Page 54 of Totally Fanatic

“You are sure you’re fine?”

“Yes. I’m fine,” I repeat. “Areyousure you still want to watch the game?”

“Wait, umm, I don’t think,” Enzo starts, but Bart holds up his hand, and like magic, Enzo shuts his mouth. Wow, he’s definitely the boss in here, isn’t he? I let out a small laugh at the thought of Bart bossing Enzo around in another kind of way with whips and collars.

“We can host Mr. Matherson in the manager’s box today,” Bart says, and Lion squeezes my hand.

“Really?” Lion replies, bouncing a little in his seat like an excited child waiting to go on a ride.

“It’s got the best view in the house. Then, hopefully, this is all sorted out after today,” Bart continues.

“Oh, wait, Mary Beth is coming tonight, can she come, too?” Lion asks.

“Mary Beth?” Bart repeats in a questioning tone, and Enzo nods.

“His boss at the cafe.”

“Your boss that fired you?” Bart asks, and Lion shakes his head.

“I made her. I mean, I told the Banana-Ramas that she fired me to get them to leave her shop alone, so she could open and pay rent. I have enough savings to cover me for a week. Plus, Ican still do odd jobs to make some cash. You don’t think it will be like this for longer than a week, though, do you?”

“Hopefully not, but we will figure something out. Don’t worry, we’ll look after you,” Bart says, and he nods to Enzo. “Let Enzo here know your seat numbers. He’ll bring Mary Beth to the manager box as soon as she arrives. Now, you should probably start getting ready, Tim, your opening number is in less than an hour.”

“Yes, okay. Umm, can Lion come down with me to the locker rooms? Just until the start of the game. Then Enzo can take him up to the box.”

“As long as the coaches clear it.”

“Thanks,” I reply, standing and leading Lion out of the office and into the hallway.

“I’ll come down soon and collect you,” Enzo says as the door closes behind us.

“Are you really okay?” Lion asks, and he looks me up and down again.

“I’m fine. I’m so sorry you have to deal with this.”

“With what?”

“With the media and the Banana-Ramas, and stories and photos and lies about you. I would totally get it if you wanted to run away.”

“From you?”

“From all of it.”

“I’m not going anywhere. Not unless you want me to leave, then I’ll go.”

“I can’t imagine playing tonight without you here. I need you. I need to know that out there in the stands of who knows how many people, there is a man who thinks I am the greatest in the world because just knowing that stops all the chatter in my head screaming at me that I’m no good. You are like my personalbrand of white noise, making everything better whenever you’re around.”

“Aww, that’s sweet,” he says, leaning down and kissing me lightly on the lips. “I’ll be your white noise anytime you want, boss.”

A ripple runs through me.

“Don’t start that now.”

“No idea what you mean… boss.”

“Yes, you do,” I say playfully, slapping him on the chest. “You know what that does to me.”

“And you know how much I love to reward you, so how about I’ll only say it again if you hit that second home run we were talking about.”

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