Here’s what I know about baseball now: There are nine innings. There are nine players in the lineup. And my boyfriend is, bar none, my favorite player of all time.
It’s a couple of weeks after our big reunion, and the weather is perfect for Austin’s charity game. He tried to get the Mavericks fancy tickets, but Seb called him a snob. So we’re all in the cheap seats, picnicking with a delicious assortment of food and cheap beer. Dating your way into a group of food and beverage connoisseurs: highly recommended.
“I saw Lanie’s TikTok post about Vital last night,” Grace tells me, beaming. “I’m truly obsessed with her now.”
“Welcome to the club!” Millie toasts with her plastic cup.
“She’s great, right?” I ask. “The woman is a born PR genius.”
“So, she and Mac are actually coming into the spa?” Callie asks. “We need to start using our passes if it’s a celebrity hotspot.” She elbows Dash, who’s deep in conversation making wacky bets on the game with Flynn and Seb.
“Huh?” he looks up, confused.
“Don’t worry,” Callie steals his fries. “And put five for me on someone’s pants splitting.” She turns back to me. “So, any gossip from your new famous friends?”
“Well…” I lean in closer. “They got in a little trouble last week.” Waggling my eyebrows, I whisper, “They got kicked out of the sauna for… Activities not befitting our organization. Even investors can’t break health code.”
“Shenanigans,” Millie shrieks, with a laugh.
I nod happily. “It’s actually pretty sweet how in love they are.”
Millie nods thoughtfully. “By the way, any word from Other Jennifer?”
“Yes, we had drinks on the weekend.” I say. “She’s doing so well. Signed a year-long lease in the city, which is a first for her. She was always bouncing from place to place.”
“That’s great,” Millie cheers, already pink-cheeked from a single beer.
“Her new boyfriend is a research scientist at a local hospital,” I add.
“Research scientist,” Millie coos. “Fancy.”
I grin. “They met at a stamp-collection convention.”
Grace gasps. “Stop it. You’re making that up.”
“Honest to God,” I say, holding up one hand like an oath. “Apparently, it’s been her hobby since she was a kid, and seeing me and my très uncool knitting circle inspired her to pursue it properly. Can you imagine? Me, inspiring her for a change!”
Callie giggles. “Amazing.” She turns her attention to the baseball diamond. “Is Austin pumped about this?”
Pumped… Maybe. Nervous, definitely.
“I think he’ll have fun,” I tell them. “Getting on the field again must be weird, after all this time. But, once he gets going, I think he’ll have a blast. He was excited to see some of his old teammates,” I add.
Still, I can’t help feeling a tiny twinge of worry, so I decide to go wish him luck. I head down the bleachers, and back into the players’ complex, sneaking past security and into the dressing room.
Too late, I realize I might be walking into a naked-player situation, but luckily, the first man I encounter is Austin, shirtless in his baseball pants.
I wolf-whistle, and he does a double take. “What are you doing in here?” he mock-scolds me, pulling me tight against his body.
“You know me,” I tease. “I’m just a rule-breaking, wild kind of woman.”
“Yes, you are.” Austin steals a kiss. Around the office, we’ve tried to keep things professional, but I love being able to indulge in PDA when he’s not in CEO-mode. “Miss me already?”
“Mhmm.” I nuzzle into his chest. “I wanted to wish you luck. Nervous?”
He shrugs. “It’s not a real game. As long as we sell tickets, and raise money for a good cause…”
“Uh uh,” I smirk. “That doesn’t mean you don’t want to crush the competition.”
He grins. “You’re right. I do.” He pauses, looking me up and down with a wolfish smile. “I’m sorry if it sounds possessive, but… God, I love to see this on you.” Austin tugs on the baseball shirt I’m wearing, unbuttoned over my tank top. It has his name on it.
His hand skates down my lower back, and I can feel him resisting the urge to pull me closer.
“Regretting that whole ‘no-sex-before-the-game’ rule?” I coo, sliding my hands over his naked chest.
He groans. “Damn right I am. Counting down the minutes, baby.”
I laugh. “Shouldn’t you be focused on the game?”
“The game is the last thing on my mind.” He pushes a lock of hair behind my ear, a surprisingly tender gesture for a man who is looking at me like I’m a glass of water on a hot day. “I’ve had time to think about it. I’ve got plans for you, lady.”
“Oh yeah?” I grin. The hand in my hair tugs a little, and I feel a bolt of heat in my core. The moment the game ends, I really might drag this man off the baseball diamond and into a custodial closet.
“Count on it.”
“I do. And that’s why I know you’ll play amazing today.”
Austin gives me a skeptical look. “Because I’m insanely horny for my girlfriend?”
I laugh. “Yes, but you have also have a ton of pent-up baseball energy, after so much time not playing. I know you, and I know you’ll channel that energy into the game of your life.”
Austin smirks. “Nice spin there. Someone should hire you to do marketing.”
“They can’t,” I beam. “I’m taken.”
“Yes, you are.” Austin pulls me closer for a steamy, possessive kiss. Then I pull away.
“Knock ‘em dead,” I say, heading for the door. “And by the way? I’m a big fan of those pants. Big fan.”
It might be my pep talk, but Austin strides out onto the diamond like he owns it, just as I predicted. I’ve seen videos of him play, and I’ve seen him hit the ball around at the batting cages, but it’s nothing like the real deal today, with a stand full of fans all cheering him on.
I fan myself, watching him step up to the plate. Damn. He’s powerful and confident, totally in his element. And, best of all, I can tell he’s having fun.
“Look at you,” Millie grins. “You’re such a goner.”
“Yup!” I sigh happily. “Here lies Jennifer Walker, slayed by her boyfriend’s hotness. I mean, look!”
“The man can wear a pair of pants,” she agrees.
“I was talking about his athleticism!” I protest, laughing.
“So was I.”
The game gets underway, with plenty of cheers from our section. I’m caught up in the action, rooting for every run. Austin carries the team well, but a few of his teammates have some brutal strikeouts, and by the bottom of the ninth, they’re down by two. And Austin is last up to bat.
I lean forwards, hushing the others as he walks up to plate. I feel as nervous as if I was the one down there on the field.
“Ugh,” Charlie says, wincing. “I forgot how tense this part is.”
“I can’t imagine the pressure,” Grace agrees.
“He’ll be fine,” I tell them quietly. Then, hoping he can feel my reassurance from here, I whisper, “C’mon, baby.”
Austin lets the first pitch fly past—it wasn’t great, but the ump still calls a strike.
“Oh, come on!” Dash yells, as we all scoff.
He lets the second pitch go too. Another strike.
“What’s he doing?” Flynn demands. I don’t take my eyes off Austin.
“He’s waiting for the right one,” Seb says. “Instinct, remember? He’ll know.”
The third pitch is straight down the middle. And sure enough, Austin swings, the bat slamming against the ball with a giant CRACK.
We all spring to our feet, screaming and hollering as the hit soars away over the field, landing in the stands.
“Yes!”
“Wohoo!”
“Way to go, Austin!”
Everyone’s jumping up and down, howling in celebration. The stands rattle beneath our feet. He did it!
On the field, his teammates rush over, celebrating.
“Come on!” Seb yells, “Let’s go.”
The whole group charges down the bleachers and joins the group on the field. Millie and I exchange a look. “When in Rome,” she grins. “After you!”
I hurry down after them, reaching the melee just as Austin pulls away from his teammates and jogs to reach me, sweeping me up in his arms.
“You were amazing!”
He laughs, “I had some pretty great incentive.”
He kisses me hot and hard, lifting me up, and I wrap my legs around his waist, pressing breathlessly for more.
“My God,” Seb says from somewhere. “Get a room.”
“Now, there’s an idea.” Austin finally releases me, setting me down. “You know, Lainie was telling me about an amazing spa in the Caribbean… We should really go check it out. For research purposes.”
I gape. Him and me on a beach, clothing-optional? “Umm, yes please! That sounds like an amazing idea. For the business, of course.”
“Love you, baby,” he breathes, capturing my mouth in another kiss. And I give a happy sigh. Because this time, it’s all real between us. I’m not standing on the sidelines anymore, watching someone else live the life of my dreams – I’m making it happen, for me.
And now, I’m exactly where I’m supposed to be.