Chapter 25
Faye
The first thing I noticed when I woke up was how warm I felt. It only took a second to realize it was because I was wedged between two big, firm bodies. Jase was on his back, one arm behind his head, his other hand on my thigh. Dylan spooned me from behind, his hand possessively cupping my breast.
Sunlight filtered through the tall windows of my apartment, casting a soft glow across the bed. Beyond the windows, boats cut through the sparkling water of the harbor below.
Dylan shifted first, his fingers flexing against me as he lifted his head slightly. “This definitely beats waking up in bed alone.”
I smiled. “Good to know.”
Jase groaned beside us. “Why does it feel like I slept only five minutes?”
“That’s basically true. Someone was insatiable last night.”
He cracked open his eyes and flashed me a smile. “Damn right, Princess. It’s been too long without you two.”
For a few seconds, we stayed in bed, savoring the quiet before things got hectic again.
“What time do you need to leave?” I asked just as an alarm went off.
Dylan stretched and reached for his phone on my nightstand. “Soon, apparently.”
“I don’t like that idea,” I grumbled.
“Me neither,” Jase agreed. “But duty calls.”
Dylan lifted onto his elbow and looked down at me, a teasing expression spreading across his face. “So. Important question.”
I raised an eyebrow. “Yes?”
“Whose team are you rooting for today?”
I laughed. “That’s not fair.”
“I feel like it’s a perfectly reasonable thing to ask your girlfriend,” Jase added, his cocky grin making an appearance.
I glanced between them, then shrugged. “Good thing both your teams wear red.”
Dylan barked a laugh. “That’s a cop-out.”
“You’re just mad because I won’t play your silly little game.”
Jase leaned down and kissed me. “It’s okay. I know you’re a Red Sox fan at heart.”
Dylan tossed a pillow at him. “At least until she sees me out there, kicking your team’s ass.”
And the trash-talking began.
Eventually, they rolled out of bed, leaving me sprawled naked in the sheets as I watched them move around my bedroom, as if they belonged there. Which they did. Or at least, I wanted them to.
I arrived at the park just as the gates opened, with Agent Pederson in tow.
We made our way to the suite the Matthewson-Statler clan had reserved.
I had no idea how they’d managed to secure it at the last minute, but I was glad to be able to watch the game with at least a little privacy, away from cameras and curious eyes.
When I entered the suite, Gage and Chase were already there.
“Faye,” Gage greeted me warmly, pulling me into a hug. “It’s great to see you again.”
“You too.” I smiled, then my gaze fell on Chase. “Aren’t you supposed to be with the Seawolves?”
Chase chuckled. “I called in a few favors, and the team gave me the day off so I could be here.”
“I’m sure Jase and Dylan are glad you could make it.” I glanced toward the field, but only a handful of players were out there, and none of them were my guys.
“No way was I going to miss their first major league game, especially with them playing each other,” he explained. “But as soon as this game is over, I’m heading to New York to join my team for their series against the Yankees.”
“And here I thought I traveled a lot. It’s nothing like what you guys do during the season.”
He laughed. “At least Jase and Dylan are dating someone who understands insane schedules. This life can be hard, especially when you’re spending so much time on the road. It definitely helps to have supportive people around to get you through the long stretches.”
I smiled at that because it was true. For the next six months, it would be difficult to carve out time for any two of us, let alone all three of us, to be together.
Before my brain went down that dark path, the suite doors opened again.
“Hi!” a woman with kind eyes and familiar features said brightly as she stepped inside, followed by a man who looked just as excited to be here.
Chase turned. “Perfect timing. Faye, this is Jamie, Jase’s mother, and her husband, Tony.”
Jamie smiled right away. “It’s so nice to meet you finally.”
I returned the smile without hesitation. “You too. The guys talk about you often, and I’ve been looking forward to meeting you in person.”
She laughed. “My boys are too sweet, and they couldn’t stop talking about you when they came to visit me in San Diego.”
My heart warmed when she called both of them her boys. I knew Dylan saw her as a mother figure, and I was happy to see the feeling was mutual. After what he’d shared about his birth mom, he deserved someone like Jamie in his life.
Tony shook my hand. “Welcome to the madness that defines this family. It’s chaotic in all the best ways.”
“I’m starting to think chaos is the unofficial family motto,” I said, drawing a chuckle from everyone. “At least that’s the feeling I got from the infamous game nights.”
Jamie and I fell into easy conversation, covering everything from life in Boston to watching her kids reach something they’d worked toward their entire lives. Just like when I first met Chase and Gage, she made me feel welcome and like I deserved to share a part of this day with them.
A few minutes later, Fallon and Rhett arrived, closely followed by Tyler, Hayden, and Cammie.
“Faye!” Cammie pulled me into a quick hug. “I’m so happy to see you.”
“You too,” I agreed.
We all exchanged hellos and hugs.
“I just wanted to say a quick hello.” Hayden lifted his camera bag. “I’m covering the game for The Hub, so I’ll be down on the field.”
“Must be nice,” I teased.
He grinned. “Perks of the job.”
As he headed back out, I turned toward the windows just as movement on the field caught my attention. Batting practice was starting, and my heart skipped a beat when I spotted Jase near the line, waiting his turn.
“There’s Jase!” Cammie hollered as she bounced excitedly beside me.
I stepped closer to the glass, unable to stop searching for my other boyfriend. I spotted him in the dugout, talking to one of the coaches. From my vantage point, both Jase and Dylan looked calm, as if they’d been playing at this level for years.
“I can’t believe this is really happening,” Jamie said softly beside me.
“It’s amazing,” I replied.
When batting practice ended for both teams and the players cleared the field, we all took a moment to load up plates with a selection of stadium food that had been delivered to the suite. I’d just taken a bite of my lobster roll when the announcer’s voice boomed through the speakers.
It was time for the starting lineups.
Our suite erupted in cheers when Dylan’s name was announced, despite the home crowd’s less-than-enthusiastic reception. But none of us cared. We made sure our support was heard loud and clear.
He glanced toward the suite for half a second, and I swore he smiled when our eyes met.
Then it was time for the Red Sox introductions.
“Playing shortstop and batting sixth, Jase Matthewson,” the announcer called. Cammie and I shouted as we jumped up and down.
Jase looked in our direction just as Dylan had and gave a small hat tip in acknowledgment.
As the players took their positions, we stepped just outside the suite. I pressed my hands to the railing and let out a breath.
My boyfriends were out there, living their dreams, and I got to be part of the special moment.
The Red Sox scored in the bottom of the first, and Fenway erupted, but Dylan had a great defensive inning shortly after, catching a fly ball and keeping the other team from scoring.
“That’s my brother,” Cammie shouted.
Jamie laughed. “She’s been like this all morning.”
As the innings rolled on, I found myself torn between watching the field, laughing with Jamie, teasing Fallon, and listening to Chase and Gage break down the game.
Jase turned a smooth double play that had the suite cheering. In the top of the eighth, Dylan drove in a run with a single, quieting the crowd a bit.
The Red Sox ultimately pulled ahead and held on to their lead, and the crowd went wild as the final out was recorded. Even though Jase’s team got the W, Dylan had a solid debut, and watching them both succeed felt like winning twice.
We decided to let the fans clear out a bit before making our way toward the clubhouse. While we waited, my phone buzzed with a notification.
I glanced down, and my stomach dropped.
FIRST DAUGHTER, FAYE DONNELLEY, SPOTTED AT FENWAY! ARE THINGS GETTING SERIOUS WITH RED SOX ROOKIE SHORTSTOP JASE MATTHEWSON?
I stared at the headline for a second, then let out a quiet laugh.
If only they knew how serious it was with Jase … and his stepbrother.
I slipped my phone back into my purse and leaned against the railing.
This moment was what mattered.
Not the headlines.
Not the speculation.
Just the game and the men playing for me.