Page 114 of Double Play

He mumbles, “She’ll be smiling at me like that soon enough.”

I want to shove this crutch up his ass but I’m trying to play it cool in front of Arizona. I don’t want to make our last moments together about him. They’re about us.

Arizona walks down the stairs and wraps her arms around my neck. “I’ll call you when I land.”

I nod as her lips meet mine. I know she only intends for it to be a peck with Butch standing right next to us, but I deepen it. I feel her stiffen when my tongue slides into her mouth but then she gives in and does the same to me.

Our lips move over each other’s. Our tongues swirl together, and I try to convey my feelings as best I can with that kiss. The one that will have to last us the next few months.

I pull her body as close to mine as I can. I can’t believe I have to live without this for two months.

When it ends, she runs her nose along my neck and whispers in my ear, “Have you sufficiently pissed around your territory?”

Not even close.

ARIZONA

I watch Layton through the window as the plane taxis away from him. He just stares at it, looking so sad and lost. I can’t believe that I won’t see him for two long months.

I know why he kissed me the way he did in front of Butch and I don’t blame him. I’d feel the same way if the situation was reversed. I’ve spent the past two weeks reassuring him, doing everything I could to show him nothing but love. How committed I am to our relationship. But I’m sure putting me on a plane with Butch wasn’t easy.

I’m not a fool. I know the next two months are going to put a strain on our relationship. I simply hope we can weather this storm. It’s our first true test as a couple.

A deep voice breaks my train of thought. “He’s a big boy. He’ll manage.”

I turn away from the window and toward Butch, who is sitting across from me. I suppose I understand the appeal of Butch McVey. He’s an attractive man in a completely different way from Layton. He’s tall and well-built like Layton, but where Layton is clean-cut, Butch isn’t. His arms are covered in tattoos, his dark hair is shaved very short on the sides and is much longer with a small man bun on top. He’s got big, light brown eyes with thick, dark eyelashes. I imagine all of that coupled with his puffy lips makes him an appealing package, just not to me. I only have eyes for one man.

“I know. I’ll just miss him. Road games aside, we don’t spend much time apart. It will take a little time to get used to it.”

He lifts an eyebrow. “You’ve only been together for a few months. It can’t be that serious.”

“I know it hasn’t been long, but we’re very much together,and the next few months aren’t going to be easy. To be clear, we’reveryserious.”

The stewardess comes by and offers champagne. I initially decline, but Butch insists. “We’ve got a very long plane ride ahead of us and four months of being seen as boyfriend and girlfriend. Perhaps we should get to know each other.”

This feels a bit like déjà vu, having gone through a similar conversation with Layton months ago. I can’t believe it’s come to this.

As we sip champagne, Butch and I spend the next few hours getting to know one another. He’s not so bad. He was raised by a single mother in a small town. She now battles dementia, so he moved her into his house with a full-time nurse.

He’s a little flirty, but I think that’s his nature. I doubt he means anything by it. He knows I’m with Layton.

About sixteen hours later,we land in Fiji. It’s the most exotic, beautiful place I’ve ever imagined. I have a moment of sadness that I’m not experiencing this with Layton. I desperately wanted to have this adventure with him, not a stranger.

We’re going to be here for two weeks before we move on to Thailand for two more weeks. The next two weeks will be in Bora Bora, with the last two being in Hawaii.

The way our schedule is set up is that we get a day off every three days to sightsee and relax. With the exception of one or two twilight shoots per location, our evenings are mostly free. Butch said he’s scouted several restaurants for us to go to. Apparently, Michael Longley has also made reservations for usat restaurants that are sure to get us a good amount of press attention. I’m dreading those nights.

We arrive at our villa, which is beyond luxurious. I’m surprised that Butch and I are sharing a place, but I suppose it’s like having two separate bedrooms in the same house. And we’re technically supposed to be a couple, so I guess we need to be seen coming and going from the same place. I can’t imagine people will believe I’ve simply moved on from Layton to Butch in a matter of days, but that’s not my problem. I frankly don’t care if they buy it or not. In four months, they’ll know my so-called relationship with Butch was bullshit.

I’ve studied the contract a thousand times, both trying to find a loophole and making sure I know exactly what’s expected of me when it comes to my interactions with Butch. I need to outwardly act like Butch is my boyfriend and I’m not allowed to outwardly act like I have another boyfriend. That’s it. I’m not doing anything beyond the bare minimum. I’ll have dinners with him and let the press take their photos of us, but nothing more than that.

As soon as I get to my room, I rip through my suitcase to find the gift Layton mentioned, dying to know what he left for me. I quickly find something wrapped in a side pocket.

Tearing it open, I start crying at what I find. It’s his jersey, almost the exact same as the one LeRond had made for me, but this one has a different name on the back. It reads,#lovedbylayton. I can smell his cologne on it too. He sprayed it. I inhale deeply, already missing him.

I then look over to the dresser. In a large vase sits what must be ten posters rolled up. Without even opening them, I know what they are. I notice that there’s a large envelope next to it. I walk over and open it. It’s ourSports Illustratedissue. Fuck, this cover is so hot. Our passion radiates from it.

Layton has signed the bottom,Best day of my life. I already miss him.

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