Page 114 of Wild Hit
He swallows hard but doesn’t lose his patience. “I want a chance.”
Someone stifles a squeal.
Not me, I’m too busy letting flies into my open mouth.
“I know it’s probably very crappy of me to ask for one when I promised I was just your friend, but…” He runs a hand through his damp hair, messing it up even more. “That’s the one promise I won’t be able to keep. I want you, and not in a very friendly way.”
Turns out my jaw had the capacity to drop even more.
Miguel smiles a little, uncertain—maybe shy. He’s never been more beautiful than at this moment, not even when his shirt was splayed open before my eyes and my hands.
Pretty sure I’m self combusting now.
“So, I… I want to propose a new deal,” he says more firmly. Someone in the crowd tells him that he’s got this. But Miguel’s focus is still only on me. “Take all the space you need to think about this—us, and if we win the World Series, you’ll go out on a date with me.”
Silence.
I mean, aside from the fans that are still loitering in the stands.
“A proper date,” he continues, “Just you and I, no one else to judge, really getting to know each other and considering a future together. And if we lose?—”
“Dude, don’t even say the L-word!” one of the guys shouts.
“Shut up, let him finish,” another one says.
“—Then you decide. Whatever you want, I’ll do it. If you want to divorce the very next day, we will do that. If you want more time to think, consider it done.” There’s no wavering in him, like he’s sure this is the right course of action.
“That’s a big bet. Are you sure you want to play it?” I whisper, looking up at him as if he wasn’t the best professional baseball player of our time.
As if he wasn’t the one guy who can make all of this happen even with bruised ribs, thrown off by an annoying, insecure woman, and with the weight of the whole team on his very wide shoulders.
“Yes, I am,” he responds firmly and extends his hand toward me. “Deal?”
If my heart wasn’t trying to claw its way out of my chest, I’d suspect this is all a dream. That there’s no way this man—this wonderful, kind, and sweet man—would basically be staking his career on me.
I blink up at him. “This is absolutely wild, you know?”
“Yeah, I know. It’s been a big hit with the whole team, though.” His grin is almost contagious, or would be if I wasn’t feeling like I’m underwater.
“So the whole team knows?” I question.
Lots of people clear their throats and make whistling noises that don’t fool me.
So this is why the whole freaking team joined in. Not only they know what’s happened between Miguel and I, but they’re being his wingmen. Some of them weren’t very fond of the idea of someone of Miguel’s caliber joining the team and hogging all the attention at first, but he’s won over even those haters. That’s how special he is.
I’d be a complete fool to not bet on him.
Slowly, I rise to my feet and clasp my cold hand in his big, hot one. “Deal.”
Cheers break out all around.
CHAPTER 42
MIGUEL
“Isn’t this so poetic?” Lucky Rivera asks. He’s got his forearms up against the barrier. Beside him is Cade, then Logan, and me. We’re all chewing gum and probably look like cows.
The Cowboy mumbles, “Hmm?”
