Of course Gareth told them to keep their mouths shut. Why would he not?
The city flashes by the car window, streaks of brick and steel, honking cars, and the sun fading into darkness. I never tear my eyes from the window, completely entranced by the cityscape emerging before me.
When the stadium comes into view, a sense of peace washes over me.
My drivers drop me off near the front entrance, spilling me out into a sea of fans, most of which are wearing the Crown’s team colors, plum and black. I stick out like a sore thumb in myBears jersey and ripped jeans, but I keep my head held high as I enter the stadium.
Inside, the noise amplifies. Following the signs, I make my way to the VIP box and find my seat. There’s only two other people in the box—an elderly man and woman. Someone’s parents, I assume. I smile at them as I drop into the hard plastic stadium seat and lean forward, staring down at the field.
There he is.
Fox, number twenty-seven.
Already in position at third, eyes honed in on the Crown’s player up to bat. I take a second to drink Gareth in, mouth salivating at the way his white baseball pants hug his ass, and the way the cuffs of his shirt accentuate his biceps.
I’m no better than a man.
The batter hits the ball, and it sails into the outfield. The outfielder catches it effortlessly before whipping it over to second, effectively taking out the Crown’s player who strayed first.
A double play, like it was nothing.
I’m on my feet in an instant, cheers pouring out of me like it’s my job, and it feels as if Gareth hears me, his eyes lifting to mine, even though there’s no realistic way he can.
The world stops, only for a second, but for that moment it’s just the two of us. His face breaks into a grin so wide and genuine, I feel all the air rush from my lungs as I gasp, wishing I could jump into his arms and kiss him senseless.
He winks, then turns back to the game.
Everything blurs into sound and excitement—the crack of the bat, the crowd cheering and singing. The Bears took an early lead against the Crowns and it’s been full speed ahead, with a few quick glances up to where I sit. Then Gareth scores the final home run of the night, leading them to victory.
The team erupts around him, celebrating their win.
Ripping off his helmet, Gareth’s hair is a sweaty mess, but his eyes are bright when they find mine. “I love you,” he mouths just before his teammates Austin and Jensen pull him further into the cohort of jerseys and laughter on the field.
My fingers curl tight around the railing, leaning over to watch them while my heart hums with the energy in the air.
I can’t believe I let myself miss out onyearsof this feeling.
Ofhim.
Of those looks. Those winks.
And those three little words mouthed from the field that hit harder than the game-winning ball.
CHAPTER TWENTY-TWO
I wait in the VIP box until the stadium starts to clear out, long after the team has disappeared through the tunnel to shower and change.
When it feels like I’ve overstayed my welcome, I pull my jacket tighter around my body and begin to wander, trying to figure out where the team locker rooms might be. I ask a security guard, but he only scowls at me, his frown lines deepening when I tell him I’m one of the player's girlfriends.
He probably thinks I’m a stalker, so I can’t really blame him for not being forthcoming with that information.
Eventually I find the edge of a corridor that seems promising, a large sign hanging down the tunneled hallway that reads ‘Authorized Personnel Only’. My boots echo as I move closer to the opening and lean against the wall. Across from where I’m at, there’s a merch stand and a nacho bar, and the employee smiles warmly at me. I’m seemingly the only soul in sight, this end of the stadium now abandoned.
I send a text to Gareth, letting him know where I’m at so he can find me, and it takes several minutes for it to send, reception spotty at best.
The rumble of a steel gate pulls down around the merchandise stand, locking everything in safely for the night, and I glance at my watch. The memory of Gareth’s home run flickers through my mind—the crack of the bat, the uproar of excitement when the Bears realized they’d won. Gareth’s smile when he glanced up at me and mouthedI love you.
I get lost in the daydream, my heart fluttering.
