Page 8 of The Love We Make

But did I move?

Nope!

Because this wasn’t just about him. This was a team effort. And my part was to not freaking move until Atlanta won the game.

Finally, after what felt like years, Ethan threw strike three to end the game.

I stood and stretched. He was out there getting the glory but let me just say, that win was on me. I did that.

You’re welcome, Atlanta!

I made my way to the restroom in record time and then to the Friends and Family waiting area outside of the locker room. I had to wait for Ethan to come out since I had ridden with him to the stadium. I knew he was always being interviewed by several media outlets, so I stayed patient. He was the winning pitcher after all.

But when he finally came out, looking freshly showered and pleased with himself, I snarled my nose at him and pulled one of his short sideburn hairs with my fingernails.

“Ouch! What the hell?”

“Don’t ‘what the hell’ me!”

He literally paused an entire major league baseball game, being televised on TV, with a million people watching, just to drive me crazy. He knew “what the hell.”

“Now take me to Bacchanalia. I am ordering the most expensive thing on the menu. Not eating it. And I am not even changing my clothes.” I crossed my arms and walked out of the stadium to the player parking lot.

Ethan was behind me, laughing, “And a bottle of wine?”

See? He knew.

“Three bottles! And I am not drinking any of them.”

???

Bacchanalia was an upscale, 5-star, way-too-classy for my jean shorts kind of place. I was almost positive they didn’t want to let me in when we arrived, but Ethan gets what Ethan wants, so he insisted, and there we sat.

“Am I embarrassing you?” I asked, referring to my messy hair and shorts.

“You could never embarrass me, Maddy.”

“Even when I walk out of here with three full bottles of their most expensive wine?”

He smiled and shook his head in amusement, “Even then.”

For as crazy as he made me, he was also too good to me sometimes. I knew he would let me order whatever I wanted, take it all home, and he wouldn’t complain one bit.

I wasn’t actually going to do that.

But I could.

“When do you leave?” I asked.

“Tomorrow morning, early.”

“You staying the night, tonight?” He might as well, tonight wasournight. This was the kind of night that we usually ended up crashing at each other’s place. Tonight, it would have been ok.

“No, I have to go home and pack.” My heart sank a little. I would stay with him but I had to work in the morning myself. And I lived way closer to my office than he did.

“Guess I will see you when you get back then, huh?” I sounded sad. As much as I complained when he was there every morning, I missed him when we didn’t see each other.

“I have an idea!” He said, getting me excited with his enthusiasm. “Let’s do something during the All-star break. You and me. Like old times. We can go anywhere you want.”

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