Page 66 of The Third Baseman

“You like that?”

Another twenty seconds and she was convulsing in my lap; intense, almost violent quaking as she arched away from me, her mouth forming a perfect O shape while her eyelids fluttered like a hummingbird’s wing. I swear her eyes rolled back.

Then I felt it; gripping my fingers like they were giving her life, she came in my lap.

I’d had some experience during my teenage years so far; fooled around with a handful of girls, had sex with another handful.

But none, not a single one, had looked at me the way Marnie was looking at me now – like I was the answer to every question she’d ever asked.

It engulfed me until I couldn’t breathe. Until my heart was pumping so hard I was convinced I was having a seizure. And if I’d had a mirror, I’d have found the exact same expression on my face, too.

Because if I was the question, Marnie Matthews was my answer.

10

MARNIE

Present Day

I pulled the pillow over my head, wishing whatever the obnoxious noise was that had wrenched me from sleep would go away.

But it didn’t.

I reached for the intercom by my bed. “Hello?”

“Doctor Matthews, we have a delivery for you. Can we bring it up? It’s large, heavy, and we can’t keep it in the lobby.”

I glanced at the clock; I’d only been in bed for five hours. We’d had a flight home after three away games, and it was Saturday.

I’d really wanted to lie in today.

“Okay, come up,” I croaked and hung up, or more accurately, dropped the headset down the side of the bed.

I picked up The Lions’ hoodie I’d flung onto the chair in the corner and tugged it over my head, then made my way to the front door, all while trying to rub some sight into my eyes. My eyesight wasn’t bad enough that I couldn’t see without my glasses; they just made things a little sharper. This morning though, it was like they hadn’t had enough rest to function – especially when I banged into the wall.

I opened the door just as two delivery guys, followed by Greg, the concierge, walked out of the elevator.

I understood why he didn’t want it sitting in the lobby.

A wooden crate, the size of a large chair – maybe an extra-large chair – was being wheeled on one of those push carts, and for a second I panicked it wouldn’t fit through the door – but I was wrong.

“Where do you want this, lady?”

I hadn’t made any chair sized purchases recently. “I don’t know what it is. Think you can help me out?”

“Sorry, we just deliver.”

I looked at Greg, who shrugged.

I rolled my eyes. “Put in the living room then I guess, please.”

The shorter of the two delivery guys handed me a clipboard and a pen with what looked like a Band-Aid wrapped round the top. “Sign here, and here.”

I read the forms – twice. I couldn’t find a single clue which could shed some light, so I scrawled my name and handed them back.

“Oh, this is for you too.” He held out a thick cream envelope.Marniewas scribbled across the front, and I then knew exactly who was responsible for my annoying wake up call.

Greg coughed. “Ah, Doctor Matthews, if that’s everything, we’ll leave you to it.”

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