Page 45 of Wild Pitch

“Well,” I begin, “I think the best thing would be to choose an upcoming home game and make a whole event out of it. You could brand it as Friendship Day and offer a two-for-the-price-of-onedeal on tickets for kids, encouraging them to bring a friend. I’m sure there are sponsors who would gladly pay to have their logo put on friendship bracelets that you could hand out at the gates. Friggle could throw the first pitch to Riggs, and they could exchange bracelets in front of the whole stadium.”

Her jaw is slack as she stares at me, blinking rapidly for several seconds. “Holy shit, he was right,” she whispers. “Youarea genius.”

Warmth washes over me at her words, and a wide grin blooms across my face. Knowing that Riggs is out there telling everyone who will listen how amazing he thinks Iam still gives me butterflies, even though he’s told me himself a hundred times.

“Sometimes you just have to think outside the box,” I reply.

Her shoulders slump slightly as she lets out a forced exhale. “But how am I going to convince the marketing department that this’ll work? They’re all old and set in their ways. They’ve been using the same strategies for the last thirty years, and they aren’t always open to new ideas.”

I smirk, lifting a brow. “I have a motto, Taylor.Sin now, ask for forgiveness later. How can they say no if you’ve already gone out and secured a massive sponsorship for the event?”

She barks a laugh, shaking her head at me in disbelief. “If they fire me for this, I’m telling them it was all your idea.”

“Well,” I say, popping a shoulder. “If it works like I think it will, the last thing they’ll want to do is fire you. They might even put up a statue in your honor in front of the stadium.”

“Let’s not go off the rails here, Monroe,” she replies with a sincere smile. “Thank you. Riggs is lucky to have you. We all are.”

I sip my drink, thankful that I’ve been accepted into the Fury family—first by Mr. Durst, and now by Taylor. I feel welcome in a way I’ve never experienced before, and the thought of her coming to me for help with something so important just solidifies the fact that I made the right choice by coming to Daytona.

All my life, all I’ve ever wanted was to make my own path. Leaving California was just the first step in creatingthe future I had always dreamed of. If I decide to leave Hope Harbor, a piece of me will always be there. That little beach town was the beginning of my rebirth, and I’m thankful for the safe place it provided while I figured out who I really was.

If you would’ve told me three months ago that Riggs Valentine would be a puzzle piece in my story, I’d have never believed you. But here I am, actually considering putting down roots in this city because I’ve never felt more empowered than I do with him by my side.

We finish our breakfast, and Taylor heads off toward the stadium for what I assume will be a long day of pitching the idea of Friendship Day to all the major Fury sponsors. I’m excited to see what they come up with, and I’m ready for the fans to finally see what a kind, funny and talented player they’ve been blessed with in Riggs.

Now, I just have to find a way to convince him to go along with my crazy plan.

RIGGS

“Listen to me carefully, Mayhem,” I grit out. “There’sno fucking wayI’m doing anything with that long-armed dildo. I’d rather take a cleat to the nuts than trade friendship bracelets with him. As a matter of fact,heshould be apologizing tome. I only reacted to him booing me in front of everyone.”

She sticks her bottom lip out, pouting. “Are you sure?” she coos, sliding her center over my hardening erection. Just minutes ago, I was lying on the couch, minding my business while watching game highlights. Next thing I knew, she was straddling me and asking meto make a fool out of myself in front of tens of thousands of fans. “There isn’tanythingI could do to convince you?” She reaches up and palms her braless tits through her tight white tank top, pinching her nipples as she moans. I close my eyes, losing myself in the hot friction that’s being created between us, almost forgetting what she asked as I grip her hips and help her grind against me.

“You’re a fucking she-devil, you know that? You’re preying on a weak, innocent man here. How do you even sleep at night?”

“Usually full of your cum,” she replies, winking down at me.

She’s gonna pay for that one.

“Fine,” I growl, thrusting my hips upward. “I’ll do it. But if he tries to hug me, he’s getting knocked the fuck out again.”

She stills her movements, leaning down and pressing a chaste kiss to my mouth before hopping off of me. “Thank you!” she sing-songs as she walks away, leaving me gaping like a fish with my rock-hard cock staring up at me.

“What the fuck just happened?” I mumble to myself, throwing an arm over my eyes in frustration.

She really is a she-devil. But she’smine.

Minutes later, she comes back into the room, flopping down onto the sofa next to where I’m still attempting to make my dick deflate. “I texted Taylor and told her you were happy to participate in the event. The Children’s Hospital has agreed to sponsor it, so they’ll be donating the bracelets and picking up the tab for all the free tickets the Fury will be giving away. The marketing department wasn’t happy with her for going above their heads, butMr. Durst loved the idea, so they had no choice but to go along with it.”

As much as I don’t want to do this, the girls are right. My fans have not been nearly as enthusiastic as usual, and although I haven’t allowed it to affect my pitching, it still doesn’t feel good knowing they have negative feelings toward me. Even though I’m known as the Bad Boy of Baseball, I’ve always made sure to connect with the people who fill our stands at every game. I think that persona mainly came from my wild dating life and hot temper.

But all of that has changed now that Monroe is here. The things I used to think were important no longer matter, and I’m happy to trade my old life for this new one with her. My days of partying and acting like a fuck-up are over. I just want to be the man that my girl and my team deserve. If that means playing nice with the team mascot—even though he’s the creepiest thing I’ve ever seen—so be it.

I’d do anything for her.

THIRTY-ONE

RIGGS

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