The Sweet Spot - Strike Zone Series Book 1

Chapter 5

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Chapter 5

Nate

      What the....!?

     Kayleigh said she moved in here a couple weeks ago, but there's literally nothing here. No furniture, no knicknacks, no nothing but a couple blankets, a tiny TV and an air mattress.

Where's her couch, chair, pictures? She has a single pot on the counter and one set of silverware on the side of the sink, like they're drying. There's no coffee machine, no salt and pepper shakers, no equipment of any kind. The only thing I see in this kitchen is an almost empty bag of cereal and a package of popcorn.

     Molly wanders to the living room and stands in front of the sliding glass door looking out. "This is one amazing view! I can totally see why you got this place. It's awesome." She strolled around like she wants to move in herself. "So when does your stuff get here? I bet you can't wait to sleep in your own bed again. Moving is such a pain, isn't it?"

     Kayleigh just stands there by the door, twisting the bottom of her shirt. She's nervous. I tend to get that a lot. Dillon and I are used to making kids nervous, women not so much. Women usually throw themselves at us. I'm not used to a woman getting nervous, this is different.

     "Yeah, I don't like change much." Kayleigh admits softly. She stays close to the door, like she's ready to run if something scares her. She looks like a scared child who's waiting for the punishment to come. Wow! I've never seen someone who wants me to leave as much as she does right now. That just makes me want to stay. "I'm sorry, I wasn't expecting company. I don't have anything here... to eat... or anything."

    Molly just waves her hand in the air, not concerned at all about that. "Oh, no worries, we brought our own. D?  Why don't you and Nate go down to the car and bring the rest up? I want to hang out on this deck and chill." Molly orders us out. Tilting her head slightly toward the door to go as she opens the sliding door and goes outside.

     Dillon slaps my shoulder and nudges me toward the door. "Come on, dude, you're helping."

      Looking at Kayleigh, I wonder if she is really okay or if we just stumbled in on a woman who has had a lot of trouble. She's not comfortable with us here. I see that much but there's more to it. I get the feeling she's used to being ridiculed, put down. She doesn't have much self esteem.

    We get in the elevator and Dillon scowls at me as he pushes the down button. "Okay, so what the fuck was that about? She took off running like she was in trouble and you chased her. On crutches! You have never chased a woman, even a willing one. That chick ain't willing. And I know she said that she moved in here weeks ago when we took her home. Why is there nothing in that place?"

     Leaning my armpits heavily on the crutches, I scrub my hands over my face and breathe deeply. I don't have the answers. I'm pretty sure she doesn't have anything to her name though. She had two very cheap items in her cart at the store, nothing on the counter or in the room. I'm pretty sure she needs everything, including a job thanks to me.

     I completely screwed this girl's life up.

     "Nate? She was fired, right?" Dillon presses me again for answers.

     "I think this is my fault." I admit to him, just barely audible as we walk to the car. Molly had driven over with all our groceries in the back. "Bring everything up for her."

     "Uh!? I don't think so." Dillon protests, shaking his head. Dillon doesn't share his Cocoa Puffs.

     Sometimes I really wonder how we're related. Dead arming him, I open the trunk and start pulling out all the bags and my twelve pack of beer that I'll be sharing. "I'll buy you more! She has nothing, you saw that. She got fired because of me, I know that!" At least I think she did. I have to help her. "Give her the groceries, it's the least we can do. Can you find out who the management company is here?"