Page 36 of Big Pitch Energy

“Gotta grab a condom,” I said, reaching for the door.

Hope curled her leg around my hip and smiled.

“It’s okay. I’m on the pill.” Then she added, “And I know I’m clean.”

I met her gaze.

“I am too,” I said. “But are you sure?”

I’ve never had sex without a condom before, never trusted anyone enough. But with her, I didn’t even think twice. So when she nodded, I lifted her and slid inside.

I held her close as we moved together, savoring the feel of her skin on skin as water poured over us like a curtain shutting out the rest of the world.

Afterward, we toweled off and got dressed. Hope wore a soft green dress that clung in all the right places. I watched her do her hair, then apply makeup, and swipe on lipstick which somehow seemed more intimate than what we just did in the shower.

Once we were ready, we made our way down to Trax, the hotel bar nestled just off the main lobby. It was packed with people already, voices rising over clinking glasses and laughter.

Some of my teammates were gathered at one of the long tables near the back. Trey spotted us first, raising a glass.

“Look who finally made it down,” he called.

“Hey,” I said, slinging an arm around my date. “This is Hope.”

Introductions flew fast, but Hope handled it like a pro, laughing at the jokes, shaking hands, slipping right into therhythm of the group like she’d always belonged. She caught my eye once, a quiet smile just for me.

At that moment, I realized this weekend wasn’t just about showing her off, it was about discovering how much more there was to us. And whatever came next, I was ready to see where it would take us.

Hope

The last ofthe dinner plates were being cleared as I leaned back in my chair, my eyes drifting over to Anjannette and Leo at their sweetheart table. They looked ridiculously happy and completely wrapped up in each other. Her dress shimmered under the chandelier lights, and Leo had a goofy grin on his face as he whispered something in her ear that made her laugh.

Sam sat beside me, his hand resting casually on the back of my chair. Liz had been right, his teammates really are some of the kindest people I’ve ever met. Our table was a fun, easygoing mix of Sam’s teammates and their partners—Trey and Nori, Rusty and Ivy, Jimmy and Abby, and Phil and Chloe. The vibe was warm and relaxed, full of laughter and quick banter. These people are genuinely kind, and welcomed me in a way that went beyond just being polite. I’d felt it last night at the rehearsal dinner, again during the ceremony, and now. Even surrounded by inside jokes, I felt like I belonged.

“Hope, I’d love to hear more about Reiki.” Nori leaned in, her eyes bright with curiosity. “It’s something I’ve always been interested in, but haven’t experienced yet.”

“It’s kind of hard to explain without sounding a little woo-woo, but Reiki is all about energy. Tuning into the body’s naturalflow and helping clear out anything that’s stuck or blocked,” I said. “It’s super gentle, but honestly, it can be really powerful. I’ve had clients fall asleep, cry, or walk away feeling a deep sense of peace. It’s different for everyone.” I glanced around the table, half-laughing. “I know it sounds a little out there, but I swear, it really does help.”

Sam shifted beside me, his voice easy but sure.

“I can vouch for that.”

“You’ve done Reiki?” Trey asked with a raised brow.

“That’s actually how I met Hope.” He looked at me with a sweet smile that melted my insides. “The doctors had cleared me and supposedly I was good to go, except my fastball was garbage. So my mom just went ahead and booked me a Reiki appointment. I only went to shut her up.” He shrugged, and everyone laughed. “But I’m glad I did. Not just because I got to meet you,” he winked at me, “but because it helped. I don’t know how, but something just shifted and I got my rhythm back.”

Before anyone could ask more questions, the DJ’s voice crackled through the speakers.

“Alright folks, let’s get moving after that amazing dinner. We’ll start off with something slow. This one’s an oldie but a goodie.”

The first soft notes ofUnforgettableby Nat King Cole floated through the ballroom, and Sam looked at me, his hand held out.

“Dance with me?”

I nodded and slid my hand into his. We both stood and he led me to the dance floor. As soon as we reached the center, he pulled me gently into his arms, one hand at my waist, the other holding mine with quiet care. I fit against him like we’d done this a hundred times before, even though it was our first.

His touch was confident, unhurried, and grounded in something that felt like more than just attraction. And his mom hadn’t been kidding, Samcoulddance. He moved with ease, likehe was completely in tune with the music and with me. As we swayed together under the soft lights, something settled in my chest. Being in his arms didn’t just feel good, it feltright.

When that song faded into something faster, we got caught up in the moment, laughing, spinning, and getting breathless. Some of his teammates made their way to the dance floor too, and were trying to one-up each other with the most over-the-top dance moves, which only made us laugh harder. Honestly, I don’t think I’d ever had that much fun dancing.

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