Page 90 of West Bound

We say goodbye and I promise to make him my go-to tattooist, then head off to the field. Luckily, I’m not set to pitch tonight so I’ll have time to heal up a bit before my next start. But even if I do get called on, I’ll be fine.

I drive away with a shit eating grin on my face and a content feeling. It’s a feeling of completeness, of being whole. And that’s what Vivian has done for me.

She’s made me whole.

CHAPTER THIRTY

VIVIAN

The Wranglers lost their game, but only barely. They definitely should have had Phoenix on the mound. He would never let those four guys get a hold of his pitches. But it’s just one game and it doesn’t even make a dent in their wins over the other teams in their division.

I do my usual post game interviews then wait for Phoenix by his truck in the players lot. I grabbed an Uber to the station and came over with my camera guy knowing that I’d just be going home with Phoenix.

He was playful this evening in the dugout, and it had the entire team in good spirits despite the loss. Something changed in him within the span of twenty-four hours and I couldn’t figure out what it was. It wasn’t anything that I think anyone else would notice, but I did.

He smiled wider, stared at me longer, and when no one was looking his kiss was gentle as was his touch.

I’m scrolling through my phone when I feel his presence. Looking up, I spot him walking out the door with a few other players, their mood jovial. He shakes their hands then sets his sights straight at me.

“Hey, baby,” he says and pulls me into his arms.

“Well hello there, stud.” I take his face in my hands and lay a big kiss on his lips.

I feel myself falling deeper and deeper into his stratosphere. I just want to be consumed by him and it scares me how much I lose myself when he’s near. Hell, I feel the same when he isn’t near.

If I’m not with him, I’m thinking of him or watching videos of him or reading an article about him. It’s like I’ve reverted back to that naive college girl who cut out articles about him and his team and saved them. Those quickly met the burn pile after the fateful night on spring break.

Now I don’t have to hide my secret obsession. I can take a picture of him whenever I want, and even daydream about a life beyond today. It may be a silly young girl's dream, but I can’t stop it either way.

“Let’s get outta here. I have something to show you,” he whispers against my lips.

He opens the door and picks me, tossing me inside and buckling me in like a child.

“I can do that, you know.” He shrugs and kisses my nose before running around the front and hoping in the drivers and peeling off.

“Okay, what’s this surprise you have to show me?” I ask, the moment we walk in the door.

He takes my hand and pulls me towards my bedroom. We walk in the lowly lit room and he sits me on the edge of my bed, then proceeds to unbutton his dress shirt.

“Babe. I’ve seen your body. It’s a work of art, okay. I’ve got it memorized, so this is not a surprise,” I joke.

He doesn’t say anything, just continues to unbutton this shirt, then his cuffs. He lets it drop from his body and that’s when I see a bandage on his chest.

“What happened?” I ask, quickly jumping from the bed.

“Nothing bad.” He takes my hand in his and guides my fingers to work the tape off.

Piece by piece I peel it away until it’s all gone and he pulls the gauze away, to reveal a new tattoo.

“Phoenix…” my hand flies up to cover my mouth.

“Like it?” He asks, looking down at the brightly colored peach that rests amongst his other ink.

“Why’d you…this…this isn’t for me, right?”

“Of course it is, Peaches.”

“But that’s permanent!” I screech, suddenly smacked with the realization that he essentially has me branded onto him forever.

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