“Thanks, and since you only grabbed her a beer and not me, I’m going to go get one,” I tell them before sitting down in the seats in front of the screen.
That’s the difference between Drew’s stadium and mine. The front of his box isn’t glass. There’s been a screen installed so that Drew can still smell the aromas of the ballpark, whereas the Blaze box is just glass. I head towards the back, feeling her hand still in mine.
“You didn’t have to come follow me; he doesn’t bite,” I remind her.
She chuckles. “I know he doesn’t bite, but I’m hungry too.”
“Uh-huh,” I say, pulling her in for a quick kiss. “Sure, you are.” The bartender clears his throat and I pull back. “See, you are already getting me in trouble. I’ll have an Old Elephant IPA, please,” I order. “The food is over there; we can just go pick up some pizza or looks like he has some sliders out tonight.”
She nods, watching me for a beat. “What?” I ask her.
“I like your brother. He seems like a fun-but-more-serious version of you,” she replies.
I chuckle and shake my head. “You just met him, but that is spot on.”
“First impressions are usually correct, August.” She rocks on her heels, grinning.
“Uh-huh,” I chuckle, accepting my beer and heading to grab some food before we go back to Drew.
The game is already two innings in when we reach the seats again. The crowd rises as a fly ball soars into the outfield. Drew hops up on his feet, cheering. I remain seated, leaning back in my seat, one hand draped over the back of Hendrix’s chair.
“You’re not going to cheer?” Hendrix nudges me.
“I cheer internally,” I tell her.
Drew turns towards us. “He’s the worst person ever to bring to a baseball game. Zero enthusiasm. Negative vibes,” he explains, winking at Hendrix.
“I have plenty of enthusiasm,” I say defensively. “At the Blaze games, I have no trouble cheering.”
“Uh-huh, so what’s the difference here?” he further goads me, and I don’t miss how wide Hendrix is smiling as she stares from him to me.
Hendrix laughs. “He is kind of a buzzkill sometimes.”
I point in her direction and say, “Traitor.”
She shrugs at me. “If the shoe fits.”
Drew leans over and whispers to her, “He’s always been a whiny little bitch.”
I groan as the two burst out in laughter. “I am never bringing you anywhere again,” I say to Hendrix.
“Lies! He’ll take you wherever you want to go,” Drew promises her with a wink. “He’s kind of attached to you.”
I elbow Drew in the ribs. “That’s enough of that. Play attention to your team.”
Drew laughs and shakes his head. “I can do that and make you uncomfortable at the same time.”
I don’t answer; there’s no need to. The small smile on my face probably says enough already. Thankfully, Drew just lets it go.
A foul ball cracks off a bat and shoots into the stands a few sections in front of us. The crowd goes nuts trying to get it to it. Hendrix leans over, reaching down to cup my inner thigh, just holding onto it and giving it a bit of a squeeze before sitting upright. I lean in and quickly capture her lips. She deepens it and lets out a low moan. I lose myself in her before I hear Drew clear his throat beside me.
“Well, well,” Drew says, as I look over at his raised brows.
Hendrix pulls back a bit, heat rising in her cheeks. “Don’t start,” I warn him.
“I didn’t say anything,” Drew says, his hands raised. “Yet.”
I shoot him a warning look. “Drew.”
