Page 10 of Passed Ball

"Don't make me regret this," I threaten before folding like a cheap card table.

"You made the right choice. She'll be fine with me. You, I'm still a tad nervous for." Her thumb and pointer finger pinch together displaying a sliver of space between them as she smirks more brazenly now.

I sound as tired as I am when I say, "She's right behind me, isn't she?"

"Yep." Tenley pops thePdramatically.

"Is there a problem over here?" Vivi's emerald gaze rakes over me, heavy on the annoyance.

"Nope."

At the same time, her niece mutters, "Meh," with an indifferent shrug of her shoulder. The apple certainly didn't fall far from that tree. Both of the Cardoza women seem to enjoy putting me in my place.

"Then get your gear on and get out there." Vivi points to my station.

"It's in the locker room. I'll be right out."

She can't be more than five-foot-three, maybe five-four on a good day, but when she throws her hands in the air and pushes her finger into my chest, she towers over all six feet four inches of me. I've never been more terrified of someone so short in my entire life.

"Strike three is so damn close."

"Wh--"

Her fingers fly across her lips in a zipper motion. I shut up on instinct alone.

"You have two minutes. Grab your gear and come back out ready to coach. This stadium might be your house, but these aremykids, and for the next two hours, I'myourlandlord. I know you have your own things going on, but I need your focus until we load the buses back up. Last chance to back out."

"I'm staying. Just give me a minute."

"Good." She smiles, and holy shit, I think it's real. "The kids are done with their tour and heading down the tunnel."

A curtain of espresso-colored hair swishes around her shoulders when she spins on her wedge heels and marches back down the stairs to the field.

Taking her lecture to heart, I break into a run, casting a backward glance to ensure Holland is settled. I duck through the dugout and head for the locker room. Once I'm beneath the stadium, I let out a ragged breath. Giving myself a second to breathe before I change, I make it my mission to get through the rest of the day without disappointing anyone else.

My daughter is at the top of that list, followed closely by Vivienne Cardoza, her kids from Double Play, and my teammates.

How a spitfire of a woman I barely know managed to wrangle her way onto that list is something I'm too exhausted to give any further thought to today. Seems like a problem for future Xavier, in eight to ten months, when I'm getting more than two hours of sleep at a time. Then I'll be rested enough to sort through why I care what Vivi thinks of me.

Chapter 4

Vivienne

After the chaos of today's camp, I need chocolate and an orgasm. Preferably in that order. Neither has ever failed me--at least, not when I'm the one in charge of them--and I need that kind of consistency right now.

Nothing kills the mood like crappy chocolate or those delightful tingles fading before they even have a chance to peak because your partner rolls over and gets up. Or worse, mutters the fatal words:"You're good, right?"

No, I'm not good, you nitwit. You've been diddling my left labia for ten minutes.

In comparison, today wasn't all bad. The camp was a success, despite the fact that I spent more time babysitting grown men than working with my kids. But after wrangling one stressed-out single dad and laying down the law with Braxton Hayes, I've earned a little self-care.

Intent on indulging in everything I deserve, I tug my silk blouse over my head--a small luxury from my "treat myself" era. Halfway off, the condo door slams closed.

"Aunty Vi!" Tenley's voice rings out, brimming with excitement. "I know you're home!"

I can't help the twitch of a smile as her steps grow louder. "In here, getting changed." Any second now, she'll launch herself onto the couch, dark chocolate in hand, waiting for me to join her and gush about her day. It's been our thing since she moved in, and I love it.

She's been my universe since the moment she took her first breath.

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