One
“You’d better hope you don’t get traded to a National League team,” I called out and Adam turned around, tapping his bat on the ground and leaning on it as a ball came flying by him and slamming into the fence behind him.
“What’s that supposed to mean?” His blue eyes met mine from under the batting helmet he was wearing.
“I’m just saying your hitting could use some work. How many interleague games are on the schedule this season again?” I grinned and then a quiet laugh escaped my throat.
“My batting is just fine, Sweet Caroline,” he said, smirking at me and then squaring up just as another ball came flying out of the pitching machine. He took a swing and the bat made contact. A line drive flew into the netting and he turned to me, this time resting the bat on his shoulder and walking over to where I stood on the outside of the batting cage. “See? My bat’s good.”
“If you’re playing in Little League maybe.”
He raised his eyebrow and then lifted the bat off his shoulder.
“You think you can do better?”
“Probably.”
“Give it a shot then, Miss Hale.”
“Gladly,” I said, smiling a flirty smile in Adam’s direction before opening the chain link gate and joining Adam in the batting cage.
“You’re awfully confident,” he said, pulling off his helmet. His dark hair fell onto his forehead and he pushed it away before walking over and putting the helmet on my head, squishing down the ponytail I’d put my hair in that morning. Even then, it was still too big.
“Of course, I’m confident. I’m awesome. Didn’t you know that?”
“Well, yeah. I know you’re awesome at many things. I just didn’t know hitting was one of them,” he said, tapping the helmet, causing it to bob on my head.
“Well, now you do,” I said, smiling at him as I tried to adjust the helmet. “I didn’t realize your head was so big.”
“You know what they say about guys with big heads,” he said, raising his eyebrows at me in a sultry way that caused me to laugh.
“You are unbelievable sometimes, Adam DeLain,” I said through my laughter as he walked over and slid his arms around my waist, causing me to look up into his eyes. I felt the heat between us that was always there, especially when we were this close. It’d been this way ever since Adam returned to Silver Falls last summer. He’d always been my brother’s best friend until then, but the moment he came home that had all changed and life hadn’t been the same since.
“You know you love me though,” he said, grinning down at me before brushing his lips over mine for a few sweet moments. “Now,” he continued, pulling away from me slowly, “go get ‘em then, slugger.”
The left side of his mouth curled up into a smile and his eyes traveled lazily over my body. I knew that look well. If we weren’t in a public place, I knew exactly what would be happening right now. His hands would be on my body and my clothes would be gone. We were in a public place though and I took a deep breath, trying to control the need I felt inching over my body.
“Here I go,” I said, forcing myself to look away and turning towards the plate. I felt him slap me on the ass as I walked away. I laughed and turned to him. “Settle down there, Mr. DeLain.”
“That’s impossible when you’re around,” he said and I felt my cheeks flush. I’d never get tired of hearing him talk to me that way. After everything we’d been through to get to the place we were now, I didn’t take his words for granted and I knew he didn’t take the opportunity to say them to me for granted either, not when we’d almost missed our chance.
How I’d ever thought a life without Adam was possible, I didn’t know now. Luckily, he’d known it wasn’t and came after me. At least one of us had had our heads on straight.
“You ready?” he asked as I got myself situated at the plate, staring ahead at the pitching machine.
“Sure thing,” I answered and I heard him fiddling with the machine. It turned on and a few seconds later, the first ball came hurling towards me. I swung hard and my hands stung as the bat made contact with it. It flew through the air and had we been playing on a real field, instead of at the Red Sox Spring Training complex, it would’ve sailed into left field.
“Not bad, Caroline,” I heard Adam say and I turned to smile at him quickly before bringing my attention back to the pitching machine just in time to see another ball coming towards me. I swung, this time ending up with a grounder. It was the same for the next few minutes. I didn’t hit all the balls, but most of them, and when the machine turned off, I took my helmet off, tucking it under my arm and walking towards him.
“See. Told you I was awesome.” I stretched on my tippy toes, kissing him chastely on the lips.
“I could definitely use some tutoring,” he said. “We’re playing the Phillies the third series of the season. I don’t want to look like an idiot when having to play by National League rules.”
“And you think you could use my help?” I asked.
“Most definitely,” he replied. I loved when we flirted like this.
“Alright then. Show me what you’ve got.” I gave the helmet back and then he went back to the plate. “Show me your stance.” He squared up and looked ahead.
“I can already see the problem.”
“Oh yeah?” he teased. “What’s that?”
“Let me show you.”
I walked behind him, pressing my body against his. He was nearly seven inches taller than me, but I wrapped my arms around his waist anyways.
“Your legs aren’t spread far enough apart.” I nudged his feet apart and then ran my hands along his inner thigh, inching up slowly. I could feel his body tensing and his breathing becoming harder. “You also need to get your elbow up,” I said, lowering my voice intentionally as I ran my hand slowly up his chest and then down his arm, pushing his elbow higher, his muscles flexing under my touch.
“And this will help me, Miss Hale?” he asked softly.
“I guarantee it,” I answered, letting go of his body and walking over to the controls to turn the machine back on. As it was warming up, I went back to him, taking my place behind him. He squared up and just as the ball left the machine, I grabbed his butt. He whipped around and I started laughing. Our eyes met and he gave me a wild look that both intimated and excited me. He dropped his bat and pulled off the helmet, walking quickly at me, forcing me to step backwards until I was stopped by the fence. He put both hands on either side of me, virtually trapping me. He stared down at me with hunger in his eyes and then leaned in close to me so that our lips were almost touching.
“You’ll pay for that little stunt there, Caroline,” he warned me in a deep, low voice.
“Is that a promise?” I asked.
“It’s a guarantee,” he replied before pushing his mouth eagerly to mine, forcing his tongue deep inside. I could feel myself responding as our lips moved together.
“C’mon, man! We don’t need to see that!”
I felt my face turn bright red upon hearing the voice and Adam pulled away, turning to see one of his teammates, outfielder Emmett Thorne, walking toward the batting cage, his duffel bag slung over his shoulder and his hair still wet from a shower.
“Shut the hell up, Thorne,” Adam said with a grin. I’d gotten to know a few of the players at Spring Training, but I’d learned quickly that Emmett was probably Adam’s best friend on the team.
“They’re closing up the facility. You two might want to take this elsewhere,” Emmett said and then turned to me. “Caroline.” He nodded towards me before continuing. “Nice to see you again.”
“You too, Emmett,” I said, my voice softer than I expected. I couldn’t meet his eyes after he’d just seen mine and Adam’s very public display of affection and I knew my face was still red.
“We should go,” I said once Emmett was gone. Adam just stared at me for a moment, silently telling me he wasn’t done with me yet. That was good though, because I wasn’t done with him either.
“Yeah, we should,” he answered softly. He pushed off the fence and I watched him for a second, the way his muscles flexed as he walked and picked up the baseballs from the ground before I finally started helping him. It didn’t take us long and once we finished, we gathered our things and left the complex.
It'd been a whirlwind weekend. Somehow Adam and I had made our long-distance romance work once he’d shown up that day after class in September. I’d stayed in Silver Falls and he’d returned to Boston for physical therapy and training. We’d tried to see each other at least a couple of times a month. He’d come to Vermont sometimes and I’d make the drive to Boston when I could. It wasn’t easy since we were both busy, but it was worth it. We were worth it.
I’d even flown down to Florida for a couple of weekends once Spring Training started. This would be my last one though since tomorrow would be the last game of The Grapefruit League. After the game with the Yankees, Spring Training would be officially over and the regular season would begin with a series against the Blue Jays at Fenway Park. Adam was slated as the series opener and I knew he was starting to feel the pressure.
I’d known my life would be different as the girlfriend of Adam DeLain. I’d known this even when he was on the disabled list and spending his time in Silver Falls. I wasn’t prepared for how much it would change once he was back with the team though.
Spring Training had been crazy. I’d come down for the first game and that’s when I saw what life was really like for Adam. The kids flocking for autographs. The fans wanting pictures and women throwing themselves at him. The constant interviews. I was taken aback by all of it, keeping my distance as he went through the motions with ease. He was always the cool and collected Adam DeLain I’d seen during my encounters with him with fans. He seemed in his element and sometimes I’d catch him looking for me in the stands. Our eyes would meet and I’d wave supportively. He’d smile at me and then turn his attention back to whatever it was he was doing.
“Are you excited for the regular season to start?” I asked him as we walked out of the training complex.
It was dark now as we walked outside. There had been a game earlier. A loss to the Orioles. We’d grabbed some dinner afterwards and then Adam asked me if I wanted to go back to the batting cages. The facility had been practically empty, aside from Emmett and a couple of other guys who’d stayed back to work out. Adam told me Spring Training was more relaxed than the regular season. Guys’ families would come and they’d go out to dinner or hang out at the hotel, which explained why we had the batting cages to ourselves so late.
“I am excited,” he said, reaching for my hand and linking our fingers together as we walked. I could hear the nerves in his voice though.
“You sound a little hesitant,” I pointed out and he didn’t answer right away.
“I guess I am,” he admitted as we approached the white Ford Explorer, which had been his rental car during his stay in Florida. He held open the door for me and I climbed inside. He tossed his bag in the back and then got into the driver’s seat.
Fort Meyers wasn’t a huge city and it didn’t take us long to get to the hotel; a nice place with a balcony overlooking the Gulf. I’d come to know it well during my two other trips. I was glad Adam would be back in Boston soon, but in a way, I would miss Florida. It had been fun and as he pulled up to the hotel, I couldn’t help but feel a little sad.
Adam got out of the truck, making his way quickly to my door. I’d grown accustomed to this from him. It may be the twenty-first century, but my boyfriend had proven chivalry was not dead.
I took his hand and he helped me out of the truck before grabbing his bag from the backseat and tossing it over his shoulder. He put his arm around me and led me inside the front lobby. Most of the team was staying at the hotel, so Adam only got a polite smile from the front desk staff before we made our way to the elevators and up to the fourth floor.
The hallway was quiet as we walked. Adam’s arm was still around me and there were few things I loved more than being this close to him. I could think of one thing though and as I saw the door to our room come into view, I had a feeling I’d be experiencing it shortly.
Adam pulled out his key card, swiped it in front of the door and when the light turned green, he pushed it open. I walked into the dark room first, flipping on the light. Adam had left the air conditioner on all day so the room was too cold.
“Cold enough in here for you?” I teased him as he shut the door behind us.
“I guess I should’ve raised the temperature before we left,” he said, his hand gently grazing across my back as he walked past me. He set his bag down and then messed with the thermostat before going to the French doors that led out to the balcony. He pushed them open and immediately, the warm spring air flowed inside. It was a beautiful night, free from the humidity so typical of Florida. As Adam stood in the doorway, looking outside, I could hear the waves rolling onto the beach and smell the salt that always seemed to linger in the air here.
I found myself walking across the room, stopping only when I was behind him. I slid my arms around his waist and I could feel his muscles tense when I touched him. But then, he relaxed and I felt him take my hand, pulling until my arms had unwrapped. He slid his fingers into mine, threading them together as he led me outside to the edge of the balcony.
“I think I’m going to miss it here,” I said as we stared out into the blackness of the ocean.
“I think so, too,” he said as we both turned to look at each other. There was a gentle smile on his face, the kind I never got tired of looking at. “I’m glad you’ve been here, Caroline.” His voice was soft and he let go of my hand, reaching up and brushing away a piece of hair the wind was blowing around instead.
“I’m glad, too,” I said.
“I have to admit,” he began, “I was scared to come back. I was afraid to take the mound again, but with you here,” he said, his voice dropping and leaning in closer to me, “I wasn’t as scared.”
Adam had always seemed so strong, ever since we were kids. I used to think he wasn’t afraid of anything, but the truth was, he was human, and I’d discovered Adam was afraid of things, just like the rest of us. I was glad he could show that side to me. I was glad he didn’t always have to be the strong tough Adam DeLain he had to portray to the world.
“You’re going to be amazing. I know you will be. You’ve worked so hard.” I smiled at him and he ran his thumb slowly over my jawline, causing my heart to beat harder in my chest.
“I don’t know why I always believe whatever it is you say to me, Caroline, but I love you for it.”
Our eyes locked and he reached for me, threading his hands into my hair and pulling me to him. Our lips were hovering so closely now I could almost taste him. I wanted to taste him. I wanted to feel everything about him and my breathing quickened as I allowed all kinds of thoughts of what I wanted Adam to do to me take over my mind. He knew what I was thinking about. He knew what he did to me, just as I knew what I did to him.
His mouth was on mine then. Soft at first, but it wasn’t long before that changed and he was getting greedy. That’s what I wanted though and I kissed him back just as eagerly as the wind picked up, tossing my hair around while the sounds of the waves crashing onto the beach echoed behind us.
We were in the doorway then, my body pressed against the frame when Adam’s mouth left mine, his lips finding my throat. I heard myself moan softly as his tongue ran over my skin. And then I was in his arms, his lips back on mine. I felt the coldness of the room hit my body, but I was so hot at the moment that it felt good.
I heard the balcony door shut forcefully as Adam kicked it closed with his foot, shutting us out from the rest of the world. He laid me down on the bed, pulling off his shirt and tossing it on the floor before slowly crawling over my body.
“You’re so beautiful, Caroline,” he whispered. I didn’t blush. Not like I used to when he told me that because I believed him now. Adam made me feel like the most beautiful woman in the world and I adored everything about this man.
I reached up and touched his face, looking deeply into his eyes for a few moments. No words needed to be said to tell each other how we felt. Slowly, he leaned down, his mouth meeting mine again. I knew in the morning our solitude would be gone. Outside those doors, he may be larger than life, but with me, right now, alone together, he was simply Adam, the man I loved, and every day with him, my life was better than the day before.