He’s standing by the dugout. His back is to me, but the way Mateo and Ace are each holding on to his shoulders, tells me he must be raging.
God, if we have another fight on this field, I swear the baseball commissioner is going to take action against us. We survived the scandal with Mateo and Isa’s ex, but players get into scuffles all the time. Luke is an employee representing the Monarchs organization, and I don’t think they’d take too kindly to broadcasting him wringing a senator’s neck on live TV.
I jolt when I realize I don’t have to wonder what they’re talking about. I switch over to Luke’s channel and hear Mateo yelling exactly that into his ear. Next thing I know, they’re easing him back down into the dugout and out of my sight.
But I still have ears on him.
fifty-three
I’m pacing back andforth like a caged animal.
Tightening the bill of my baseball hat so my hands have something to do.
This is the first time I’ve been close to Damien since I helped Daisy run away from her wedding, and the knowledge that he is within reach is testing my restraints on civility.
He’s talking with the intern I saw earlier. And I can tell from here that the poor kid is in way over his head. He’s clutching a handheld microphone in his hands like his life depends on it. But Damien manages to slip it out of his hold with a flourish and a smile.
“Good evening, New York City! What an honor to be in your presence tonight.”
The crowd cheers. I imagine because New Yorkers are naturally inclined to clap whenever their city is celebrated and not because they give a damn about this idiot.
I look up at the crowd and can see looks of confusion mixed with shocked smiles. I’m sure many of them have seen the photos of him and Daisy and those that haven’t are about to be shown by their seat neighbor.
“I know this may come as a surprise to most, seeing me here tonight, especially if you’ve seen a colorful photo that’s been floating around social media for the past few hours.” He chuckles, but his eyes lack sincerity. “But I’m not here tonight as the man who is in the running to become the next governor of the greatest state in America. No, tonight I am here as a man who is trying his damnedest to get his woman back. A woman who is an integral part of the Monarchs family. My Daisy.” He places a hand across his chest.
Daisy barrels into the dugout, eyes searching for me, and I’m on her in an instant. “Are you okay? Did he try to find you first? What do you need—”
“I need Martinez to throw a ninety-nine-mile-per-hour fastball at his head. Maybe then he’ll get it through his thick skull that I’m done playing his games.”
“That’s a plan I can get behind. Just say the word, Coach.” Mateo sidles up next to me, eyes fixed on the field.
Damien is still yapping, earning a fewawws from the crowd. The fucker thinks he’s got everyone fooled.
But his first mistake was thinking he could play with Daisy’s heart.
His second was fucking with what’s mine.
And I think it’s about damn time he gets what’s coming to him.
I turn to Daisy, careful to keep an appropriate distance in case she’s not ready for another headline, this time with me being added to the mix. “Daisy, do you trust me?”
Her eyes soften as she places a hand on my chest, knowing full well that there are cameras on her, trying to capture her reaction to Damien. “With my life. So what do you have cooking in thatmind of yours, Coach?” She smirks, and the sight has me dying to pull her into my arms and lay one on her.
Just not yet.
I wink down at her before I speak loud enough for my guys to hear. “This is a ball game, after all, and I think it’s about time we all have a little fun. What do you say, boys?” I shout the last part.
A chorus offuck yeahs vibrate inside the dugout, causing more than a few heads to look our way. Damien’s head turns as well, eyes locking on Daisy as he continues to spew more nonsense that eats up airtime when we still have a game to play.
I look at my team and shout out orders. “Martinez, get that man a ball. If he’s so hell-bent on throwing the first pitch, let’s give him what he wants.”
He rubs his hands together. “Yo, Torres, get your ass over here,” he calls out to our catcher. “What do you think about fucking with that asshole over there?”
Torres comes to stand by us. “About fucking time. I was going gray waiting for you guys to make a damn move.”
“Daisy, last chance.” I look down at her excited eyes. “I can end this once and for all, but I gotta warn ya. Life is gonna get a little crazier after what I have planned.”
She steps closer, unwittingly close to unraveling my plans with the eager smile on her face. A smile I want to press my lips against. “If it’s a life with you, then I’m all for it.”
