Page 54 of Capitally Engaged

Jax and I were enjoying the weather tonight by participating in a Senate vs. House staffers softball league on the National Mall. The New England Senate team had come in second last season, and we were out for blood.

Jax hadn’t been too keen on playing in the first place, wanting to sit with Laurel and heckle while drinking wine out of a Thermos, but I found a way to persuade her. I may not have come into our relationship with much sexual experience, but I now found myself very fluent in reading Jax’s body. A few well-placed orgasms went a long way to convincing her to join the team, though she promised retribution in kind on something in the future. I looked forward to her making her case.

“C’mon, Jax!” I yelled from second base. It was the bottom of the final inning of the first week of games. Two outs, and the score was tied. If Jax could hit me home, we’d win. I never considered myself an overly competitive person, but growing up with four brothers inevitably instilled some competitive urges deep inside you, and something about work league softball brought them out.

Laurel woo-hooed from her spot on the grass behind home plate, waving her Thermos in the air as Jax swung and missed the first pitch. Everyone enjoyed sports in different ways. Jax asked for a time out, stepping back from the plate, and took a few more practice swings.

“You got this baby!” I yelled, really taking it over the top, but my gut was starting to twist. She would take being the final out hard, and she only signed up because of my encouragement.

She stepped back up to the plate, swung hard at the pitch, and sent the ball flying over my head. As soon as she made contact, I took off and made it home before the ball even got back to the infield. Jax stood on first base, jumping up and downwhile the rest of the team cheered. The Housers looked a bit dejected, but also ready to head out and start drinking.

I took off down the first base line toward Jax, and she met me halfway, jumping into my arms. I spun her around, her arms and legs out in celebration, before I pulled her head down to mine. Forgetting these were our colleagues for a second, we kissed until Laurel’s wolf whistle pierced my consciousness, breaking the moment.

“I think I like softball after all,” Jax said, sliding down my body. She bent down and put the hat back on my head she had knocked off during our enthusiastic celebrations.

“See, I knew you’d have fun.” I wrapped my arm around Jax’s waist and we headed toward Laurel’s blanket to grab our stuff.

“I reserve the right to change my mind as soon as we start losing though. It’s only fun when you’re on top.”

“I think it’s fun when you’re on top too,” I said into her ear in a low voice.

“Dirty talk? Who knew Preston had it in him,” Laurel said, smirking up at me, her hand shading the setting sun. Apparently not a low enough voice.

“Anything left in that Thermos?” I asked, hoping any redness in my face could be chalked up to in-game exertion.

She shook it, the sound of liquid answering the question.

“Gimme,” Jax said, reaching out and taking a big swig, finishing what remained.

“You guys are going out with everyone, right?” Laurel asked, screwing the top back on the Thermos and picking up her blanket to fold. I grabbed the other end to make the job easier.

“Nope,” Jax said. “We have an errand to run.”

“And you didn’t save any wine for me to make it go down easier,” I complained.

“We’re going to buy Preston a new suit tonight, so he has it for his tailoring appointment tomorrow, so it can be ready forhis new headshots on Saturday,” Jax explained. “We wouldn’t have to do this tonight if someone had wanted to go shopping any time I suggested it since we made the appointment with the photographer, but he didn’t. So tonight is crunch time.”

“Maybe someone would have wanted to go shopping for suits if someone else didn’t make such a compelling argument to stay home, in bed.” I figured I might as well go for broke since Laurel already caught us.

“Y’all are cute. And gross. But I now feel bad for people who are around when Caitlin and I do this. A real effective emotional tornado you two have whipped up. Time to go drink.” With that, Laurel waved to us over her shoulder and walked off to join the staff from a Maine senator’s office.

“All right, buddy, no more stalling. Off we go.” Jax pushed me to start walking toward the Macy’s located a few blocks from the White House.

“As far as pet names go, not crazy about buddy,” I said, falling into step beside her as we crossed Constitution and headed up 12th Street.

“Yeah, that wasn’t a pet name. That was condescension,” she replied, trying and failing to keep a straight face. We stopped at an intersection, waiting for a walk sign, and I pulled her in close, pressing a kiss to her forehead while she rested her chin on my chest. Once we got our signal, we separated, but I moved to tangle my hand with hers, grinning when I felt her reaching for my hand right back.

“Are you going to be okay, foodwise?” I asked. “I know you didn’t eat much before the game.”

“Yeah.” she nodded. “I had a little something because I knew I could run into a museum if I needed to. I have a protein bar in my bag. I’ll munch on it while you’re modeling for me.”

“Here’s an idea,” I said as we reached the store, the blast of air conditioning feeling good after our walk. “What if you picked out a new dress, too?”

She shot me a confused look. “I don’t need a new dress for anything.”

“What about your book release next month?”

“I mean, I don’t really do much for a book release. Since I don’t associate my face with my pen name, it’s not like I can do a launch event or anything.”

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