Page 76 of Stepping Up to the Plate

Reading the anger vibrating off me despite my quiet demeanor, Lola jumps in. Ignoring Rick, she addresses her mother, “Brady is not now, nor will he ever invest in your ‘business.’ Your current operation is illegal and even if it wasn’t we have no intention of enabling you. I shouldn’t be surprised that you reached out to me to get to him and not to apologize for all the shit you’ve done but I am.

“A small part of me thought you might have turned your life around and wanted a genuine relationship with your daughter. I won’t make that mistake twice. Never contact me again, Mom. You should’ve run out of chances years ago and today I have finally run out of fucks to give. Have a nice life. Keep me out of it.”

With that declaration, she turns on her heel leaving a slack-jawed Tammy and red-faced Rick in her wake as she pulls me behind. We make it all the way back to the car before she lets out a shuddering breath. Lola peers up at me, pretty doe eyes filled with unshed tears. I know despite her strong words, that confrontation cost her.

I pull her into my chest, and run my hand soothingly down her back. “It’s okay,” I coo. “You did so good, baby. I’m so proud of you.”

The sob she lets out all but wrecks me. “That was awful,” she cries.

“I know, sweet girl. But it is over. You closed the door and we never have to open it again.” I continue to hold her and whisper reassuring words until her breath evens out and crying subsides. “Are you okay to go back to the hotel? I want to hold you properly before I have to report to the clubhouse.”

She nods in response and lets me guide her into the car. She is silent on the ride home, clearly drained from the entire experience, but the way she clings to my hand in her lap makes me feel ten feet tall. I love being her lifeline. I will be her rock in every situation from now until the end of time if she lets me.

* * *

After securing a win against the Sharks, the group is getting ready to go to a party thrown by a friend of Tiffany’s. Apparently, the girls went to the same party last year. We rarely get a night out with everyone, but since it’s Labor Day Weekend, we have the night off thanks to the early afternoon game.

I’m sitting in the lobby waiting for girls and Robby to come down. Tiffany insisted they all had to get ready together. She said something about a special dress she got for Lola. When it comes to the blonde mastermind, I’ve learned not to ask too many questions.

Kent takes a seat beside me as we wait. “You ready to get wild, Papa Bear?” he asks.

“You know we have a game tomorrow, right?” I remind him.

“Yes,” he retorts. “I know we have another game tomorrow but we’re leading the series. I’m not worried about it. Did you see me at the plate today? I can’t be stopped.”

I roll my eyes. I love Kent like a brother, but the guy can be a lot, especially on a night out. “Try to keep it manageable tonight. I want to have a chill evening. I don’t have the energy to wrangle you.”

Kent chuckles. “I think any chance you had of it being chill tonight is out the window, buddy.”

“Why do you say that?” I question, glancing up from my phone.

In answer, he tips his head towards the elevators where the rest of our group is walking our way. My breath catches as I take in Lola. She is a vision in a sparkly, rose gold dress. It dips low in the front to show off her collarbones and cleavage. “Holy shit,” I mutter, then elbow him in the side when he makes a grunt of agreement. “Stop staring at my girl.”

Kent gives me a knowing grin when I glare at him.

Lola appears nervous as she approaches me, twisting her hands together. I stand to greet her when she gets within a few feet.

“You look like a fucking goddess, baby,” I compliment.

“You think?”

“Absolutely. Where did you get this dress and can we get it in every color?” She blushes, but I am only half kidding.

“You can thank me for the outfit, big guy,” Tiffany interjects. “I take gratitude in the form of Veuve.”

“Done,” I promise.

“Do you really like it?” Lola asks with a turn. As she spins around, I see the low dip of the back. I can see the indentations above her ass. “You don’t think it’s too much? Too revealing?”

“It is fucking hot. If I didn’t know how much you were looking forward to tonight, I would be hauling you upstairs.”

Instead of reveling in the praise, she pales a little.

“What’s wrong?” I question.

“You want me to go upstairs and change?”

“What? No. That’s not what we’d do upstairs. Why would I want you to change?”

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