Hannah grabs Cross and nods to Rick for an interview. She starts with Cross and Rick walks over to the net, “The team wants to go out and celebrate, but I want to celebrate with you.”
“We can celebrate together later. I’ll be waiting for you.”
Rick nods, “Or, you could go with us.”
What? I can go celebrate with the team? Oh, I mean, I can go celebrate with the team! “I don’t want to impose on your fun time with the guys.”
“It’ll be better with you there. My girl sitting on my lap will just make me happier.” He smiles at me and takes off to do his interview with Hannah. I watch the interview, he’s absolutely beaming and as always not taking credit for anything.
Hannah focuses on him, “This was a great return from your five day suspension. The days away didn’t hurt your game at all. Do you regret your actions on the field last Sunday?” Uh oh.
Rick stops before he speaks, “I regret that I didn’t have enough self-control to keep it off the field. It was evident they were throwing at me intentionally. I allowed them to get under my skin, personally, and that won’t happen again.” A reasonable and politically correct answer for the fan base. He looks at me and the truth is he’d do it again in a second. He’ll always protect me and defend me.
Text from Sam - Bullshit! He’d do it again in a heartbeat. Guys shouldn’t fuck with you if they want to live.
Text to Sam - Ha ha! I was just thinking he’d do it again in a second!
Text to Sam - He’s taking me out to celebrate with the team tonight.
Text from Sam - That’s new. Remember he needs to be the man around the team and have fun!
Sam’s right, I need to make sure I don’t embarrass him around the team.
Text from Rick - Let’s meet up with the team, but not stay too long. I want some alone time and tomorrow is an early game.
Text to Rick - Alone = naked with me?
Text from Rick - YES
My body shivers in anticipation. You’d think we didn’t spend most of the last week together and we haven’t been naked at every opportunity we’ve had. It doesn’t get old. I always want more. I always want to be with him. I can’t believe it’s only been a couple months. It feels like it’s always been this way, it’s how it’s supposed to be.
Text to Rick - I can’t wait.
Text from Rick - Meet me at the clubhouse level elevator and we can walk over to the Batter Up together. I’ll be there in 15 minutes.
I take the elevator down to the garage and drop off my bag in the Challenger, keeping my ID in my pocket. I walk back to the elevator as Rick is walking up to it.
“Did I tell you how amazing you were tonight?” I throw my arms around his neck and he lifts me, so I wrap my legs around him. “I love that you’re only a baseball player for me. Let’s go celebrate with the guys, so we can go home and talk about your big bat.” I kiss him, sucking on his lower lip while I run my fingers through his hair, rubbing his head.
“Maybe we should skip it and go home.” His eyes hooded with serious sexual need.
“You should hang out with the team. You’re just back from suspension.”
Rick agrees with me and we walk to the Batter Up. We find the guys at the table in the back where they always hang out. Rick walks around the table shaking hands and offering high-fives. He has me in tow and introduces me to the guys I haven’t met yet. Chase gives me a hug and gets reminded I’m Rick’s woman. I get Kris to pose for me and text the picture to Sam. We get settled at the end of the table where there’s enough room for me to be planted on his lap, and he holds me there possessively with his arm around my waist.
Mike with the Mic walks up, “Sherry? I’m about to start open mic night. How about you get us started tonight instead of my tired Bon Jovi tune?”
I look at Rick and he nods. “I’d love to!” I kiss Rick on the cheek, hop off his lap and walk across the bar with Mike. “What am I singing?”
“I was thinking Pat Benatar “Shadows of the Night” or Elle King “Ex’s and Oh’s.” You rock both of those. You can do both.”
“Let’s do both.” I smile and Mike goes to the stage.
“Welcome to the Batter Up! I’m Mike with the Mic and it’s time for karaoke! We have a special treat tonight! Our contest winner, Sherry, will be opening for us tonight with a couple of her best.” He hands me the mic and gets the music queued up, starting with Elle King. I love to sing this one and its even more fun when I’m not competing. I’m not dressed the part, but I still have the strut and attitude in my voice. Rick’s watching me and there’s a crowd of women that have swarmed the table. A couple of them standing by my Rick and taking pictures with him in the background, but he doesn’t even know they’re there. The crowd claps while Mike starts the next song, the wrong song. Instead of “Shadows of the Night,” “We Belong” starts to play. I’d be irritated if it was any other song, but this one has invaded my head over the last week and there must be a reason. Mike looks at me and mouths “oops,” giving me a self-deprecating smile. I give him an accepting nod and let it rip. I’m trying not to watch the team’s table while I
