“Have you never been to any baseball game?”
“No. This is my first one. I want to take in the whole experience.”
“I’ll have to get us football tickets next. Or would you prefer basketball or hockey?”
I don’t know enough about sports, but I don’t think those teams are playing for another couple of months.
“I want whichever is your favorite,” I tell him, the idea of planning a future date making my insides flutter.
The New England Hawks give up one hit in the first but get the third out before he can make it home. Their star pitcher, Asher Callahan, is starting tonight. He’s a good-looking guy, with sandy-blond hair and deep blue eyes that scream trouble. The kind of looks that get him whatever he wants, and he knows it.
It’s still early in the season, but the energy in the stadium is off the charts.
The teams switch places a couple more times, the game still tied at zero. But they’ve still put on a good show, despite the score not reflecting that.
Earlier, one of our players was out after the most epic diving catch. Plus, we got to witness what is apparently called a “pickle.” The stadium went nuts for that one.
The Hawks’ two hits in this inning have a man on first and third. But the two outs that followed has left them stranded.
And then Dallas Knight steps up to the plate. He reminds me a bit of Damian, all dark hair and dark eyes, a honey-brown complexion and intense look of concentration. Until the official picture of him shows up on the screen as he gets up to bat. A playful smile stretches across his face, making him look boyish and charming.
The sound of the bat hitting the ball sends the entire stadium into silence as we collectively watch the ball soar through the air. It flies over the wall, and the entire place erupts in cheers.
I jump to my feet, almost knocking my hat off my head with my flailing arms. Damian is right there with me, hooting and whistling like the rest of the crowd as the players round the bases.
Sweat, food, and beer surround us, yet I haven’t stopping grinning the entire game.
“Oh, oh, oh.” I whack Damian’s arm. “The hot dog guy. The hot dog guy.”
Damian shakes his head, just like he did when I stopped the popcorn, hard seltzer, and nacho vendors. His cheeks crease in a wide smile as he takes his card out again to pay for it.
“You don’t have to pay for everything. I can get us the next round if you want,” I tell him. It’s obvious we come from different classes, and since we’ve mostly spent our time in the comfort of his house, it hasn’t been an issue. But I don’t want Damian to think that I expect him to pay for everything, like I’m some freeloader.
“It’s money well spent, beautiful. I’ve dropped a lot more money on a lot worse things than making you smile.”
“Speaking of smiling, you might want to watch out, or your cheeks will get stuck that way.” I poke at his rounded cheek.
“Yeah, they already hurt from being overused. You’re going to need to make me frown more.”
“Sorry. I like your smile. It’s my mission to pull as many of them from you as I can.”
He leans in and places a quick kiss to my lips. “If anyone can, it’s you.”
Actions stop for a bit during the seventh inning. The big screen pans to the fans, getting the crowd engaged. It’s mostly kids dancing or the superfans with their faces and bodies painted the team colors.
“This is so much fun. We should do things like this more often,” I say. It’s more of a test of the waters to see where his head is at.Did he even realize he was making plans for the future?
“I agree. I haven’t been to a game in years before today. But I don’t remember them being this much fun with anyone else.”
He tilts his head to the side to kiss me without the hats getting in the way.
Out of the blue, the crowd around us cheers loudly. Someone behind us taps my shoulder.
“The screen,” the man yells.
I look up to the big screen where Damian and I are sitting front and center, the words Kiss Cam blinking across the top.
Damian turns his hat around with a smirk. He holds the back of my head, tugging my hair enough to tip my head back. His lips find mine in a hard, slow kiss. It steals my breath, the roar of the crowd fading away.
