I tap him on the shoulder, then steady him when it seems like he might fall over. “Easy there, Tom. Wouldn’t want your wife to be mad at me for not letting you go home in one piece. Especially after you tell her you can retire after tonight.”
“Wait, what? Seriously? You’re going to give me the shot everyone’s been clamoring for?” His body shakes with excitement.
I’m called onto the field for the national anthem and simply nod as I pass him. “I’ll signal you when it’s time to come over. Hopefully it’s when our team takes the win.” I wink then turn back to line up with my team.
The anthems are sung, and before I know it, I’m back in my spot in the dugout. I’m busy talking to the pitching coach when an announcement snaps my attention back to the field, and I see red.
“And as a surprise to the Monarchs family, New York Senator Damien Fischer is here to throw the ceremonial first pitch.”
fifty-two
“You can all stoplooking at me weird. I’m fine.”
Luisa, Isa, and I exchange looks of concern, but Valentina carries on as if we’re not deliberately staring at her.
While I was on my way down to the suite, I got a text from Valentina asking if it was too late to snag an invite to the game. I was surprised to hear that she wanted to come after Luke told me she had turned down every invite he’d sent her way. Even more so when she told me she was standing outside the stadium gates.
I had security track her down and send her my way immediately.
She looked more than a little rattled when she entered the suite with me, but I guess there’s nothing that a stadium hot dog and a cold beer can’t fix.
“I think I want another hot dog. Is it just me, or does free food taste better?” she asks as she stands to make her way to the catering station that’s been laid out for us.
“No, you’re onto something. No offense to the staff that cook for us, but why else would I be downing this much food if it weren’t for the fact that I knew it’d be going to waste otherwise?” Isa states as she balances three snacks on her thighs.
Luisa shakes her head. “We stagger out the plates in batches, and whatever isn’t consumed by the suite guests at the end of the night, the kitchen packages up and sends over to the local homeless shelter. It’s impossible to have no waste with over seventy thousand consumers a game, but we try our best to not go overboard and make sure to feed those in need no matter what.”
I sigh. “My hero.”
Luisa rolls her eyes but knocks shoulders with me as she does.
“So you saw your ex tonight. How did my brother take that?” Valentina says salaciously, taking a bite of her hotdog.
I laugh nervously, cheeks reddening at the memory of what I experienced at the hands of her brother.
“Ew, never mind. I don’t wanna know. To think I thought you had rolled your ankle or something because you were walking funny.” Valentina shudders.
“Anyway, I think I need to focus on the voices in my head.” I point to my headset as I blush from head to toe.
“Is that why you made me get up and get you a cider instead of getting it for yourself?” Isa cackles from where she sits behind me, and I shake my head.
“Well, at least there’s no misunderstandings after you gave your ex the one finger salute. With two hands. A classy touch if you ask me,” Valentina says before taking another large bite.
“I’m glad I finally put that behind me, and that I’ll never have to see him again.”
My team starts talking over themselves at a rapid pace, and I wince, lowering my headset volume. “Guys, settle down. I can’t hear you all at once.”
Valentina starts to choke next to me, eyes wide as she stares down at the field.
I start smacking her back, trying to remember if I know the right way to do the Heimlich, when she swats my hand away and forces herself to swallow. “Daisy, what the fuck is your ex doing down there?” She points down at the field.
My girls and I stand, snacks and drinks discarded at our feet as I stare down in horror at the sight before me.
Damien’s jogging up to the pitcher’s mound, waving at the crowd with a wide smile on his face and a mic in hand.
“How the hell did he get on my damn field?” My brother bursts into the suite, but I pay him no mind as he and Luisa take off with security in tow.
Oh God. Luke is also down there. Fuck.
