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Chapter 87
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Completion Chapter 88
His car roared away while I stood in stunned silence."What the hell's in the box, sis?"I walked to the table and lifted the lid, handing one of the Plexiglas-encased balls to my brother. It was marked with a small plaque showing the name and date."Holy shit, it's a Babe Ruth."At least it was someone I'd heard of and I didn't feel stupid. I picked up another, lifting it to the dim light. Mickey Mantle, someone else I'd heard of, so I knew these balls were worth some money.When word went out on the street that Big Jim, the local fence, would pay ten grand for Reed Tyler's autographed baseball collection, I had no idea exactly which balls I was after. I just figured that some dumbass rich jock could afford to lose them. I didn't know Reed's father gave them to him. I looked down. There was one more in the box. I peeked inside with my brother peering over my shoulder.I picked it up.Jon whispered, reverence dripping from his voice. "Joe Jackson. Holy shit, that's Shoeless Joe'
Completion Chapter 89
I thought I'd been kissed before, but I was so wrong. Those boys made weak bumbling attempts compared to what Reed did with his mouth. He explored mine, his tongue dodging, licking, and seeking. The kiss went on and on, his hand threaded through my hair, his other smoothed over my ear then across my jaw. When he pulled away, he rested his forehead against mine, his heavy breath warm with the delicious smell that matched his taste."That wasn't a very good idea," he said without pulling away."Then why did you do it?" A low breathy whisper had replaced my real voice.He leaned back, the intensity in his eyes captivated me. "Honestly, I don't know. You're still too young for fuck's sake.""For two more months and since you're such an old man at twenty-five, I'm sure you'll be arrested for cradle robbing." Jon had told me Reed's age and other interesting tidbits about Mr. Baseball Man.He released my hair, moving his hands up my arms until both rested against my throat, his thumbs ru
Completion Chapter 90
He shut off his car as soon as he pulled up in front of the trailer. The sudden quiet, though welcome, made me uncomfortable. I placed my hand on the door handle."Could we talk for a minute?" His sexy voice had dipped to an even lower tone. Shivers ran across my skin."Talking won't change anything.""This talk might." He sounded so sure of himself.I turned to face him. "Look, Reed, I'm not going to be your girlfriend. I don't need rides home or your jackets." I was such a liar. I never wanted to give up the jacket enveloping me in warmth and his scent. I wanted to roll in his smell, coating my body with Reed Tyler."I'd like you to work for me."Well that made me laugh. "Doing what? Your laundry, cleaning?""Don't you think it's a better gig than Tasty Burger?"I'd said my last words as a joke, but, God, he was serious. "I am not going to be your maid. The idea is ridiculous.""Just hear me out.""No." Why did he always bring my pride to the forefront?"I have an apartmen
Completion Chapter 91
I hid Don Gato under Reed's jacket when I got on the bus. I looked like I was six-months pregnant, but there was no way I could walk the entire way. It was now a little more than an hour after Jon and Bitsy had left for school. Don Gato was still alive when I knocked on Reed's door.During the entire trip, I swore I wouldn't cry. Reed answered the door with bedhead, no shirt, low-slung sweatpants, and a sleepy adorable look on his face."I need your help and-and I'll sleep with you to get it."Anger quickly replaced the sleepy look and, for a moment, I thought he would close the door in my face."What. The. Fuck, Jaycee?"I started crying. It wasn't soft or delicate, pretty, or feminine. It just poured out. I unzipped the jacket and uncovered Don Gato."I don't want him to suffer, but I couldn't kill him. I don't have the money to have him put down and I couldn't do it." I was repeating myself and blubbering like a fool."Christ."His arms closed around Don Gato and me at the s
Completion Chapter 92
Reed didn't care about my mood disorder; he just started pumping me for information. "Tell me about your classes?" he asked after we placed our orders.Someday I'd get the unsociable girl attitude down properly. I gave in with a small puff of air, which moved a few flighty strands of hair from my face. "There are only two this semestermath and English. At the rate I'm going, I'll graduate from college in ten years.""You're taking an advanced math course.""I tested out of basic, took two math courses last semester, and decided to push myself a little this time. I know it's weird, but I like anything to do with numbers. ""Do you ever play Sudoku?"I rolled my eyes. "Not anymore. They're too easy.""Prove it." He stood up and walked to the diner's front counter, grabbing a newspaper.I used to play the puzzles from the newspapers at the library, but seriously, they became too easy. He went through the paper and folded it before placing it in front of me."Are you going to time
Completion Chapter 93
Bitsy's smile disappeared when she saw I didn't have Don Gato and her lips started quivering. Jon looked resigned."He's at the vet, Bitsy. They think he has an infection and they're keeping him overnight for fluids and medicine." I turned to Jon so he would understand. "Reed gave me a ride to the vet's office."Jon's eyes narrowed. "Is he paying for it?"I looked back at Bitsy and smiled at her. "No, the doctor said he would take the bunny money as payment in full." If I was going to start a lifetime of lying, I might as well make it good.There was no chance Jon believed me, but he would keep quiet with Bitsy within earshot.I cooked dinner and had just enough time to make it to my evening class. I only had to go to the community college once a week because I used a computer at the library and took most of the course online. It was easier to work around my schedule this way. I turned in my assignment, did my lab, and walked outside to catch the bus.Several guys stood about ten
Completion Chapter 94
Bitsy was already asleep when I got inside. Jon was on the couch holding tightly to his phone. "Are we keeping them?"He knew me too well. Hell, maybe he didn't, because it had never occurred to him that I'd commit a felony for money. It was a good thing that he didn't know to what extent I'd go to in order to keep my siblings safe, or my sister's cat from suffering."I don't know how long Reed's good intentions will last, but we can keep them until he stops paying for the service."Jon gave me one of his rare smiles. "We have unlimited everything, including the internet. Reed says the phones can be used as hotspots and we can connect to the internet on a laptop.""Did you tell him we don't have a laptop?" I already knew the answer."I may have.""This is not good, Jon. Nothing is free.""You seemed to think stealing those baseballs was free. You could have gone to prison, Jaycee. What would we have done if it was someone other than Reed who caught you? Just because Big Jim said
Completion Chapter 95
The pizza place had games with flashing lights, screaming kids, and harassed-looking parents. Reed, who seemed overwhelmed by Bitsy's earlier questions, had no problem playing games like a kid and putting tokens in the machines as fast as they could use them. Jon mostly stayed back watching Bitsy closely. He watched Reed too, and I knew he was having just as much trouble trying to figure him out as I did."This is the best pizza in the whole wide world," Bitsy said after she finished her first slice, sauce smeared across her mouth and pure joy in every word.After we finished eating, I watched her and Reed play more games. It started getting late and I hated to ruin the fun, but we still had homework to finish."Play a round of foosball with me and then we'll go." There was a gleam in Reed's eye, the carefree kid in him evident.I had to fight rolling my eyes. "I don't know how to play foosball and I thought you were the baseball man.""Come on, I'll show you." He took my hand, pu
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