Page 106 of Force Play

Heat crawls up my cheeks. I never blush. That’s Lilah’s thing. “There’s a baseball game to watch. And it’s out there.” I point to the field where Dean is still staring down the pitcher, his face serious.

“Gah. He looks so good when he gets all grumpy like that.” Mia sighs next to me just as he swings the bat, sending the ball down the first baseline. The outfielder runs up on it, scooping it up and firing it back to the Roadrunner’s first baseman, getting Dean out. It’s enough to put Dom firmly into scoring position.

“Nice hit, Baby. Way to advance the runner.” Mia stands, clapping and pointing at Dean as he jogs back to the dugout.

Xavier struts out to the box next, looking over his shoulder to where the most of the WAGs sit and shaking his head. “What’s up with that?” I wonder out loud.

“Kristy probably didn’t show up to the game again,” Poppy comments.

“I don’t know why he keeps chasing her,” Mia says, shaking her head. “Wait, is he going to bunt?”

“Looks like it and Dom’s fast enough to make that play,” Lilah agrees, scooting forward in her seat just as Xavier drops his bat to bunt, killing the ball and placing it perfecting midway down the first base line and just fair.

As soon as he makes contact with the ball, I’m on my feet yelling for Dom to run and making a complete fool of myself, but I couldn’t care less, because the man that’s worked his way into my heart crosses home plate and scores.

The top of the ninth brings the energy in the stadium down a few notches when Arizona scores with a one run homer. With two outs and the game on the line, we need a quick out to end the game.

“When did baseball get so nerve-wracking?” I ask no in particular.

“About the time you fell in love with one of the players?” Poppy comments offhandedly, not taking her eyes off the field.

Well fuck, now I feel like I might throw up for a whole other reason. The fertility drugs are playing games with my emotions and I’m not sure what’s real anymore or what’s being amped up because I’m pumped full of hormones.

Dom puts me out of my misery, making a routine catch when the batter sends a fly ball in his direction and ending the game.

Or maybe not, I swallow, because now it’s time to go meet the family; his parents, who by all accounts, are perfect and still very much in love, everything he wants to be. And his sisters, who he would protect with his dying breath.

What if they hate me? Or worse, what if they love me but think Dom is risking too much by being with me?

“Hey, you’ll be fine. Dom worships you. He’s been calling you his future wife for over a year at this point. You have nothing to worry about,” Mia reassures me.

Grabbing my drink, I take a sip trying to cool the emotion burning my throat. “Not helping,” I say, a crazed laugh sneaking out. These damn hormones have me going from nearly crying to panic and back again in mere seconds.

Dom is the definition of a man obsessed. I know that. I’ve always known that, but all of this suddenly feels so overwhelming. Poppy throwing out the “L” word and it feeling very right. Mia letting it slip that Dom has been manifesting me as his wife for over a year. His family waiting in the wings to meet me. What if this all goes horribly wrong and is ripped away before I get the chance to really enjoy it? Because that’s what I want more than anything, to let this man love me the way only he can, for as long as he can.

Willa, Marv, and Janet left right after the game, so it’s just Delilah, Mia, Poppy, and I snaking through the corridor to the family waiting area. Each step has my heart beating harder than the last.

Reaching out I grab Poppy’s arm stopping her. “I’m just going to duck into the bathroom.”

“Okay, I’ll come with you.”

I shake curls whipping my face. “No.” Forcing a smile, I add, “I’m fine, just too much lemonade.”

“If you’re sure.”

“I need to do this on my own. Just give me a second to collect myself.”

“If you decide to run, text me. I’m an excellent getaway car driver,” she says, trying to lighten the mood.

“No running.” It’s the first thing I’ve said since we left our seats that I’m sure of, this man is my future.

“Okay. See you soon.” She squeezes my hand. Then leaves to catch up to Mia and Delilah, who are further down the hallway, where it opens up to a waiting area outside the locker room.

Ducking into the bathroom, I beeline for the sink, washing my hands with cool water before patting my face with them. “Stupid hot flashes,” I murmur, bracing my hands on the sink and looking at myself in the mirror. “They’re family, Ind,” I tell myself.

Pulling up my big girl panties, I step out into the hallway, but before I even clear the doorway, I hear a laugh I’d know anywhere. One I never wanted to hear again that makes my stomach heavy and my neck tense.

“Well, well, what do we have here? You looking for me?”

---