Chapter 24
Dylan
Spring training was coming to an end, and while I was eager to find out where—and at what level—I’d be playing, I was also dreading that my twelve years of sharing a city with Jase were coming to an end.
The last few weeks had been filled with long workouts, exhibition games, and routines that blurred together. Yet Jase and I still found time to share meals and spend time together. I didn’t want to think about how I was going to fill that void once we headed to different states.
I was in the outfield finishing drills when I saw Campos, the Crushers’ manager, standing near the dugout, arms crossed.
“Statler,” he called out.
I jogged in, glove tucked under my arm, trying to read his expression. Campos wasn’t much for tells. He nodded once, then jerked his head toward the clubhouse.
Every possible outcome ran through my mind as I followed him to his office. Was I being sent back to the minors a few days before spring training ended? Did they think I had what it took to maybe be in Triple A instead of Single A? It was impossible to guess what might happen.
He shut the door behind us and sat on the edge of his desk.
“You made this decision easy, kid,” he began. “The coaches like you, and you’ve impressed the front office. You’ve earned it.”
I blinked. “Earned what?”
He finally smiled. “We’re adding you to the opening-day roster.”
For a second, the words didn’t register.
“You’ll be playing for the Crushers,” he continued, since I hadn’t said anything. “You’re not here to ride the bench, either. We plan to give you plenty of playing time.”
“Thank you, sir.”
Campos clapped me on the shoulder. “Call your people and give them the good news. Peyton, our travel coordinator can work out the ticket details if they are able to come to any of our games.”
I nodded and moved to the door.
“And Statler?”
I glanced back. “Yeah?”
“Welcome to the big show.”
I walked out of his office in a daze.
The sun felt brighter as I stepped outside, my heart pounding so hard it felt as if it might crack my ribs.
Jase came bouncing out of his facility just as I reached my truck, a grin stretched across his face that I recognized instantly.
“You too?” I asked.
He laughed, breathless. “No fucking way!”
We stared at each other for a second, then he pulled me into a hug so tight it almost knocked the air out of me. His arms stayed wrapped around me a little longer than they used to. Things were different now. In a good way.
We were still figuring out how our individual connections fit into the three of us building a relationship together, but I wasn’t worried about it. Sometimes only two of us could be together because of travel and other commitments.
“Holy shit,” he said. “We did it.”
“How is this real life?”
“I don’t know, but I’m not complaining.”
We climbed into my truck and headed toward Jase’s apartment. His roommate had already been sent down to the minors and moved to Virginia, so he had the place to himself. That made staying with him easier, and since our schedules aligned, we drove to our training facilities together.
“Okay, you’re not going to believe this.” Jase shifted to face me.
“What?”
“Boston’s playing the Crushers on Opening Day.”
I glanced at him. “Seriously?” I hadn’t checked the schedule; I had been too caught up in the moment.
He smiled. “Seriously. So, who are we calling first? Faye?”
“I don’t know. I’d rather not be driving as we tell her the good news, so I can see her face.”
He nodded in agreement. “Okay, let’s call our dads first, then make our way through the family.”
Chase answered on the second ring. “Hey, Son. How’s it going?”
“Not bad.” Jase tried to keep his voice even, but he didn’t do a very good job of it.
“Why do you sound weird?”
“Because we’re both going to the big show!” he shouted into the phone.
After a beat of silence, Chase yelled, “Gage, get your ass in here!”
“What’s up?” Dad asked in the background, though it sounded as if Chase had put the call on speakerphone.
“It seems our boys have some news.”
“We made the Opening Day roster,” I explained, still finding it hard to believe.
“That’s amazing. Congratulations,” Dad said. “You two absolutely deserve this opportunity.”
“We’re so proud of both of you.” I was pretty sure I heard Chase’s voice crack, though he tried to cover it by switching into dad-mode. “Remember, the hard work doesn’t end here. You gotta keep your heads down and stay healthy.”
“Yes, coach.” Jase chuckled.
The conversation shifted to schedules, travel, and how my dad would try to come to as many games as possible since we’d be on opposite sides of the country. Chase would have to wait until we were playing the Seawolves.
After we finished talking with the rest of the family, we couldn’t wipe the smiles from our faces.
As soon as we walked into Jase’s place, he pulled out his phone and video-called Faye.
When she answered, she eyed us suspiciously. “Why do you both have those goofy-ass grins on your faces?”
“We got called up!” Jase announced. “We’re playing in the majors!”
Her mouth fell open. “Both of you?”
“Yep,” I confirmed.
She let out a squeal. “Oh my God. I’m so happy for you guys.”
“And the best part—”
She cut Jase off. “There’s something even better?”
I nodded. “The Red Sox and the Crushers are playing each other on Opening Day in Boston.”
“What?” Her smile widened instantly. “I can’t believe this is happening.”
Her expression changed slightly, as if she were trying to figure something out in her head. “I can be at Fenway for your first game, but I’m heading out the next day with my mom for a humanitarian aid trip.”
“If it’s going to be too hard to coordinate your schedule—”
She shook her head. “No, you two are important to me, and I’m not going to miss this moment in your lives. I can’t wait to see you both make your major league debuts.”
We couldn’t either.
Two days later, I was in Boston, sitting in the hotel lobby with my bag at my feet, waiting for Jase to meet me so we could take a ride share to Faye’s apartment together.
My manager and coaches would probably have preferred that I stay with the team and get a good night’s rest, but there was no way I was going to be in the same city as my girlfriend and not spend the night with her. Not after so many days apart.
My leg bounced in anticipation as I watched Jase’s marker crawl on the tracking app we both had on our phones.
So many things were going on in my head that I couldn’t focus on just one for very long.
Opening Day obviously consumed a big portion of my thoughts.
All of my family was in town for the game, which was exciting, but I also felt a lot of pressure to perform and prove the organization had made the right decision to bring me up.
My phone vibrated in my hand.
Jase: Here
I was on my feet immediately.
The ride over was quiet, in case the driver was paying attention to our conversation rather than the road. I stared out the window, tapping my fingers against my thigh absently.
Jase reached over and squeezed my hand. “Chill. The next twenty-four hours will be the best of our lives.”
I flashed him a smile. “Hell yeah, they will.”
A few minutes later, the car dropped us off in front of a building near the harbor. It was tall and sleek, with the water reflecting off its windows.
With our bags in hand, we entered the lobby. The concierge greeted us, and Jase gave him Faye’s name. A moment later, the elevator doors slid open, and we stepped inside.
“Our girl and baseball. It doesn’t get any better than this,” Jase mused as we climbed.
A year ago, I couldn’t have imagined things turning out this way, but I was damn glad they had.
When we reached her floor, I spotted Agent Pederson on guard outside her door, as usual.
As soon as we knocked, the door opened.
Just inside, Faye stood barefoot on the marble floor, her blonde hair loose around her shoulders, wearing a thin satin nightie that clung to all her curves and barely reached the top of her thighs.
She’d rendered me speechless, and it seemed she’d had the same effect on Jase as we both stared at her.
“You made it,” she said softly, her eyes flicking between us. “Drop your bags there. You can unpack later. Right now, I have plans for you.”
She stepped back, and I followed, doing as instructed and dropping my bag on the floor. Jase closed the door behind us, but it barely registered as Faye reached for me, her hands curling into the front of my shirt, and kissed me hard.
“I missed you,” I rasped against her lips.
She peered up at me with her gorgeous blue eyes.
“Then show me,” she demanded.
Jase moved in behind her, his palms sliding up the backs of her thighs, lifting that barely-there nightie.
“Fuck me,” he groaned, grinning against her neck. “No panties.”
“I told you.” She tilted her head toward him. “I have plans.”
“Do they involve me bending you over this couch right now?” I asked, running my hands down her sides. “Because I’m seconds away from doing it.”
She gave me a wicked smile. “Close.”
I let her go long enough to strip off my shirt, then watched her spin and reach for the hem of Jase’s tee, yanking it up his chest. “Both of you. Clothes off. Now.”
There was no teasing in her tone. No giggle. Just pure, unadulterated heat.
I hadn’t moved that fast since spring training drills, and Jase seemed just as eager, so we were both naked in seconds.
She turned and walked down the hall, her hips swaying as if she knew we were watching her. She discarded her lingerie in a pool of silk on the floor as she entered the bedroom, then perched on the edge of the bed.
Leaning back on her hands, she let her gaze linger on both of us before she spoke. “Dylan, I want you inside me.” I was already moving closer when she locked eyes with Jase. “And I want you to fuck him at the same time.”
My breath stuttered.