Throwing Love #3 (The Throwing Love Romance Series - Book #3)

TROWING
LOVE #3

By Nella
Tyler

This
book is a work of fiction. The names, characters, places and incidents are
products of the writer's imagination or have been used fictitiously and are not
to be construed as real. Any resemblance to persons, living or dead, actual
events, locales or organizations is entirely coincidental.

Copyright
© 2015 Nella Tyler

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Chapter One

“God, I still can't believe it's over, that you are finally
free of that mess,” I said.

Bennett put his arm around me and kissed me softly on the
lips. “I know. I find it hard to believe myself. There was a period there where
I really believed that I would never get to play baseball professionally
– it turns my stomach just thinking about it.” It totally turned my
stomach, as well, but I kept that thought to myself.

We were all sitting on the couch in the living room, the
movie all but forgotten. It remained on pause while the three of us talked
together. It had been amazing to see Bennett at my door, heart in hand. I had
been beginning to think that our relationship was truly over. Who could blame
me? How much more could we survive being in the spotlight over and over again?
Considering my articles certainly hadn't helped the situation, it was a miracle
he showed up at my house at all.

“I know, Bennett. It was really hard for both of us. I felt
so helpless through it all. I wish there was more I could have done.” I moved
in closer to him. I needed to feel close to him, I had missed him so much and
that connection between us had been missing.

“I'm sorry I made you feel that way. I should have focused
more on you instead of the stress. It would have been pretty stupid if I had
lost baseball and you. It's just hard for me...it's my dream. I thought I was
losing everything I had worked so hard for.”

Connie smiled, nodding her head.

I was glad to have her there, as well. It was good for her
to see that side of Bennett because she had only seen the bad side – the
side she felt wasn't good enough for me. She had been trying to get me to back
off from him for so long, and I almost did at one point. It was good for her to
see him feeling bad about how he acted.

“Well, maybe now you guys can finally get things back on
track,” she said with a smile.

I smiled. “That is my thought exactly. I can't wait to do
exactly that.”

Bennett smiled back at me. “I just knew it wasn't my ball,
ya know. But there it was and suddenly I'm being accused of something that I
never did. It was all just so crazy.”

I put my hand on his knee. “It's pretty messed up –
something that no one should have to experience ever.”

“I'm not completely clear on all that happened. My coach was
pretty vague about the details. I'm just glad I was proven innocent and all the
haters can leave me alone for awhile.”

“There will always be haters, Bennett,” I said with a laugh.
“You just need to forget they exist and focus on yourself. That's life in the
limelight, so you might as well get used to it.”

“Very true and I would like to focus on you, as well.” He
leaned in and kissed me on the mouth. I lingered in that kiss before I slipped
my tongue into his mouth to meet his.

Connie cleared her throat. “I think that's my cue to get up
and get some more drinks. Would you like anything Bennett?”

“Sure, I will have whatever you guys are having.”

“Wine it is, then.” She left us on the couch and went to get
another bottle of wine. Bennett leaned in and kissed me softly on the mouth
again. My body hummed every time our lips touched. I wanted to cry I was so
happy to have him there, in a good mood, all his worries gone. He was very
lucky. It could have easily gone the other way and then what would he do with
his life? Dreams can be crushed so easily, and there had been a lot of people
out there trying to crush his.

Connie returned with the bottle and an extra glass and
filled all our glasses. We all silently took a drink, taking everything in. It
was just amazing how quickly your life could change, and in Bennett's case, he
had nothing to do with it and there had been little he could do to change it.

Bennett turned to Connie. “I wanted to apologize to you,
too, Connie.”

She raised her eyebrows. “What for? I barely know you, what
have you done to me?”

“That's the whole point. I've been acting like an idiot
lately, focusing on myself and pushing Emmi away in the meantime. You must have
thought I was a real jerk. It's not who I am at all. I just have a hard time
dealing with situations like that. I would never hurt Emmi, and I just want you
to know that. You are a good friend to her, and I'm glad she has you.”

She smiled. “Well, I really appreciate that, Bennett. You're
a stand up guy.”

“She really means that, too,” I said with a laugh. “She
would totally tell you if she hated your guts.”

“Good to know,” he said, laughing.

“I'm not going to lie. I have told Emmi a few times to run
the other way in regards to you. Your lifestyle isn't the easiest thing for
anyone to have to deal with, especially a girlfriend. I think she's pretty
amazing despite her baseball obsession, and she deserves the best. If you think
you can't do that for her, then you need to step the other way.”

“I agree and like I said, I'm sorry. I want to take very
good care of her, and I'm hoping that it's smooth sailing from here on out.”

“Amen to that,” I agreed.

He turned to me. “I'm sorry if I hurt you, Emmi. That was
never my intention. I'm a mess sometimes. I'm glad you stood by me, even though
I didn't deserve it. I couldn't ask for a better girl.”

I smiled and leaned in for another kiss. “You're forgiven. I
would have done anything to help if I could. I hated having to write about you
the whole time when you were going through that. It definitely didn't help our
relationship at all.”

“Yeah, I know.”

Connie spoke up, “I still can't believe the gall of your
editor. She should have assigned that story to someone else. Rebecca was sure
chomping on the bit for another chance. I wonder what she thinks of the
announcement of your innocence. Having been wrong the whole time must be eating
away at her.”

I laughed, “Yeah, maybe. She's pretty ruthless, though.
She's probably just on to the next thing.”

“Yes, probably,” Connie said as she shook her head.

“I'm glad you ladies are so understanding. There is no
excuse for the way I acted, but I was just so frustrated, ya know? You have no
idea what it's like to know you are innocent, but have people not believe in
you.”

“I always believed in you, Bennett.”

He smiled and kissed me. “I know. I don't know what I would
have done if you didn't.”

“We totally understand why you went into jerk mode,
Bennett,” Connie said while laughing.

“Yeah, we totally understand. And even though I was in a
mess with my editor and forced to write those articles about you, I never once
doubted that you were innocent. I think everything is going to be okay now.”

“I'm so glad I had you by my side, Emmi. It really means a
lot to me.”

“Anytime, player.” I giggled as I kissed him again.

Chapter Two

After we finished the bottle of wine, Connie laid out on the
couch ready to go to sleep while finishing the movie we had abandoned earlier.
Bennett and I retreated to my room, and I could hear the movie playing as we
went down the hallway. We crawled onto my bed where I booted up my computer. I
wanted to write the story before I got word from my editor or before she
assigned it to someone else out of spite. I needed to get a move on writing it
as soon as possible. I wasn't sure what was going through her head at the
moment, but I wasn't going to take the chance that she would want me to put a
negative spin on the article. I was writing this one my way, and she would have
to deal with it.

Once I logged in and got a Word document up, I looked to
Bennett for guidance. He had something to say and now that he had been proven
innocent, he should have the opportunity to tell his story. I was going to
write the story from his perspective so that he could say what he needed to his
fans.

I typed away as he talked, getting in the moment. He was a
skilled athlete at the top of his game. He had been steps away from being
recruited to a number of teams and before he had the opportunity, scandal struck
out of nowhere. He was unprepared for it and believed the city and the world
would be behind him. He soon realized that things don't always work out like
that. Although he claimed his innocence on numerous occasions, he felt like
people had turned against him. H wasn't sure if the real story would ever come
to light. He still fought tooth and nail for his innocence, and that hard work
paid off. He had finally been proven innocent, and there was nothing anyone
could do to change that.

Bennett gave me plenty of quotes to work with, and I knew I
would have the exclusive from him that no other paper would get. I guess there
was more than one benefit to dating a sexy baseball player. I would be able to
announce his innocence before anyone else got the scoop.

The scandal would now turn on the real culprit who had put
the tar on the ball, and he would now have to face a suspension of his own. He
would also have to deal with the same kind of public scrutiny that Bennett had
to deal with, except in his case, it wouldn't end. He would not be exonerated
as Bennett had been. His career could very well be over. How tragic that he had
not come forward in the beginning to save Bennett, instead he had let him take
the fall for something he didn't do – not very honorable at all. That
would be something he would be attacked for in the media. The next few weeks
would not be easy for that guy.

I needed to be able to back up my information; however, I
wasn't about to do the same thing that Rebecca had done. Bennett helped me find
the avenues I needed to get proof of his claims. It had been easier than I
thought with Bennett's help, and I had everything I needed to make sure the
article was accurate. It turned out I had more than I needed to write the best
article I could.

“What I didn't tell you is that they gave me an official
letter that exonerates me. You can include it in the article and be that much
more amazing.”

I laughed. “That would do it. It’s great they gave that to
you. No other paper will have that lead.”

“I haven't even shown it to anyone; you will be the first to
see it.” He pulled it out of his pocket and handed it to me. I slowly read it
over and felt pride in what the administration had to say about Bennett and the
regret they had about accusing him. I was honored I was the first person he
showed it to. It really said a lot about what Bennett thought of me. I couldn't
have been happier that I would be the one that got to break the news of his
innocence before anyone else – especially since my articles since the
scandal broke had been terrible and only focused on his allegations. What was
better was that I had the inside scoop – I was telling the story from
Bennett's perspective; just like the features I used to do. People would really
know how he felt, and no other paper would get that vantage point. I couldn't
ask for a better source.

I was able to finish the article that night, and I submitted
it immediately to my editor to ensure that it would be in the paper first thing
in the morning. Despite my editor's opinion of Bennett, she would be thrilled
to have a front page story and even better, be the first paper to print it. A
copy of the letter was included, as well as an announcement that Bennett Thomas
would be reinstated as the pitcher for the Long Island Stingrays in time to
play the home game that following afternoon.