Chapter Thirty-One

Josie

“Wow, it has been way, way too long since we’ve done this.”

Claire smiled at me from her place, lounged on the sleek leather loveseat across from me. “Seconded.” Her eyes roamed the box and a grin tugged at her pouty lips. “This is really happening, huh?”

I laughed. “I guess so.”

Trey had set me up with one of the executive boxes for the big playoff game. I’d invited a handful of people from work and my parents and two of my brothers had flown up to join in the fun. The box had a bar and an array of catered food laid out for everyone. Claire and I hadn’t seen each other in a few weeks and were taking the opportunity to catch up a little on the couches near the front of the box. A line of flat screens were placed throughout, but the game hadn’t started yet.

Claire’s eyes sparkled with mischief over the rim of her glass of white wine. “Totally crazy. Last time I saw you, you were telling me that guys like Trey were no good and that you wouldn’t be caught dead with a pro baseball player.”

“I don’t think I said I wouldn’t be caught dead…” I paused, searching the archives of my mind for confirmation. Maybe I had said that.

Claire giggled. “Well, either way, I didn’t expect you to end up with Trey for more than a night or two.”

I lifted my own glass to my lips and drank deeply. “You and me both.”

“So, fill me in, what happened?”

I laughed. “I don’t think we have enough time.”

“Try,” she prompted.

I sighed, contentedly. “Claire, I’m telling you, it just kind of…happened. One day I was totally sticking to my guns, staying away, but life had other plans. I couldn’t get away from him, and somewhere along the way, I realized that I didn’t want to get away. I couldn’t stop thinking about him. He’s great!”

Claire grinned. “Aww. That’s so romantic!”

“It was all pretty left field, excuse the pun.”

She laughed and then glanced up as my oldest brother, Jay, came around the edge of the couch and plopped down next to me. “What are you two ladies chatting about?” he asked, leaning forward to snag a handful of chips from the large bowl on the table between us.

“How JoJo fell head over heels in love with a bad boy.”

Jay glanced at me, an indiscernible look on his classically handsome face. He was six years older than me, and as he was my oldest brother, had always played into the protector role. “Oh, yeah? I think Mom’s got a little crush too.” He grinned at me. “She hasn’t stopped talking about how polite and sweet he was when y’all went down to visit.”

I giggled. “Great. I’ll let Daddy know she’s trying to go cougar.”

Jay laughed and shoved a few of the chips into his mouth. He shrugged and then reached for a napkin. When he’d wiped off his fingers and chased the chips down with a swig from his beer bottle, he looked to Claire. “What do you think? Do I need to worry about this Trey guy?”

“I’d be more worried for him. Sounds like he’s got it pretty bad for our little Joey girl here.” Claire sipped her wine. “I haven’t gotten her to confess if the feelings are mutual. For all I know, she might be plotting to break his heart and steal all his money.”

I groaned. “Very flattering, Claire.”

She laughed and feigned innocence. She was just digging for dirt. So far, I hadn’t actually told anyone—including Trey—exactly how I felt about him. It wasn’t that I didn’t know. I’d known for some time that my heart had tipped over the edge and fallen hard for him during our stay in Texas. But, in the months since being back in Oklahoma City, neither of us had said it out loud. It was just kind of there. An unspoken heaviness that gave weight and meaning to all of our interactions. Every kiss felt different. Deeper. When we were in bed together, and our eyes met, a zing of lightning would strike, flashing in our eyes. It was obvious but I couldn’t get the words out.

“It does seem like he’s pretty head over heels. This is quite the party,” Jay said, glancing around the box. I followed his eyes, stopping to look at Danny and his new girlfriend, Sophia from the marketing department at the station. Hallie, from PR, was there too. My other brother, Clarke was glued to her side. My parents were chatting with the bartender, each with a drink in their hand, laughing and smiling. It warmed me through to see everyone together. My third brother, Roger, wasn’t able to join us, but he’d called the night before to ask what I was doing with a pro baseball player. He was the most skeptical of the bunch.

“Yeah, it was sweet of him to fly y’all out.” I nodded and took another long sip. I smiled to myself, remembering the way he’d told me. We were in bed together, after another electric night, and while he was running his fingertips over my bare skin, he asked if I wanted to come to his big game. I of course, said yes, and then he told me, “Good, ’cause I already bought everyone’s tickets.”

It was just another way that he was the polar opposite from his public persona. Where the media wanted to portray him as this selfish, cocky, douchebag, he was actually one of the most considerate guys I’d ever met. Certainly the best man I’d ever been with. All other men paled in comparison to him.

“So, spill!” Claire said, going back to demanding answers. “What’s happening with you two? Are you moving in? Getting engaged? Having a million babies?”

I laughed nervously and looked to Jay, hoping he’d deflect the spotlight, but he was waiting too. “We’ve talked about getting a place…”

Claire squealed and bounced up and down in her seat. Good thing she’d already polished off most of her wine. “I knew it!”

“When he was first traded, he didn’t get a place here. He’s been living in a hotel for the last few months. But, he’s looking into buying a place now, and he invited me to move in with him.”

“So, are you?” Jay prompted.

I shrugged. “I don’t know. I haven’t answered him yet. Things have been a little crazy for me too, with the story and all the publicity. I’m going to be traveling a lot in the next few months on a special assignment. And then, of course, Trey has a lot of traveling to do if this game goes well and they get into the finals. I told him I don’t want to make any big decisions on the future until we get through the next few weeks and see where everything lands.”

Claire frowned at me. It was obvious that she thought I was deranged. “Why must you always be so practical?”

Jay laughed and dropped an arm around my shoulders. “She’s always been like that.”

I smiled at him. “What do you think I should do? Time for a little brotherly advice.”

“If you love him, then I think you should go for it. I mean, what’s the worst that could happen?”

“That’s it? That’s your advice?”

He laughed and pulled me into his side for a quick embrace. “Yep! Thing is, Jo, I trust you have your head on straight. Look at everything you’ve accomplished since moving up here? Was I worried at first? Hell yeah. But you’ve proven time and time again that you can take care of yourself. I’m not too worried about you, baby sis.”

Tears pricked at my eyes. It was one of the sweetest things Jay had ever said to me. I dropped my head against his shoulder for a moment. “Thanks, Jay.”

Claire was still considering me with a careful eye and I could see the wheels turning. I hadn’t actually answered her question.

Thankfully, the game started, and I was let off the hot seat as everyone in the box turned their attention to the flat screens. I used a pair of binoculars to get a better look at the field. Trey wasn’t out there yet. Coach would probably hold him back until the bases were loaded and line him up for one of his trademark smashes.

And Trey didn’t disappoint. Cody Wright kicked ass on the pitcher’s mound and after he got the other team out, Trey took over cleaning up at the bases. I watched intently, almost as anxious as long-time fans. I might be a new fan, but every inch of me was invested in the outcome. I wanted Trey to take the team to the finals. It would be a nice “f you” to all the haters and media that had shit on him for the past few years. He was primed and ready for a massive comeback, and I would be the girl in the stands, cheering my ass off, and watching him bring it home for the team, the city, and even more importantly, for himself.

My family and friends all locked into the game and watched as the Warriors took over and flattened the hungry—and higher seeded—team.

When the final inning started, the game was essentially over, but I held on, breath baited, every muscle tensed until the very last play. Only then did I shoot to my feet and holler. “They won! The Warriors are going to the finals!”

Champagne flowed and everyone cheered. As I glanced around at everyone’s face, I realized the only thing missing was Trey standing by my side. I hurried to drink my glass of champagne and then raced off to find my man.