Page 23 of The Love We Make

I cleared my throat, “Yes sir, I think I do.”

“Well Ethan, consider this your official invite to the All-star game. I wanted to call you myself because I want you to start the game for the National League. We need clearance from your team for the start so I wanted to call you as soon as possible and get the ball moving.”

“Yes sir. I will definitely get with them today for clearance on our schedule.”

Pitchers weren’t like other players. We pitched on a rotation and on a schedule. In order to start the All-star game, my team had to be on board by arranging my schedule around that day. I couldn’t pitch the game before the All-star break and I couldn’t pitch the first game back. But I had no doubt my team would be ecstatic to have me representing them by starting the All-star game.

I finished the conversation with Bill, as he insisted I call him, and hung up. I knew there was a chance I would get my first invite, but to be asked to start the All-star game? I was in shock.

Madison was on her knees on the bed, waiting for me to speak. She knew the gist of the call but she was waiting on me to fill her in on the details.

“He asked me to start,” I said.

The scream that came from Madison was one only a person truly excited could exude. She jumped on my bed and then landed in my lap. She hugged me and squeezed my shoulders, rocking me front to back in excitement.

“I knew it!” She yelled. “I told you that you were the best, Ethan. You deserve this. I am so happy for you.”

I smiled and watched her get up and bounce around the room. Watching her was more fun than getting the call from Bill. I was so damn lucky to have someone in my life that cared as much about me as she did.

“We gotta call mom and dad.” I didn’t know if she meant her mom and dad or my mom and dad. We both called each other’s parents “mom and dad.” She probably meant both. Both sets of parents would be excited for me.

“We will, we will.” I hopped out of bed and threw on a shirt and shorts. Madison was in one of my T-shirts, her hair in a bun, her feet bare.

She padded into the kitchen and started making a “celebration” breakfast as we took turns FaceTiming our parents.

Both were equally excited.

We ate the breakfast she made and discussed all the things that would happen that weekend in New York. Parades, signings, the home run derby. All the best players in the entire league in one spot.

“You better come with me,” I mentioned.

Her eyes widened and the shock on her face almost made me laugh.

“You already have the time off for Tahoe, remember? You have to come to New York with me for the game. It won’t be as fun without my best friend,” I pleaded.

“Can I go?”

“I get to take whoever I want. And Ineedyou there, Maddy.” I did, I needed her to go. To share this experience with.

She was nodding and I could tell the excitement wanted to bubble out of her. Something was holding her back, though.

“Ok, Ok. I will definitely go. I just have one condition.”

“Condition?” I asked with amusement. I was inviting her to the biggest weekend in baseball and she had acondition?I already promised not to stalk her anymore, so I was curious about what she wanted.

I was laughing that she even had a condition.

She paced a few times in front of the bar where we had eaten breakfast. I was sitting on the stool waiting for her to decide whether or not she was actually going to tell me what her condition was.

The dramatics were high and I wanted to roll my eyes at her. Didn’t she realize I always said yes? Whatever it was, I would always say yes.

Finally, she stopped and looked me in the eye.

“I want you to make love to me.”

Chapter 10

Madison

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