Page 30 of Restricted List

Night, Sparrow

I strip my T-shirt off and flop onto my sofa, smiling like a fucking fool.

My life would be a lot fucking easier if I didn’t like her so much.

But goddamn, I like her.

Every time I see her, it just strengthens those feelings.

I’m going to be completely fucked if I can’t get my shit sorted.

I scrub a hand over my face, trying to clear my racing thoughts. I wince lightly as my arm brushes against my chest.

I finally finished out the sleeve on my right arm by adding PIERCE to my inner bicep, and it’s still sore as fuck. I may have gotten my first tattoo on my eighteenth birthday a decade ago, but it’s not like the pain gets better. Getting stabbed with a needle thousands of times is always going to hurt like shit.

But even the ache in my arm can’t keep my mind from spiraling. So, I pull my phone back out, shooting a text off to the first friend I made when I came into the league.

Cole

You up, man?

Ari

Dude, it’s midnight

When the fuck am I asleep at midnight?

I roll my eyes as I pull up his contact to call.

The greeting I get as Ari picks up is exactly what I expected.

“Lucky I’m answering right now, Pierce.”

“Still salty over the World Series, Morgan?” I laugh.

“Yes, dick,” he says, lightly chuckling. “You specifically hit the home run that won you guys the goddamn game. And your sister’s boyfriend struck me out before that.”

“Come on, Ari. Just be happy your friend was MVP, and pray you can come play for a better team next season.”

I met Ari Morgan when we were both on the Kansas Huskers Triple-A team. He’s a year younger, but we both got called up to the majors within weeks of each other. We’ve pretty much been on this journey together the entire time.

We only played together on the Huskers for a little over a year. I was traded to the Stars shortly after the start of the next season, and Ari ended up traded to the Atlanta Thunderbirds before the end of that season.

Currently, he’s still pissed that the Stars beat the Thunderbirds in the World Series.

He’ll get over it, though. Fuck the Thunderbirds.

“So, what’s up, man?”

“Just a lot on my mind lately. I need a distraction, so I figured we could catch up. Got any plans for the offseason?”

“Heading to Korea for a couple weeks. Haven’t seen my mom since the last off-season. I miss the shit out of her.”

The entire time I’ve known him, Ari’s always been close with his mom. When his parents divorced when he was a kid, his mom stayed in South Korea to be near her family while his dad came back to the US once his military contract ended. Ari spent most of his time in the US after that but gets back to visit as often as he can.

“Tell Eomma that I say hi,” I reply.

“I’ll tell her. You got any plans?”

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