Night Games Read Free Page B

clean getaway.” He runs toward the Toyota Prius, getting behind the wheel without bothering to open the passenger door for me. What? The Kings couldn’t hire an experienced driver or at least a town car? I can’t remember the last time I was in something that wasn’t a Lexus or a Mercedes.
    Before I can even buckle my seatbelt, Noah floors it, pulling away from the curb with gusto.
    “I’ve always wanted to do that,” he chuckles, gazing in the rearview mirror. “We left those suckers in the dust!”
    “Well, you can slow down. We didn’t rob a bank.”
    “Yes, sir. Mr. Whitfield, sir.”
    “Dude, call me Chase.”
    “Righteous!” His curly hair is fro’ed out and his forehead is all sweaty, even with the air conditioner on. “You wanna know something? In high school, when I was the catcher on our team, I made sure to choose three as my jersey number—in honor of you, of course. Dude, you’re like my idol.”
    “That’s funny. You look more like a football player to me.” And he does, probably weighing in at over three hundred pounds.
    “Yeah, I was in better shape back then. Now I just sit on my ass all day, carting people around and eating too much fast food. I never intended to bulk up like this. I work for my dad, so he’s always busting my ass, keeping me busy. I never have time to hit the gym and work out anymore.”
    I feel a momentary prick of guilt. That’s all I’ve been doing since April—focusing on my body, getting it in the most optimum condition possible. Sure, it’s a bit excessive, but I have a physical job that requires me to stay fit. When I’m on the field, I need to know that every muscle is ready to go, even if I’m only out there for three hours a day. The rest of the time I’m sitting on my butt just like Noah, but he doesn’t need to know that.
    “Noah, how old are you anyway?”
    “Twenty-two. Don’t worry. I’m of age if you’re planning on hitting the clubs. I make an excellent wingman.”
    I exhale sharply through my nose. Like that’s going to happen. Someone please shoot me now.
    “Stockton is on fire, man. The whole city’s buzzing about you. It’s like a friggin’ coronation or something.”
    “What do you mean?” I prod, alarm bells going off in my head.
    “Just check out the front page of the paper, man,” Noah says, whacking me in the arm with a rolled-up copy that he had sticking out of the cup holder.
    As I smooth it out, my jaw starts to clench as I’m assaulted by a thick, black headline.
    THE CHASE IS ON! STOCKTON GEARS UP TO STALK WHITFIELD!
    “Pretty cool, huh?” Noah grins at me.
    I grunt in response. It’s official. This week is going to be my own personal version of hell.

Chapter Three
    Grey
    “Chase, baby! Here we come!” Erin shouts from the window of my pickup, getting the cars around us to honk their horns in agreement.
    “Girl, you are whacked.” I shake my head with a groan.
    We’ve been in bumper-to-bumper traffic since we got off the interstate, and the game starts in a little over an hour. I fidget, tapping the steering wheel with my nails. The line of vehicles is crawling up the mountain toward Beaver Field. I should have known that everyone in creation would turn out to see Chase.
    It’s not often that something as exciting as this happens in Stockton. We don’t have too many celebrities stopping by for a visit. Facebook is blowing up with all of the alleged Chase sightings around town. Erin is furiously scanning through them on her phone, hoping to gain some kind of an advantage. She’s determined to meet him tonight and she’s not going to give up until she does. I’m already of thinking of ways to soften the blow when it doesn’t happen. She’s going to be a sobbing mess after downing a couple of beers. I don’t want her kids to have to see her like that, even though they should be asleep by the time I bring her home.
    “Missy says that she saw him downtown near the Sheraton, so that’s where he must be