Page 142 of Off Season

“Yep. And we just met with Quincy’s builder.” Quincy built a giant mansion in the suburbs. “We bought the lot next to Quincy, and we’re going to break ground as soon as possible.”

I sit down, in a bit of shock. I was finally used to the fact that Layton is no longer a single man. But now he’s also moving to the suburbs. Everything is changing.

I can’t help but shake my head. “I can’t say I ever saw you as a minivan dad in the ’burbs.”

He chuckles. “No minivan…yet. I’m married. We’re starting a family. I want land for our kids to play on. You can’t get that in the city. Isn’t that what everyone wants?”

I hold out my hand for him and say, “Congrats, man. I’m happy for you,” but my mind is a million miles away. Is that what everyone wants?

Is it what I want?

CHAPTER TWENTY-EIGHT

CHEETAH

The time Kam and I have been waiting for has arrived. Tonight, during the seventh-inning stretch of my game, she and I are performing the rumba. It’s called the “dance of love” for a reason. Lots of hip movements and lots of sensuality.

The dance works well with my regular song, “Cheetah” by Chris Brown. We went back to Ms. Rylee to practice this specific dance a handful of times. There’s not one second of our practice time I haven’t loved. It’s Kam and me with a heavy dose of fun, laughter, and the best foreplay in existence.

Kam isn’t remotely nervous. She’s so excited about the big performance.

We chose this game because it’s the first Ripley will attend. They moved back a few weeks ago, but Ripley has been home with Kaya. With her being a preemie and them getting a little media attention, they didn’t want to take her in public for a bit, but today is that day. All our friends are finally at a game together, and Kam and I have secretly beenplanning a big show for them. They have no idea it’s coming.

When the time comes, she’s escorted out to the field. She removes the jersey she’s wearing to reveal a sexy suede outfit. It’s got a Tarzan and Jane vibe, with a barely-there strip of material and beads across her generous chest, her abs on display, and a purposefully jaggedly cut, very short skirt, also clad with beading. It works well with the sensual movements of the dance, and her long, bare legs are capped with heels. I think everyone in the stadium is salivating, me included.

There’s a loud sea of whistles coming from the stands and the dugouts. Kam pays them no attention. She’s homed in on me with her giant smile. How did I get so lucky?

She approaches me with an excited bounce in her step. I take her hand and kiss it. “You’re stunning.”

Her smile widens as she turns my baseball cap backward. “Just don’t drop me, kitten.”

I wink. “Never.”

She falls into my arms as we get into ready position. She smells so fucking good. I love it. It’s become so familiar and soothing to me.

The music begins, as do the erotic synchronized movements of our hips. The fans are going crazy. They expect a little something extra from Kam and me at this point, but nothing as polished and professional as what we’re giving them.

We’re hitting every sexy movement with perfection, and we nail the first two lifts. Neither are as grand as the finale lift though.

We have huge grins on our faces as we twirl and sway around the field. The fans are getting into it. They’re all on their feet, clapping their hands, singing the words to the song. I love bringing so much joy to everyone.

The end is nearing. For the finale, we do aspin move that flows seamlessly into me lifting her into the air above my head with one hand. I’m basically supporting her entire weight with my hand on her hip. It took me forever to learn how to balance her properly like this, but we’ve nailed it at practice enough for me to feel confident to perform it today.

The song comes to an end with her hoisted above my head. After a pregnant pause for what I imagine is extreme shock at the professional-level routine and ending lift they just witnessed, every person in that stadium erupts in cheers. It may be the loudest I’ve ever heard this stadium, and we’ve been in the World Series before. The stunned faces in the dugout are priceless.

I gently pull Kam down until she falls into my arms like a bride. She’s smiling like a loon before she cups my cheek and softly pecks my lips.

That’s not enough for me. I’m too wired. I deepen the kiss, and the fans go wilder. I know they must feel likethey’re witnessing a real live love story. I know I do. It’s like I’m living in one of Gemma’s novels.

Once I set her feet on the ground, I watch her as she raises her hands in the air and then curtsies. I stare at her in awe. She’s my everything. I’m so fucking in love with her.

While being overcome with my love and affection for this woman, I do the dumbest thing possible. In front of over forty thousand people, I drop down to one knee.

Kam doesn’t notice at first, but the entire stadium collectively gasps in shock. I see her brief moment of confusion before her head turns to me, and her eyes widen in shock.

She breathes, “What are you doing?”

I beam at her. “Kam bam, I love you more than anything in this world and don’t want to live another day of my life without you by my side. What do you say to a little long-term prostitution? Marry me.”

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