When Lily Langston goes to a game with her best friend. The last thing she ever thought to happen was being hit in the face with a ball.
But what left her even more shocked was when the guest pitcher himself, the known ruthless billionaire Hayes Gr...
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"Laurie quit playing with your food," Lana scolds him as he pretends that his vegetables are having a conversation. He glances up at her and drops his utensils.
I look over to Hayes's father at the other end of the table. We hadn't officially met because, after rehearsal, we were rushed to dinner. Elijah has us on a tight schedule.
"So Lily, how is school? Where do you go again?" Hayes's mom asked me as I stared at Laurie.
"I'm in grad school at Northeastern for psychology; it's been good. Just a few more months til I'm free."
"A woman who values education," Laurie mused. "Most women meet a man like Hayes, drop out of school, and drown themselves in mo-"
"My daughter would never do such a thing." My mother glared at Laurie, but I wanted to crawl under the table. Because, in a way, I technically was using Hayes for money, but so was he. So when Olive laughs, I can't help but glare at her.
"Sorry was thinking about when my Aunt Kelly married a man for wealth. She popped out five brats, and now they live in Montauk."
"Oh, we summer on Montauk," Lana cuts in. Olive sucks in her lips and sinks further down into the seat. But then Lana stood, raising her glass, and we all looked up at her.
"Tomorrow will be a day to remember, the day when Lily joins our beautiful family." She smiles at me and looks at Hayes.
"I'm proud of you for finding true love and for being such an incredible, selfless woman to spend the rest of your life with." Hayes looks unsettled but more taken aback by her words.
"I'm happy you made your own path and found your own love. I wish you both many years of happiness, Lily and Hayes." She raises her glass, and everyone follows in pursuit, even Hayes's father.
We cheer, and the evening continues until Elijah instructs me to go to sleep. I get up and leave the table as Hayes follows behind me. I feel his hand placed on my lower back as we make our way back to the hotel.
He drops me at the door and doesn't make eye contact with me. "See you tomorrow," he mumbled. But instead, I lower myself below him so he can meet my eye.
"What happened today? Did you seem off when your mom gave the toast?" He didn't reply; he just stared at me. "Are you having doubts?"
"No, are you?" I shake my head.
"What bothered you?"
"Why is it your business?" he grumbled. As he turned away, I grabbed his arm, which caused him to shake it off immediately.
"Because I care," I admit. No matter how awful a person may be, despite my flaws, I still care, even if I don't know them.
"I don't need free therapy from an unlicensed therapist. I think I'd rather die than get psych advice from you." He turned away and stormed down the hall. He needed to take a happy pill or something.
