I was getting ready to turn eighteen and was looking forward to starting my senior year of high school. They say senior year is the best, but I wasn't so sure. Lance Smith, a retired Pittsburgh Pirate, was the most overprotective man I'd ever met. He was also my dad. I was Sammie, his little tomboy baseball player. That was the only way he'd ever see me. My bedroom walls were still covered with scenes he'd painted before I was even born. A picture of him still hung on my wall. The words date, boyfriend, and college all sent him into a crazy speech about his little girl not growing up. He used to joke that I wouldn't be able to date until I was thirty, but I was starting to think it wasn't a joke. I had one goal for the year. That goal was to go to prom. Every girl went to prom. It was the most important night of high school. My dad would surely have to let me go to that, right? When my parents told me that James Reid was moving into our house, I wasn't sure how I felt. They were so excited, especially my dad. James had finally agreed to sign on with the Pirates. He was a pitcher just like my dad. The thought of having him there to practice with had my dad jumping for joy. While I loved the game and played with him all the time, I'd never be a Pirate. Believe me, If I could, I would. You're probably wondering why James moving in would matter to me at all. He'd never be around. He'd always be with his team. We'd never see each other. James was three years and ten days older than me. We'd spent hours and hours playing ball with our dads growing up. Every time our families visited, we were together the entire time. He was the one person that never judged me. He was the one person that promised he'd always protect me and keep me safe. He was my best friend, he just didn't know it. There was something else he didn't know. I'd had a crush on him since I was thirteen. I would remember that moment forever, the moment that changed it all. James kissed me. It wasn't a big kiss. It was just a tiny moment where his lips touched mine. It was my first kiss. It meant nothing to him, and we never mentioned it again. Something about that tiny moment changed my life. One year, I told myself. I could get through one more year with the most overprotective father in the world. I could get through one year with James Reid living on the other side of my bedroom wall. In one year I'd be off at college and free of all the Pirates. Nothing was going to get in my way.

My senior year definitely had some ups and downs. I'd gone to my prom, but it hadn't worked out exactly like I thought it would. It was even better. My dream had come true. I'd finally gotten that second kiss from my best friend, after he'd saved me from my creepy date of course. That kiss led to the most amazing night of my life. Everything was perfect. At least I thought it was. Then I woke up the following morning and everything changed. It was all a mistake. He'd never know just how much those few words changed my life. I was going off to college, and I was looking forward to every moment of freedom that was coming my way. James Reid was going to be a thing of the past. I quickly learned what was good for him wasn't good for me. That man had another thing coming. I was done with both Pirates and their overprotective, crazy ways. It was time for me to have a little fun of my own. Did I mention, nothing was every easy when it came to James Reid? A Love for the Game Series 1. Showing Him Who's Boss Part 1,2,3 2. Playing Hardball Part 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 3. Falling for My Best Friend Part 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 4. Hacked by Love Part 1, 2, 3 5. Out of My League Part 1, 2, 3 6. Unbreakable Bond This story contains content which is intended for readers over the age of 18.

I was at college and finally free of the Pirates and their issues. Everything was perfect. I was still going to watch James at the home games. He didn't know it. Neither did my dad. There was no way I wanted them to think they still had any hold on me. It was my secret. When I showed up at the last game of the season, I saw something that broke my heart. It made me realize things needed to change. My dreams weren't going to come true. I wasn't going to get my man. I'd finally taken a step to move on with my life. I was going to a party to get James out of my mind for good. It was happening. I was moving on. All I had to do was find a guy it wouldn't be horrible to be with. One night was all I'd need. Then I'd know that being with James wasn't so special. He'd be a thing of the past. I'd be moving toward my future. Just when things were lining up perfectly, my knight with not so shiny armor showed up and ripped it all away. James stormed in like some kind of maniac, threw me over his shoulder, and took me away from the guy I'd decided was going to save the day. Fine job he did. I'd said some things I knew were wrong. Then I stormed off to leave James feeling just a small bit of the hurt he'd made me feel. Did it work? What would happen when I had to see him again, in front of both of our families? Then something happened I didn't see coming. James blurted out something that shook all our worlds. Was I going to walk away from my best friend when he needed someone on his side, or was I going to put my feelings aside and be there like I knew he would have been for me? A Love for the Game Series 1. Showing Him Who's Boss Part 1,2,3 2. Playing Hardball Part 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 3. Falling for My Best Friend Part 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 4. Hacked by Love Part 1, 2, 3 5. Out of My League Part 1, 2, 3 6. Unbreakable Bond This story contains content which is intended for readers over the age of 18.

"I don't want to play anymore." Those six words coming out of James' mouth stopped the world around us. They were the most powerful words I'd heard since "It was all a mistake." He was really beginning to have a knack with changing lives one sentence at a time. Both of our dads began asking questions. Then they started telling him how wrong he was. They knew exactly what he needed, time. The more they told him, the more irritated I got. While I thought James was crazy, I totally understood where he was coming from and what he was about to go through. My dad was much worse than his. He was convinced James was going to change his mind, just like he was convinced that I was his little girl that was never growing up. I'd decided to tell my dad I wasn't coming home that summer. He was already freaking out. It couldn't get much worse. That was what I thought anyway. Boy was I wrong. I thought my dad's head was going to blow right off of his shoulders. He let me know I was mistaken. Then he went on to tell James exactly what he needed to do. It didn't take long before I walked out the door and headed for school. It was New Year's Eve, but I wasn't dealing with it. I'd rather be alone in a dorm than listen to him go on and on. I'd had enough. James had the same idea. I met him in the parking lot of my dorm, and we went to a hotel. It was our night to get away from it all. We were two best friends spending time together. Everything was perfect. It couldn't have been any better. Then it happened. James did it again. "I love you, Sam." They were four simple words. It was one sentence. It was the one thing I'd wanted him to say since I was thirteen but never thought he would. My world stopped, and I knew my life would never be the same. A Love for the Game Series 1. Showing Him Who's Boss Part 1,2,3 2. Playing Hardball Part 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 3. Falling for My Best Friend Part 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 4. Hacked by Love Part 1, 2, 3 5. Out of My League Part 1, 2, 3 6. Unbreakable Bond This story contains content which is intended for readers over the age of 18.

When I heard James say that he loved me, I couldn't believe my ears. I wanted it to be true. I was also so afraid that I'd wake up to hear that it had all been a mistake again. That was the second best night of my life. We were really going to be together. I wanted every second with him I could get. He was going to be on the road again, and I was so busy with school. When I'd asked him if we could wait to tell our parents, he didn't want to do it, but he'd agreed to wait until I had my apartment and we were free to do as we pleased. That day came and went, but I still wasn't ready. Why wasn't I ready? He asked the me the same thing. He thought I was embarrassed of him. It was the opposite. I was afraid he'd decide what he'd have to go through wasn't worth it. I was afraid he'd walk away from me. Then it happened. My biggest fear came true. Only it wasn't our parents that caused it. It was me. I'd lost him. That was when I decided no matter what I had to do, I'd prove my love to him. I'd prove I was ready to fight for us. We were going to be together, and nothing was going to stand in our way. When the knock came at the door, I hadn't thought twice about answering it. When I swung the door opened, everything changed. The one person I never expected to be standing there was looking down at me, and I knew I was in a world of trouble. A Love for the Game Series Order: 1. Showing Him Who's Boss Part 1,2,3 2. Playing Hardball Part 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 3. Falling for My Best Friend Part 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 4. Hacked by Love Part 1, 2, 3 5. Out of My League Part 1, 2, 3 6. Unbreakable Bond This story contains content which is intended for readers over the age of 18.