“For PTA president,” she said.
Wait. My son loved his team and the game. Today’s invitation wasn’t political, but I shook my head. My soda dripped on the ground as I wasn’t drinking it and the ice melted more while I tried to find the words. Then I glanced over at Michael, who expected me to move, and said, “Oh, I can’t. My sister’s a teacher there.”
Deena pinched my side and said, “You doing things like this for our boys… you’re the clear leader here.”
“This is just for the team, not the school.” That wasn’t what this was. I was here for Jeremy…and Michael. I crossed my legs and remembered how complete I was when he rammed inside me, not that I would ever, ever, ever say that out loud. I shrugged and said, “I don’t know. It’s a big time commitment.”
Deena’s nose went up in the air as she said, “You can do it. You’re working part-time, minimum wage at that store, and now we know how you afford that.”
Deena's assumptions about my life were wrong. My skin prickled as I just stared at her and asked, “Excuse me?”
She leaned closer and pretended we were just best buddies as she said, “You’ve been in that big house, alone, and we’ve all wondered.”
The practice inning ended and Michael’s water boy motioned toward me. I politely told Deena, “I have to go,” and went to speak to Aaron, who delivered a message. I was to take Jeremy and go with Aaron after the top of the ninth of the real game.
I nodded and returned to my seat. Thankfully, she was gone.
Good. Jeremy returned and hugged me like today was his birthday. My son hugged less frequently these days, so I took my moment.
Done, we settled into our seats for the game and the sun went down, but soon the appointed hour came. Once the game ended, Michael walked over to me as the other men filed further in where we couldn’t see. I wrapped my arm around his neck that was slightly sweaty now as I said, “Congrats.”
He hugged me but stared at my face when he asked, “What’s wrong?”
Deena. I let out a long breath and said, “I was just insulted but ignored it.”
He picked up my chin and stared at me when he said, “Good. Pennsylvania has a waiting period, so I want us to fly to Vegas tomorrow. There is a 6:30 AM nonstop that gets us there by 9:00. We can be married before 3:00 and we can catch a flight to Tulsa for the 7:00 game.”
During the game, he’d searched for tickets? I held my breath, but his blue eyes were like sirens that dared me to do something out of character. Michael’s offer made my pulse skip. I nodded and said, “You researched this.”
He wrapped his arms around me and kissed me.
I heard applause somewhere, but I thought maybe I imagined it. As the kiss ended, the sound roared in my ear, but he let me go and said, “Think about it. Jeremy misses a day of school, but you and he can be back by Monday morning. I have to go shower and interview. Meet me near the parking lot.”
“We’ll be there,” I said and turned around to see all the parents and other children in Jeremy’s school staring at us.
The kids looked horrified, but the mom’s seemed…jealous. I fiddled with my hair and held my son’s hand. That was a bad thought. I waved at them and we followed Aaron out of the stands.
This time, I didn’t want to wait in the dressing room, so we headed to my car. He knew to join us, so I wasn’t worried about whatever he said to reporters, though as Jeremy jumped into his seat, he asked, “Mom, were you serious about marrying Michael?”
“I think I am,” I said, and double-checked the passenger seat was clean for Michael.
I started to close his door when he said, “Maybe I’ll feel comfortable calling him dad, then.”
I slumped my shoulders and took my seat. When I closed my door, I turned back toward him and said, “You don’t need my wedding to do that.”
“I guess.” He shrugged. “I love hanging out with Michael, a lot.”
“I’m sure he likes you, too.”
I buckled my own seat and turned the engine on. I didn’t need Jeremy feeling like he needed to defend me from Michael. Marrying him would hopefully help Jeremy feel secure. But I wasn’t sure what to say either, so I played music.
A few minutes later, Michael slipped into the seat beside me, wearing jeans, a black t-shirt that clung to those ab muscles of his, and his hair still wet. “You both ready?”
I glanced in my mirror. Jeremy was paying attention to his father like he’d worship him. I asked, “Do you want to go to your hotel or home?”
I reversed out of my spot to get us out as he said, “Home, with you, unless you don’t want me to?”
“No, home is good,” I said and focused on my driving. Maybe getting married was a good idea. Jeremy gained a father, health insurance, and I had amazing sex with Michael. All of that added up to a pretty good life.
Michael took out his phone. “I’ll have my things sent over, so I have them to hit the road when I return the rental to the airport.”
This was finite unless we went to Vegas. The idea of hopping on a plane with him had adrenaline pulsing inside my skin. Or maybe it was that he was here again with me. Jeremy broke the silence. “So what do you usually do after a game?”
He glanced back, “I normally hit the hotel gym.”
After spending hours in the hot sun, the last thing I wanted to do was work out. And he’d played hard out there. I navigated the backroads to my home, “Why?”
He glanced at my breasts and my body warmed. “I have a lot of pent-up energy
