Page 63 of West Bound

“Do y’all look both ways before getting on my goddamn nerves?” I throw back at them.

“It’s just,” CeCe starts. “ The date, the special dinner, falling asleep in each other's arms without having sex…that doesn’t sound like a guy who wants to keep things casual.”

I wave my hand and then take one more heaping bite of my food. “That was just in private. I doubt he’s like that when people are around. It’s just a show to, you know, get in my pants.”

“Clearly he doesn’t know he wasted his time on that since you’d have slept with him for a piece of gum. Oh wait!” Cami slaps the table. “You did sleep with him for a piece of gum!”

She throws her head back in a fit of laughter and the girls join in. I may have let out a chuckle or two.

“I’m just going to not think too much about it, and we’ll just see where this all goes. No pressure.” I pop the last piece of biscuit into my mouth and shrug.

It’s not a thing. Just a hookup.

CeCe and I decided to drive to the stadium together and I told her I’d just wait in her office for her if she wasn’t done when I was.

I walk through the stadium, stopping to say hello to Hank and find out the latest hobby his wife has taken up. I learned that she started making pot holders and walked out with a fab pair that looked like two hands, one holding a microphone. Totally impractical in terms of using them for their intended purpose, but cute nonetheless.

I stop at my favorite food stand and walk away with a bucket of popcorn and extra large water, then wind my way down the stairs to the clubhouse. With my custom Rosey pot holders tucked safely in my custom Rosey embroidered bag and hanging off my shoulder, I cradle my popcorn bucket and smile and wave to familiar faces.

I have a pre-game interview with one of the pitching coaches and an outfielder who was called up from the Wranglers AAA team, then I can park my pretty butt on my stool and wait for the game. No time to think or stress over whatever this thing with Phoenix is.

I slow as guys start filing out of the locker room to warm-up before the visiting team takes the field and wait for them all to pass. When the last guy shuffles out, I mosey down the corridor. I’m almost free and clear when a pair of strong arms bands around my waist and pulls me back into an equally strong and large body.

My popcorn bucket is jostled, and a handful falls to the floor.

“Hi Peaches,” a deep voice whispers in my ear and a gentle kiss is placed on my neck and a nose buries into my hair and inhales.

I look over my shoulder with a nervous energy–even though I know who it is–and see a smiling Phoenix looking at me.

“H-hey,” I stutter.

“Missed you today,” he says.

My stomach bottoms out and I’m shocked into silence. All I can manage is a half-hearted chuckle before I’m spun around in his arms and pressed against his chest.

“Coming home with me tonight?” he asks, and I don’t miss the hopefulness in his voice.

“Um…” my eyes flit around the hall to check for anyone who may see us but it’s empty. “I came with CeCe and we thought about grabbing a drink afterwards before she takes me home.”

“Okay. I’ll meet you there. I’m not drinking since I’m training in the morning, but I’ll take you home so it won’t be out of the way for CeCe.”

“Oh, that’s okay. You don’t–” I’m stopped when he takes me in a hard kiss.

His hand goes to the back of my head and I drop my popcorn when his other hand grips my ass and tugs me to him. He moans into my mouth and tiny sparks of electricity fire off in my body.

The sound of feet has my eyes snapping open and my hands pushing on Phoenix’s chest. With some effort, I finally disconnect from him and he looks at me with confusion all over his handsome face.

“People are coming,” I whisper.

“So. Let them watch. It’ll be good for them to see that you’re mine. Especially that pencil dick Manny and his minion Rami.”

As if he summoned them by whispering their names, Manny, Rami and one of the trainers come traipsing down the hall. Phoenix doesn’t loosen his grip on me, and I’m forced to stand there, bracing myself on his hard chest.

Rami’s face falls despite him ignoring me for several days, and Manny’s lip curls when he looks at Phoenix.

“What do we have here,” the trainer, whose name I don’t know, asks.

“Just getting a quick good luck kiss from my girl before I hit the bullpen.” My head swings to look at Phoenix and I swear I gasp.

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