“In the friends and family section.”
That set them off again.
I knew they were just teasing, and truth be told, I probably would have done the same two months ago. But that was beforeI was Jared Pink’s girlfriend—hisrealgirlfriend. And despite my concerns, most of which had subsided since we’d made things official between us, I thought it was a fair assessment to say that I was knocking the baseball girlfriend thing out of the park.
I had even custom ordered a jersey to wear to his game next week . . . and hopefully fuck him in later that night. The way I wanted to make that man mine while wearing his name. Mm, I got wet just thinking about it.
“So, who do we think is next?” June asked a few minutes later in between rounds of play.
I tilted my head to the side. “It’s Jo’s turn, isn’t it?”
“No, no. I meant who’s snagging the next Roaster? Clarke and Soren are all shacked up, and you and Pink are fucking around the clock.” She jerked her thumb over her shoulder toward Jo. “Jo is happily married to a man that worships the ground he walks on.
“Ay, mami.That doesn’t mean I can’t look.”
“That just leaves Dani and me.”
Dani’s head snapped up, her eyes meeting mine for the first time tonight, silently pleading with me not to say a word. She didn’t have to worry; my lips were sealed. Teasing was one thing, but outing somebody or their relationship was another. Who Dani decided to let into her bed was entirely up to her.
“Unless you’ve already sampled someroastedgoods,” June suggested, wagging her eyebrows suggestively.
“Goodness gracious,” Clarke exclaimed. Her Southernisms would never not be amusing. “Dani would never get involved with a co-worker. She’s way too professional. You should see how organized her desk is.”
Dani shrunk back into her chair. If there was one thing I had learned about her during the first few months of our friendship, it was the fact that she never liked being the center of attention, let alone scrutiny.
“My vote is for June and Wes,” I suggested, attempting to shift the focus away from Dani. “I know he’s a little quiet, but the man can cook. And well, she can’t.”
June clapped a hand across her chest, feigning outrage. “You take that back before I cast a spell on your elfling.”
“That’s okay,” Dani said. “I’ll protect you.”
The grateful smile on her lips was all the assurance I needed. Dani was my friend, and as such she was important to me, but more than that, she meant a lot to Jared. What kind of partner would I be if I didn’t support the people closest to him?
“Bring it on, hag.”
Pink
Toothbrush, phone charger, Blue Beary.
My packing list played over and over, circling my brain like a song stuck on repeat. Even after a few thousand or so away games in my career, I still got anxious about packing. Blame it on the one time my phone had died while driving around rural Ohio. It had taken me hours to find my way back to our hotel.
This time around, though, my nerves had less to do with forgetting my charger and more to do with what the next two days meant for me and my career. There was a finite list of players who had made it to the World Series in their first couple of years in the big leagues. I had come close last season in Baltimore, and now I was hungry for more.
I wanted it all, and I wasn’t the only one.
Soren only had a few years left in him, and after the ups and downs of his career, he deserved a big win. Matty’s place on the team hinged on his performance, plus the team’s overall revenue. More fans, increased sponsorships, broadcast rights,and positive exposure—all those things led to more revenue for the team and thus more cash to spend on players.
And then there was Rose City to consider. A World Series win would do a lot for the town and its residents. Including one fiery-haired sex goddess that had taken up a permanent residence in my heart and home. If I had it my way, she would never leave.
My lips kicked up in a grin, the same way they always did when I thought about Nessa. All these months, I’d known that I would be good for her, but after the last few weeks, there wasn’t a doubt in mind that she was good for me, too. She calmed my nerves while also calling me out on my bullshit, like a good partner should. She soaked up my worries and insecurities, allowing me to do the same for her.
With Nessa, I could sit still.
Not that I didn’t adore spending my nights—and sometimes mornings, too—buried between her thighs, but it was the moments that often followed that meant the most to me. The quiet hum of the heater mingling with our exhales, the scrape of her nails over that spot behind my ear that made my eyes roll back in splendor.
She seamlessly filled in every one of my gaps, and she did so with smiles and sarcasm . . . and maybe a little bit of lube.
I had just finished zipping up my duffel bag when the doorbell rang. Nessa had offered to bring over pastries from Would Smell as Sweet so we could have breakfast together before my flight. Maybe I could convince her to bag up the bagels and let me eat her pussy instead.
