

  “Baby, you’re perfect. I’m ashamed to say that I’ve never really cared about someone I’ve slept with before. Like had actual feelings for them,” he replies, showing embarrassment.

  “Oh, so I guess it’s like your first time, too, then,” I say with a nervous smile, trying to appear more confident.

  He grins and pulls me closer, “Yeah, I guess you could say that.”

  ~*~*~

  Saturday afternoon, I arrive at home to find all of my father’s belongings bagged up and in our front yard. If that wasn’t embarrassing enough, my dad is crying and moaning on the grass while my brother stands on the sidewalk with his arms crossed over his chest like he’s some kind of bouncer. Old Mrs. Chapman is standing out in her yard acting like she’s watering damn flowers that aren’t even there just so she can be nosey.

  My dad looks up to see me and he tries to stand up as I walk to the front door. “Jo, sweetheart.”

  James steps forward. “No. You will not harass Jo. You did enough the other night.”

  My dad has made it to his feet. “But James, I just want to say I’m sorry. I’m gonna get treatment, your mom will let me back in the house and we’ll be a family again,” my dad drunkenly rambles.

  I shake my head as I glance at James on one side of me and Collin on the other. “I hope that’s true, Dad, but I just can’t believe it right now.” I sigh. “Regardless, you need to do this for you. Your heart can’t take it. If you don’t stop, you’ll die. It’s that simple.”

  I don’t listen to what else is said. I just walk into the house, leaving the guys outside to deal with it. “Mom, I’m home.”

  She runs into the living room and pulls me into a hug. “Hey, sweetie. I’m glad you’re home.” She looks over the side of my face. “Well, it doesn’t look great, but it does look a little better
. I’m so sorry, sweetie. At least you should be able to cover it with some foundation now,” she says with an expression full of remorse.

  “Did you know he’s in the front yard along with his belongings?”

  “Well, I put his crap out there, but him showing up is new. I’ve been in my bedroom deep cleaning. Is he making a scene?” she says with a deep sigh.

  I shrug. “James is out there staring at him. He didn’t speak to him until I walked up and Dad tried to speak to me.”

  “Where’s James? Where is Collin?” she says, concerned.

  “Outside still,” I reply.

  She moves to the front door. “Mom,” I say, halting her steps. “James wants to do something else with his life. Not work in the hardware store or take it over someday,” I say absently before walking toward my room.

  A knock comes to my door about thirty minutes later. “Hey, can I come in?” Collin says.

  “Yeah,” I say softly.

  “I just want to say bye. I’ve got to get home. I’m sure my mom is freaking out. James and I got your dad to leave. He wasn’t happy, but he’s staying at the Econo Lodge in Monroe.”

  I shrug because I really don’t care where he’s staying. “Good, maybe he’ll stay out of the front yard,” I mumble, trying not to get upset.

  Collin starts for the door but stops and turns toward me. “They’re having a party tonight down at Daffin’s. I need to go because if I keep avoiding him, it’s only gonna make it worse on the field. I need the team to work together and if the rest of the team is going to be there, then so will I.” He lets out a large breath. “Do you wanna come with me? I understand if you don’t. I would love for you to come, but-.”

  I laugh and cut him off. “Damn, Atwood, stop rambling. I’ll go. I know you need to support your team. I’ll be there.”

  He grins, leaning down to kiss me. “Sounds great. I’ll swing by around seven, we’ll grab some food before we head out.”

  As soon as he leaves, I check my email. It appears Making the Catch is ready to go live. I’ve been prepping readers all week for the surprise release and feedback has been major, so here goes nothing. I load my document and cover, filling out all of the information for the book, review it all and hit publish. It’ll be live by tomorrow. Setting the computer aside, I go and talk to my mom for a little while before getting ready.