Down the Line (Sports Romance) Read online

  Down the Line

  Book Four in the Summer Rush Series

  Cheryl Douglas

  Copyright © by Cheryl Douglas

  All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced, including photocopying, graphic, electronic, mechanical, taping, recording, sharing, or by any information retrieval system without the express written permission of the author and / or publisher. Exceptions include brief quotations embodied in critical articles and reviews.

  Persons, places and other entities represented in this book are deemed to be fictitious. They are not intended to represent actual places or entities currently or previously in existence or any person living or dead. This work is the product of the author’s imagination.

  Any and all inquiries to the author of this book should be directed to: [email protected]

  Down the Line © 2019 Cheryl Douglas

  Table of Contents

  Prologue

  Chapter One

  Chapter Two

  Chapter Three

  Chapter Four

  Chapter Five

  Chapter Six

  Chapter Seven

  Chapter Eight

  Chapter Nine

  Chapter Ten

  Chapter Eleven

  Chapter Twelve

  Chapter Thirteen

  Chapter Fourteen

  Chapter Fifteen

  Chapter Sixteen

  Chapter Seventeen

  Chapter Eighteen

  Chapter Nineteen

  Chapter Twenty

  About the Author

  Prologue

  Ten Years Earlier

  “I love you. I just… can’t be with you right now.”

  Ethan felt like the biggest fraud. He claimed to love Gracie—just not as much as baseball. That couldn’t be further from the truth. He loved her. He loved the sport. He just didn’t believe he could have them both.

  “What are you saying?” Her brown eyes filled with tears as she looked away. “You’re breaking up with me?”

  He hated to see her cry and would do almost anything to avoid it. But he couldn’t avoid it this time. He’d been putting this off too damn long. “I have to. I’m so sorry.”

  She stumbled back. “I don’t believe this. How can you do this? You said you loved me! What the hell—”

  “I do love you.”

  He reached out to comfort her, but she pulled away. Apparently, he’d given up the right to touch her. In a split second, after a few choice words, he wasn’t allowed to touch her anymore.

  His stomach bottomed out as the truth settled in. Gracie wasn’t his anymore. All the plans they’d made for the future? A bitter memory. Her smile wouldn’t be for him anymore. He wasn’t allowed to hold her, to kiss her, to make love to her. He wasn’t allowed to make any more promises… because he’d broken their trust. And her heart.

  “God, I’m so sorry.” The words must have sounded hollow to her, but he was sorry. Sorrier than he’d ever been about anything. But it was too late to turn back now. The damage was done. “I never meant to hurt you.”

  They were both too young. They had no business talking about forever. She still had to go to college. He had to finish college and hopefully get that major league contract he’d been busting his ass for since Little League. If he lost that, he’d have nothing to offer her anyway.

  “You never meant to hurt me?” She stared at him in disbelief. “You said you wanted to marry me. You said wherever you went, I’d go.”

  “I know what I said, but being away from you has been hell.”

  He’d never expected it to be so hard, but six months away from her felt like six years and he couldn’t go on like this another day. So something had to give. It couldn’t be baseball. Not after all the years he’d worked to make his dreams come true. Not given how close he was. He had no other choice. It had to be her. It had to be the only relationship that had ever meant anything to him.

  She gaped at him. “You think it’s been easy for me? I’ve missed you every single second. But I thought we were getting through it. I thought we were doing okay.”

  This conversation, seeing her cry, was tearing his heart out. He needed for it to be over, so he steeled himself and his tone. “You’re missing out on too much. You’re not even going to your prom because of me.” He would have taken her if he could have. But it was right in the middle of baseball season, which meant his team owned him. “That’s not fair to you. Think about it, Gracie. You’re going to be starting college soon. You’ll want to date, to see if there’s someone else out there who might…” He couldn’t finish that thought. It was too painful to contemplate.

  “Is that what this is about?” she whispered, sounding horrified. “You met someone else?”

  “What? No!” He grabbed her shoulders, but she pushed him away.

  “It is, isn’t it? You met someone else and you’re just too much of a coward to tell me!”

  “No.” He pulled his hand through his hair, tugging it slightly in frustration. “I swear to you, there’s no one else. It’s just… baseball.”

  It sounded stupid. But to him, that sport meant everything. It represented a chance to be somebody. To see his name in lights. To make it to the Hall of Fame and earn a championship ring. Someday. Someday he’d be living his dream. And Gracie would forgive him. Someday.

  “Baseball,” she repeated, as though hearing his claim for the first time. “You’re dumping me because of baseball. Because I’ve somehow tried to stand in the way of you playing the sport you love, of living your dream?” She spun away from him, screaming. “Ugh! All I’ve ever done is support you. I’m your biggest fan. I want you to succeed more than anyone!”

  “I know that.” And he loved her even more for it. No one had ever believed in him the way she did. Even his own family told him going pro was a long shot. Because it was. But he’d never been one to back down from a challenge and he wasn’t about to start now. Not with so much at stake. “But you don’t understand. School. You. Baseball. It’s all too much. I can’t…” He released a long, slow breath, knowing he had no words to make her understand. “I can’t do it all.”

  When she covered her face with her hands, he waited. But she didn’t say anything more.

  “I’m sorry.” He felt like a broken record, but he couldn’t think of anything else to say. “I don’t want you to hate me.”

  “Just go, Ethan.”

  “Let me take you home.”

  She shook her head, looking emotionally exhausted. “No, I want to stay here a little longer.”

  He’d call his sister, Gracie’s best friend, and ask her to pick her up. No way was he letting her walk home alone from the park in this condition. “If you ever need anything—”

  “I won’t.” She shook her head as she dried her tears. “Not from you.”

  He walked away, knowing the only thing he could give her now was time alone to absorb what he’d done. God. What the hell had he done?

  * * *

  Six Months Later

  Ethan could barely breathe as he rang Gracie’s doorbell. He had no idea what to say to her. He thought of all the possible scenarios, but he had only one purpose and it didn’t matter how he said it. He was there to beg her to take him back. He’d been a mess without her. He needed her in his life. Maybe even more then he needed baseball.

  She opened the door, her jaw dropping when she saw him. “What are you doing here?” She stepped out on the porch, closing the door. “Your sister said you were coming home for a visit, but I didn’t expect you to visit me.”

  “We need to talk.”

  She shook her head slowly as though she was considering his claim. “No, I don’
t think we do. You said all you had to say that night in the park. I got the message. Loud and clear. I’ve moved on with my life. I’m okay now, really. You don’t have to worry about me anymore.”

  He suddenly felt as if he’d swallowed a mouthful of cotton balls. “What do you mean you’ve moved on?”

  She quirked an eyebrow, looking curious. “You mean Bella didn’t tell you?”

  He didn’t ask his sister about her best friend. He couldn’t. It was too painful. Besides, Bella was still pissed at him for breaking Gracie’s heart. “Tell me what?”

  “I have a boyfriend now.”

  He swallowed repeatedly as he gripped the railing. His mind was wailing no, no, no, but her eyes told him yes. “How long?”

  “How long have I been seeing him?” She shrugged. “Just a few months. But it’s serious.”

  “Serious?” Someone could have stabbed him and it probably would have hurt less. “How serious? How goddamn serious can you be about a guy you’ve known three months?”

  “Sssh.” She looked around to make sure her neighbors hadn’t overheard his outburst. “We’re compatible. He’s sweet, and he’s good to me. Really good to me. He puts me first.”

  “Unlike me? Is that what you’re saying?” And he couldn’t even plead his case because she was right. He hadn’t put her first. And now it was too late to make up for his mistake. How could he have been so stupid?

  “I’m not angry with you anymore,” she said quietly. “If you’re here to ease your guilty conscience, you don’t have to worry.” Her smile was sad when she said, “Sure, I was crushed at first. I loved you so much. I never thought I could love anyone else. But life goes on, right?”

  Not for me it hasn’t! “Then you’re saying you’re in love with this guy?”

  Her nod was barely perceptible, but he saw it. He couldn’t have missed it. Hell, he felt it.

  “Wow.” He grabbed his head, wondering if it was possible for it to explode from the pressure building. “I don’t believe this.”

  This was not happening. It was a nightmare. His subconscious mind was punishing him for what he’d done to her. Any minute now, he’d wake up and realize it was just a dream. She wasn’t in love with someone else. She couldn’t be. She was his. And he was hers.

  “I’m not saying this to hurt you,” she said gently. “But, um, I think he might be the one.”

  “The one?” He was pretty sure his eyes were spitting fire at her. “You think he’s the goddamn one? What about me?” He grabbed his chest. “I thought I was the one you wanted to spend your life with. What about all of our plans? All of our dreams?”

  “You broke up with me, remember?” She stood a little taller. “You were the one who crushed those dreams. So don’t you dare stand here and tell me I don’t have the right to marry someone else.”

  “Marry?” His ears rang as he shook his head. “No. No, you wouldn’t do that. You wouldn’t marry a guy you barely know. That’s not you.”

  “I want to be happy,” she said, looking him in the eye. “Can’t you understand that? I got tired of feeling sad and brokenhearted. I just want to feel something again.”

  “You’re rushing into this,” he said, feeling panic swell. “You’re too young. My God, you just started college. You can’t get married.” Except to me.

  “We wouldn’t get engaged until Christmas.”

  Then they’d talked about it? They’d planned for it? She was serious about marrying another man?

  “And it would be a long engagement.”

  That didn’t make him feel better. Nothing could. “So if this guy proposes to you at Christmas, you’d actually say yes?” He needed to hear her say the words before he could really believe it.

  “I love him,” she whispered, closing her eyes. “So if he asks, I’ll say yes.”

  He shook his head in disbelief. How could she find the strength to fall in love when he’d been missing her so much he could barely find the strength to throw a baseball?

  “I guess you didn’t love me as much as you thought you did, huh?” He told himself it was better this way. At least now he could get over her. He didn’t have a choice.

  “That’s not true,” she said, reaching for his hand with a wistful smile. “I loved you with my whole heart. And I swear, no matter what happens, you’ll always have a part of it.”

  He wanted to ask for all of it. He wanted to ask her to dump her boyfriend so they could try again. But he knew he’d lost that right the day he chose the game over her.

  Chapter One

  Ethan snatched the phone as soon as he saw his sister’s number flash across the screen. “What the hell is wrong with you? Why would you tell Gracie what happened between me and Issie?”

  “Well, hello to you too, big brother.”

  “Cut the crap. I asked you a question. Why did you tell her?” The last thing he needed was for his ex-girlfriend to know that his ex-fiancée had cheated on him. On some fancy vacation he’d paid for. What a dumbass he’d been to trust her.

  “I didn’t know it was some big secret,” she said defensively.

  “You really thought I’d want her of all people to know?” He was pacing, trying to walk off his hangover, to no avail. His head was still screaming.

  “You two go way back. I say you get over what happened and let her be your friend.”

  “I don’t need her.” He’d once needed her. Too much. But he couldn’t afford to make that mistake again.

  “I hope you weren’t rude to her. She is my best friend, after all.”

  “You wouldn’t have had to worry about that if you’d kept your big mouth shut.”

  He and his sister were close, but sometimes she overstepped, forcing him to put her in her place. Like their mother, Bella was so sure she knew what and who was best for him. It didn’t seem to matter to either of them that Gracie had nearly destroyed him once. They both thought she should have the chance to do it again.

  “I don’t know why you’re so pissed at me. It’s that gold-digging tramp who screwed you over.”

  “Yeah, well, she’s not the only one. You’re family, Bella. You’re supposed to have my back.”

  “How dare you imply—”

  “Don’t shout,” he said, grabbing his head. “Have a heart.”

  “Please don’t tell me you tied one on over Issie. She is so not worth it.”

  “It’s the off-season. I can do whatever the hell I want for the next few months.” Even abuse his body.

  “I can’t believe you’re that upset about her. I know you tried convincing yourself that she was the love of your life, but nobody bought it, you know. Everyone saw right through her.”

  “Good to know.” Not that he cared what anyone else thought. If Issie hadn’t cheated on him, he would have married her. Maybe. Probably.

  “Grace’s ex is back in the picture, you know.”

  He held the phone away from his ear, glaring at it. “And you’re telling me this why?”

  “In case you decide to admit it.”

  “Admit what?”

  “That you’ve never really gotten over her.”

  He sank down on the couch, feeling the life drain out of him. “Look, I know you’re trying to help, but that girl kicked me in the teeth once before. I’m not going to give her a chance to do it again.”

  “Funny, the way I remember it, you were the one who dumped her.”

  “That’s not fair. You know how focused I was on baseball. I had that one shot to make the draft and—”

  “Save it.”

  He could imagine her rolling her eyes as he clenched his teeth and the phone at the same time. “I know I made a mistake. I was going to tell her that when I came home for summer break. But by then it was too late, wasn’t it? She’d already hooked up with Dr. D-bag.”

  Gracie’s ex-fiancé had been a pre-med student when they were dating, but he’d since gone on to become an optometrist, so Ethan had christened him with the nickname and used it whenever h
e and Bella spoke of her best friend’s ex. He knew it was immature, but it made him feel marginally better. Which was something, since every time he thought about Gracie, he felt like another little piece of him died.

  “You were just jealous of him,” Bella teased in a singsong voice. “He had your girl and you wanted her back.”

  She was right, damn it. Every time he saw the guy around town, he wanted to knock all of his teeth out. “You keep thinking that, but I’m telling you I’ve moved on with my life, Bell. Some of us have grown up.”

  “Oh yeah? If you’ve matured, why is your taste in women getting worse instead of better?”

  “Did you call just to bust my chops about Gracie or was there another reason?”

  Her voice softened when she said, “I was worried about you. Are you really okay after what that bitch did to you?”

  He’d called his sister, while he was drunk, on the limo ride from the airport to his house. He’d been slurring his words, if memory served, moaning about how he was done with women. He’d never trust another one.

  “I’m fine.”

  He realized he really was fine. Issie had hurt his pride more than his heart, which meant he’d had no business asking her to marry him in the first place.

  “You sure?”

  “I’m sure.”

  “I’m going to finish with the preliminary meetings for this job, then I’ll be home, okay?” His sister was a sought-after architect who routinely traveled for business.

  “Don’t rush back. Like I said, I’m fine.”

  “E?”

  “Yeah?”

  “Don’t bite my head off, but I have to ask. Are you sure you’re over Grace?”

  Never. “Why the hell are you asking me this?”

  “Like I said, Dr. D is back in the picture. I’d hate to see you lose out to him a second time.”

  Ethan’s competitiveness kicked in as a plan formed. “Thanks for checking in sis, but I gotta go. Talk later.”

  * * *

  Grace couldn’t believe her eyes when Ethan walked into her gym. He’d practically thrown her out of his house when she went to check on him that morning, so why was he here now, in her place of business?

  “Hey,” he said, nodding at her as his gaze traveled around the modern, open space. “I need a three-month membership. You do those, right?”