Ben sat in the locker room and reread his message to Anna before clicking send and smiled. He knew she would have no idea who he was since he got her number from Nate and imagined what her smile would look like when she discovered that there was a man out there thinking of her and how stunning she was. Only, that wasn’t how it went down.
Ben was disappointed to discover that Anna wasn’t as playful as he had predicted. Instead of feeling flattered by his compliments and excited to discover his identity, she assumed he had the wrong number and then hammered him because he refused to tell her his name.
It was moments later when it finally dawned on him that she probably thought he was some creepy stalker. He laughed at the idea of it. Knowing he should rectify the situation, he couldn’t help but continue with what he thought was innocent ‘foreplay’. There was something about Anna that mesmerized him and he desperately needed to see what it was. He thought about their first encounter and the genuine and infectious laughter that burst through her perfectly shaped lips.
Ben had a moment of panic when she revealed that she preferred women to men. Visions of the two of them walking hand in hand popped into his head but vanished at the thought of her sexual preference. Fortunately, his phone beeped and Anna’s playful side was starting to show; she was just messing with him regarding her liking for the same sex.
Ben asked her to join him for dinner at one of his favorite restaurants. In case her next message was a rejection, he thought of a compelling argument in his head. Ben was even prepared to beg, but lucky for him, she agreed to join. Her only fear was that he was just trying to get into her pants.
Is that what I’m trying to do? He asked himself. The idea of her naked and writhing beneath him had him hard behind his cup and he winced.
“Johnny dancing in a thong.” Ben squeezed his eyes shut and replayed the image of his friend jumping around the locker room after a win in the pink colored material and his erection slowly subsided.
“Picturing me in a thong, huh?” Johnny appeared at his side.
“What are you talking about?” Ben realized he had said it out loud and his face colored.
“I don’t blame you. I’ve been told that it was quite the sexy sight.”
Ben chuckled and shook his head. “Yeah, maybe to you. If my ass was as hairy as yours, I would either keep my clothes on or do something about it.”
Johnny shrugged one of his shoulders. “It clearly caught your interest.”
They laughed.
“Something got your dick hard?”
Ben choked on the water he was about to swallow.
“What?” Johnny glanced at him innocently. “The only reason you’d be picturing my naked ass is because you’re either secretly in love with me, or you need to your dick to soften. Since I’m guessing you don’t have a crush on me, I assume it’s the other.”
“I really hope you don’t plan to tell the rest of the team…” Ben pleaded. “Please don’t tell anybody about this.”
A smug smile spread across Johnny’s face and he rubbed his hands together. “Don’t worry. I won’t tell them.” He clapped him on the back. “Get your shit together, bro. It’s game time!” Johnny hurried past Ben and winked before he disappeared through the exit.
He was right. The game was less than an hour away and he needed to warm up his pitchers. Ben stood and adjusted himself. He glanced at the screen on his phone one last time before he tossed it into his locker and followed Johnny to the bullpen.
Ben found him standing in the corner with three of his teammates and they laughed at his arrival.
“You’re such an asshole.” Ben threw his glove at Johnny who dodged it.
“What did you expect? You knew I’d spill the second you told me not to.” He laughed and tossed Ben’s glove to him.
“How about a little respect for your teammate when he asks you not to repeat something?” Ben explained through gritted teeth.
“I don’t know why you’re so wound up. It’s not like you were going to keep that girl around, anyway.”
He looked at Johnny, confused. “What girl?”
“The one from the other night? I’m guessing she’s the one who’s got you all wound up.”
Ben shook his head. “You couldn’t be more wrong.”
“Well, whoever it is, push it to the depths of your mind or coach will have your balls on a platter.”
Johnny wasn’t one to beat around the bush. Ben chuckled and nodded his head. “Whatever you say, boss. What is it you would like me to do?”
“That’s what I like to hear!” He tossed Ben a ball and walked to the bullpen mound, preparing to throw his first pitch of the day.
The game was about to begin and Ben sat in the dugout, mentally preparing himself for what lay ahead. He always did this before a game because calling a shitty one was not an option. He took three deep breathes as the commentator announced the team. He ran to home plate and squatted down, waiting to receive the ball in his glove. After a few warm-up pitches, the batter took his position.
Strike one.
The next pitch was a curve and the batter swung hard, hitting a sliver of the ball with the top of his bat.
Foul ball.
The third pitch was a wild one and Ben scrambled to grab it.
Ball one.
Johnny eventually struck the batter out, and two more batters and six strikes later, the team ran to the dugout.
Ben removed his gear and walked up to Johnny. “You feeling good tonight?”
Johnny gave him a puzzled look. “Did you see me out there? Of course I’m good.”
“It’s not often I have to chase down a wild pitch from you.”
Johnny breathed in deep. “Honestly, bro. I’m fine. I’m just not as on top of it as I usually am.”
Ben nodded. “We’re all entitled to have a bad day, but if you screw this up and I get blamed, I’m going to kick your ass.”
His best friend chuckled. “Got it, boss.”
He walked away from Johnny who sat on the bench and wrapped ice around his elbow. Ben hoped he wasn’t in pain and hiding it to prevent from getting pulled from the game. When he put his earbuds in and bobbed his head to the music, Ben knew he was done talking.
It was his cue to walk away and he went to stand beside his coach to watch the rest of the inning. Ben studied the pitcher and made mental notes of each pitch he threw. As long as he kept his mind on the game and not Anna, he would be able to make it through without any mistakes.