Page 22 of Wild Pitch

“Ooh, I love that trope,” he says, catching me off guard. I raise an eyebrow in question. “My wife listens to smutty audiobooks while she drives. One accidentally started playing through her Bluetooth one day when I was in the car with her, and I’ve been hooked ever since.” I choke ona laugh and he smiles in response. “Best friend’s brother with a little forced proximity?” he says before kissing the tips of his fingers like a chef.

I can’t help but laugh harder at the gesture, and he joins in just as we hear a loudcrack, turning in time to watch the ball sail over the outfield and land in the bleachers behind the far wall. We both stand with our arms in the air and turn to high five one another in celebration. Every plan I had for wooing this guy flies out the window, because he’s not likethem. He’s likeme. He may have all the money in the world, but that’s not what’s important to him. You don’t see that very often anymore, and I feel like we’re kindred spirits up here in our empty row of seats.

We watch together for the next couple of innings before a young woman sticks her head out where we’re sitting. “Mr. Durst, the men from the homeless shelter are settled in the luxury box down the hall. They’ve already met some of the alumni players, and they’re just waiting on you now.”

“Thank you, Alicia,” he says, standing and brushing the crumbs off his expensive suit as he turns to me. “It was so nice meeting you, Monroe. We’ll have to do it again soon.”

“I’m looking forward to it,” I reply with a smile before he ducks back into the suite, leaving me alone again. I watch as Riggs gets another three and out, cheering loudly in hopes that he can hear me. I’m pretty far away, so I doubt he can, but I try my best anyway.

The rest of the game flies by, and Taylor walks in just as I’m headed to find a trash can for all of my snack wrappers. “Hey!” she says excitedly. “Your boyfriend justpitched one of the best games of his career, and I’m here to bring you down to see him.”

I swallow thickly as the butterflies return, flapping around like lovesick morons at the thought of him. I toss my garbage and follow her out to the elevator.

Minutes later, I’m perched outside a steel black door by myself, waiting for someone to tell me where to go next. Taylor got a call that pulled her away, but she told me to stay put while she took care of business.

Several people exit, and I nod, smiling at each of them as they walk past me. It feels like hours have gone by, even though I know it’s probably only been about twenty minutes, before Riggs walks out. As soon as he sees me, his face splits into an ear-to-ear grin, and he runs toward me. His excitement is contagious, causing me to giggle loudly as he wraps his arms around me and lifts me off my feet.

“I think you’re my good luck charm, Mayhem,” he laughs. “I haven’t come that close to a no-hitter since my rookie year!” He sets me back down but doesn’t let go as we stare into each other’s eyes.

“I want to kiss you right now,” he says quietly, and my heart speeds up behind my rib cage.

“Is it against the rules to kiss your girlfriend in this hallway?” I whisper softly.

The corner of his mouth turns up in a knowing smile. “I don’t think so.”

“Okay,” I breathe, and his lips are on mine before I can even form another thought. It starts soft, and I wonder for a moment if he’s really just putting on a show for anyone who might walk out, but when he backs me into the brickwall, pressing his body tightly to mine, I know that this is just for us.

I moan quietly as he lowers down, licking and sucking at the sensitive skin of my neck while he grinds his hardening cock into my stomach. My clit throbs at the contact, and I’m glad we’re in public because I wouldn’t be able to stop myself from begging him to fuck me if I knew we wouldn’t get caught. His hand slides up my body, cupping the underside of my breast, and a deep growl leaves his throat as he squeezes firmly. The contact has me leaking into my panties, lifting my leg around him in an attempt to get some friction.

“Oh my God, I’m so sorry,” a voice says from down the hall, causing Riggs to jolt away from me. We turn to see Taylor shielding her eyes as she turns her body away from us. “I didn’t mean to interrupt your celebration, guys,” she laughs. “I just wanted to make sure you found each other. I’ll be going now,” she rushes out, shuffling quickly in the other direction. As soon as she’s out of sight, we both sag in relief, then burst out laughing.

“Mayhem is the perfect nickname for you,” he quips, wrapping an arm around my shoulders and leading me down the hall. “You’ve got me acting crazy out here.”

SEVENTEEN

RIGGS

“I’m home!”I yell from the entryway, setting my duffel bag down on the floor. We played our last home game against New Orleans the day after I pitched, then it was off for another three nights on the road. We won two and lost one, but now we get a full day off before heading out for two more games. I’m looking forward to spending some time with Monroe since we didn’t get to do that after our kiss in the hallway at the stadium. That night, we both fell asleep on the couch watching a movie, and I carried her to my bed right before I had to leave again. She was out like a light when I got home after my game that night, and I had to catch an early flight to San Francisco the following morning. We’ve texted a few times, but we haven’t talked about us at all.

If there even is anus.

I don’t know where her head is at, but for me, that kiss in the hallway at the stadium was real. I wanted to celebrate, and I wanted to do it with her. I certainly wasn’texpecting it to become as heated as it did, but that seems to be the norm for us.

I’m glad things haven’t been super awkward, but that could just be because we haven’t been around each other. Traveling for days at a time like I do means putting important issues on the back burner. That’s why it’s been so easy to live the single life for as long as I have. Most of the women I’ve been with only liked me because of my job, and I honestly don’t blame them. It’s not like I gave them a reason to think I had more to offer. It was never something I wanted.

But now?

Maybe.

I’m not saying I’ve changed overnight and want to get married with two-point-five kids and a picket fence, but being around Monroe has shown me that my initial impulse to learn more about her wasn’t wrong. She’s beautiful, sexy, funny, strong, and independent. If I were looking for something beyond just a situationship, I already know she’d fit into my life perfectly. Whether or not I’d fit into hers remains to be seen, because her past before she moved to Hope Harbor is still a mystery.

I head up the stairs, walking down the hall to see that her bedroom door is wide open and she’s nowhere to be found. I start to get nervous but remember how she told me yesterday that she was going to check out the gym in my building, which is likely where she is since her car is here. It’s the middle of the day and it’s gorgeous outside, so there’s also a possibility that she went for a walk or something.

I take off my jeans and t-shirt, pulling on a pair of meshbasketball shorts before going back downstairs, dropping onto the couch, and putting some game highlights on the TV. It feels like forever since I had a minute to relax, andfuck me,this feels good.

My phone buzzes with a text notification. I lean forward to grab it from the table, hoping it’s Monroe, but it’s Tanner instead.

TANNER

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