We were up by two at the bottom of the ninth; it should have been done, another win for the Eagles. Only the opposing team hit a home run to tie the game, taking us into a tenth inning. Our team was good, great even, but I was beginning to think Louisiana saved their good shit for the end.
Reaching the dugout, I was met with a lot of pissed off guys, throwing around their gloves and tossing out a few choice words.
“Bullshit.” Collin kicked the side of the fence, and I stepped in toward him.
“It’s not bullshit. It’s the game. Now we go out there and do the same shit only better.” I slapped his shoulder and he offered me a nod as he picked up the bat and stepped outside the dugout for a few practice swings.
I leaned forward and hooked my fingers through the fence, looking out toward the stands. There sat my family, in the same place they’d always sat, front and center, but they weren’t who I was looking for. AJ had told me she planned on making the game, yet I couldn’t find her.
Our night at the movies was more than I expected. We flirted, yeah, but we also had fun. We laughed, made fun of the people throughout the scary movie, and shared a basket of fries and a large chocolate shake after. When I dropped her off at home, I’d walked her to her door and left her with another simple kiss. As I drove away from her house I watched her wave goodbye from the porch, and the only thing I could think of was that I couldn’t wait to see her again.
The crack of the bat against the ball echoed throughout the diamond, and I turned back toward the game just in time to see Collin round first, heading to second base. The roar of the crowd and the excitement of the team got my own adrenaline pumping.
I looked back over my left shoulder toward the bleachers, searching the crowd once more and came up empty.
“You wouldn’t happen to be looking for me, now would ya?”
I spun completely around to see AJ leaning against the back corner, where the fence met a brick wall. She wore yet another outfit that I believed was put together simply to torture me—some type of yellow shirt that hung off one shoulder, and those jeans, damn-for-her perfect.
I moved in her direction and rested my shoulder on the fence, looking between her and the game. I didn’t want Coach to give me hell about not supporting my team. “I may have been,” I confessed as a grin covered my mouth.
“Ran a little later than I’d planned,” she explained, “but I’ve been watching from right over there.” She pointed toward the small bench tucked back near concessions.
Another loud crack echoed, and everyone began chanting Rob’s name as he plowed toward first. Collin was now on third, determination in his eyes showing he was eager to make it home.
With Terrance up to bat and another guy on deck, my time was coming.
My boy hit a pop fly and the third basemen caught it. The pressure to get this win was lying heavily on my shoulders.
“If William gets on, all you’ll need is a base hit, but a home run of your own would be even better.”
I pushed off the fence and flashed her a smile. “Have I told you yet how it gets my blood pumping when you talk baseball to me?”
Harley didn’t have a fucking clue about the difference between a double play or a home run. She didn’t care, but it never really bothered me before. AJ and I’d only had one date, but during that time she managed to shock the hell out of me with her knowledge of the game that was very much a part of my life. During that time, I realized how nice it was to have a girl around who supported what I was passionate about.
“Maybe if you give me one of those sweet kisses of yours I can bring them all in.”
She flashed that dazzling smile of hers as she leaned in closer. There wasn’t much space between the post and the wall but enough that I could offer a soft peck on her lips. “You get that home run and I’ll give you an even better kiss after.”
“Are you bribing me, sweetheart?”
“Definitely.”
I chuckled as I moved my body ahead and grabbed my bat, wearing a huge-ass smile.
“Whatever the outcome may be, you’ll still be giving me a better kiss after.” It wasn’t a question, and by the smirk on her lips, I knew she’d understood too. “Meet me outside the locker room after the game.” I didn’t wait for her response before I stepped out onto the field and began swinging the bat.
The bases were loaded, the adrenaline was rolling off me as I stepped up to the plate, my heart thumping so fast my leg bounced as I enjoyed the rush.
The first pitch came in fast, and I knew almost instantly I should have swung, but it was too late.
“Strike one,” the umpire’s voice ripped through the silence. I twisted my hand on the bat, gripping it tighter, digging my foot in the dirt for better traction as I leaned into the mat. I could hear my dad’s voice as he hollered out, “You got this son, you got this.”
This was the thrill I loved. The sound of the crowd, the intense stare between me and the pitcher on the mound.
I watched then as he took his stance, twisting the ball between his palms, his eyes locked with mine. I waited as he looked back over his shoulder, eyeing all the bases, weighing his options. Then I saw him grip the ball, his fingers spreading out over the lace as he bent just enough to get the leverage he required. Then he wound up and released the pitch.
It almost felt like it was in slow motion as the ball zipped toward me. Swinging the bat, that familiar sound played like music to my ears, and I took off toward first base feeling so alive.
I didn’t watch where it went, because I didn't have to. I knew. Just by the sound of the ball cracking the bat, I knew.
The crowd went crazy, the guys in the dugout roared, and just as I rounded third, I looked to my right to see AJ watching me with that bright smile of hers. I pointed to her, then pointed toward outfield just before arching a brow. Her laughter was all I heard as I continued the path to home, knowing just what was in store for me later.
It had been so long since I’d felt this light, felt this free.
I’d foolishly held on to hope so long that Harley and I would somehow make it through this separation and find our way back to one another. I held on to that idea that my first love was the girl I was always meant to end up with, no matter what. I’d realized that, in doing so, I almost passed up the chance of getting to know a great girl.
But I was done waiting. What was in front of me at that point seemed a whole lot better than drowning in my past.
***
“That was one heck of a hit,” AJ offered as I slid up to her and hooked her around the waist.
“I do believe you made a promise.”
“I believe I did.” I dipped my head and she arched her neck, bringing our lips closer together.
“Just so you know I would have offered it even if you struck out.”
I smiled just as I pressed my lips against hers. This girl was like a kick in the ass, and I regretted all the time I’d wasted that I could have been getting to know her instead. She tested me, she taunted me, and she spiked a hunger inside me I didn’t know even existed.
Without any further delay, I lifted my hand, cupped her cheek, and pulled her closer. Our lips parted almost simultaneously, and I began to tease her with the tip of my tongue. Slow, gentle strokes at first until she sucked on it, and I swore my knees almost buckled. What was meant to be slow and steady changed to heavy much faster than I could keep up. It was almost as if our need took over and everything else took a back seat.
“Damn.”
Our mouths separated, and I looked behind me, still holding her close, not ready to let her go yet. Only a few feet away stood Collin and Terrance, both smiling wide.
“That is some rated-R shit right there,” Collin said with a chuckle.
"Oh yeah,” Terrance chimed in, and I instantly wanted to tackle both of them to the ground, only I remained close to AJ, almost like I was shielding her.
“You two done yet?”
“Are you two done yet?” T asked with an arch of his brow. I didn’t answer because I didn’t have to. She did for me.
“No, we aren’t, but if you two would run along, Rhett and I could get back to the good stuff.” A look of surprise covered both Terrance and Collin’s faces, and I tried not to laugh.
“Yeah,” I offered, turning completely around to once again face her, “like the woman said.” She flashed me that smile of hers, and the effects of it alone felt like the wind was knocked right out of me.