How lucky is he that he gets to be here with her.
How lucky is he that he gets to beseenwith her.
I don’t know if I’ve ever been more envious of another person in my entire life.
23
Reese
“Drinks are in here,” I tell Michael, showing him the mini fridge in my suite. “But if there’s anything you want that you’re not seeing, we can get it for you.”
“This is amazing. The view is...” He shakes his head in disbelief. “Thank you for hosting us.”
“I’m happy to.” I gesture to Ed. “Your dad has watched quite a few games from up here with my grandfather, so he can show you anything I may have missed.”
Michael slowly migrates through the suite, checking out the television screens and the spread of food as Ed stays by my side.
Since Michael moved back to Chicago last month, Ed has practically been floating on cloud nine, having his son home again. And after Michael mentioned that his dad had been wanting to get him to a game, I figured why not let them enjoy their day together from my suite.
I’ll probably watch the game from my office or see if I can get away with doing a couple of incognito laps around the stadium, but I’ll leave the suite to just the two of them.
“Thanks so much, Reese,” Ed says to me quietly. “I can’t think of a better way to spend the day with my son.”
“Of course. You’re both welcome anytime. After all the years you’ve worked with my grandfather and now me, it’s the least I can do.”
He nudges his shoulder into mine. “Michael mentioned that you two went to dinner a couple of weeks ago.”
I offer him a placating smile. “We did. It was nice, but I think we’ll be better off as friends.”
Ed chuckles. “Yeah, that’s what he said too, but a father can dream.”
“Well, I hope you two have fun together today.”
“We will.” Ed takes off to join his son. “Thank you again.”
Before I go, I check the view, watching the seats slowly fill with fans. The sun has begun its descent, the stadium lights have just kicked on, and I couldn’t ask for a more perfect Sunday night for baseball.
I adore these kinds of early summer nights. The weather is starting to warm up, but the humidity is still low. Though there are still plenty of rainy days, they just make these dry ones all the more special.
I want to get out there. To feel the buzz of the fans, to experience that pregame energy in the dugout. To get a quick moment alone with the field manager before the first pitch is thrown out.
Letting my eyes drift down to the dugout, I find Emmett in his usual spot, leaning his elbows on the railing that acts as a barrier from the field. He’s alone, and it just makes me that much more eager to get down there for my new favorite pregame ritual.
I say a quick goodbye to Ed and Michael as I rush out of the suite and down the hallway. I press the button for the elevator a few too many times, and when it drops me on the clubhouse level, I should be embarrassed with how quickly my heels tap against the cement, hurrying my way outside.
“Hi, Reese!” Isaiah calls out, jogging past me in the tunnel to the field. “Bye, Reese!”
“Good luck!” I shout at his back, where the number nineteen is stitched on his jersey.
In the distance, I watch Isaiah smack Emmett on the back as he passes him, jogging up the steps to the field. But once he’s outof the way, I realize Emmett is no longer alone in the dugout the way he was when I was spying on him from my suite.
The reporter who has made it clear on multiple occasions that she’s interested in him is out there too. Kelly, I believe is her name.
I’m not usually the type to stand back instead of going after what I want. But in this case, I’ll never get to have who I want, so I stay hidden in the empty tunnel.
Emmett’s back is to me, but I can see Kelly’s face clearly from here. It’s beautiful.She’sbeautiful, as is that beaming smile she’s wearing while talking to my field manager. I can’t hear what they’re speaking about, but the body language is far too casual to be an interview. Not to mention, she doesn’t have a recorder or a notebook in her hands right now.
Whatever they’re talking about is personal. And all I can focus on is how lucky she is that she gets to speak to him in a personal manner while in public.
