20. Love of the Game
20
Love of the Game
Trevor
“Fuck, baby. Yes. Just like that.”
My head hits the headboard as I lean back, so turned on I can’t fucking think. And that’s the point.
My wrists are bound to the bed frame with those silky ties, and Chelsea is sitting on my lap, riding me, our sweaty bodies writhing together. There’s nothing sexier than my girl riding me, her tits bouncing, and her long, sweaty hair framing her face.
I never thought I’d love being restrained or being out of control in the bedroom, but it turns out, I need it. I’d let her be even more controlling if she wanted to. Submitting to her takes all my stress away.
“Chels…” I groan, but then she stops. “Why?”
She leans over and grabs something from her drawer, then her lips are on mine. Still, she doesn’t move, and I swear my cock is practically crying in desperation. He’s definitely leaking. But then I hear the buzz of her vibrator, and then I feel the reverberations as she presses it to her clit.
She throws her head back and starts riding me again, and fuck, fuck, fuck… it’s so good. Too good.
“Yes,” she whines, riding me hard. I thrust into her, meeting her each time she sinks down on me.
I lean forward as much as I can and kiss her shoulder.
“I can feel your pussy tightening around me. You need to come, don’t you?”
She shudders. “So badly.”
“Keep working that vibrator over your sweet clit. I can’t wait to feel you clench around me and milk me dry. I don’t know if I can hold back. I might break the condom with how hard I’m going to come.”
“Trev,” she whines, then swirls her hips. “Yes, yes.” She leans forward, her free hand curling into my hair as her forehead drops against mine.
Then her grip on my hair tightens, and she pulls as her body goes taut.
She cries out, and I watch her beautiful face as her pussy clenches around me in long, hard spasms.
“Fuck,” I growl, eyes locked on her gorgeous face as I fill the condom, my fingers digging into my palms.
One of these times, I really might break the damn condom. I’ve never come so hard in my life as I have doing it with her.
And in the last month-and-a-half since we started having sex, we’ve done it a lot.
We’re in the can’t-keep-our-hands-off-each-other stage of our relationship.
It was a bumpy start for us, but it was worth it to be here now. Our relationship is easy. We rarely fight, and if we do, we usually playfully disarm each other and talk it through. It helps that we both really want to make our relationship strong, and we’ve both been through enough to not fuck around when it comes to communicating.
Things are good.
Which doesn’t at all make the intrusive thoughts in the back of my mind say that all good things come to an end. But that’s something for me to deal with at my next therapy appointment.
Chelsea unties my hands, and I wrap my arms around her.
Her mouth meets mine for lazy, sloppy kisses.
“I have to say, I’m loving this stage of our relationship.”
I brush a kiss to her lips. “Me too. Seeing you wild and free… there’s nothing hotter.”
The alarm on my phone goes off, and I groan.
“Reality can suck it.”
She laughs. “Don’t act like you aren’t excited for the game tonight. And I can’t wait to hear you give the play-by-play.”
“I’d be more excited if baseball didn’t make me get out of bed with you.”
“Sorry. You can’t have your cake and eat it too.”
“Or fuck it.”
She laughs and climbs off me. “Come on. If you get up right now, I’ll shower with you.”
And just like that, I’m motivated to get my ass moving.
“Hey, Coach,” I say with a knock on the door frame of his little office at the stadium.
“Matteny, you’re here early.”
“You asked me to be.”
He smiles. “I did, but no one else is here yet.”
“I know, but I wanted to talk to you about something too.”
“Have a seat.”
He gestures to one of the chairs in front of his desk, and I plop down.
“What can I help you with?” he asks.
“I’m applying for an internship at the Boys and Girls Club for the summer, and I was wondering if you’d write a reference for me. The internship is about helping to plan and implement their sports programs. It doesn’t have to be long, but since I’ve worked so closely with you this year, I thought you’d have good insight.”
“Absolutely. I’m happy to help. Send me an email with the details and I’ll write one up. Actually, that reminds me… I spoke with the athletic director last week about you. You’ve done great work this year helping me, but I think you have more to give—and more to learn. Every year, the athletic director picks three interns to work with him. If you’re interested, I can let his secretary know and she’ll send a link to the application when it goes up next week.”
“Wow. That sounds amazing. That would be great. Thanks, Coach.”
“Of course. I’d be happy to write a reference for that one as well.”
“I appreciate you helping me find a place with the team. It’s helped me with moving forward.”
“I’m happy to do it. Think you’re ready for tonight?”
I swallow and nod. “Yeah. I’m not sure exactly how it’ll feel—if I’ll wish I was out there—but I’m excited to be a part of it in my own way.”
“Good, because that brings me to the reason I wanted you here early.” He nods behind me toward the door, and I turn to see Aaron, Miles, and Joel standing there.
“What’s going on?” I ask, rising from my chair.
Coach does the same, a smirk on his face.
“We wanted to make sure you know you’re an important part of our team,” Coach says.
“The team goes beyond who’s on the field. We all play a part in getting the players where they are, helping to build morale, and making the team what it is,” Aaron says.
“We all know how much you love the game, but we’ve seen how you love this team too,” Miles says.
“You’ve worked hard with a lot of the younger kids at practice, and being on the field with them, I’ve seen their improvement,” Joel adds.
“So, this is for you.” Coach hands me a box as the guys all smile at me.
I take it and pull the top off, revealing… a purple Finger Lakes Sea Dogs jersey.
“Thank you. This means a lot.”
“Turn it over,” Aaron says.
When I do, the air leaves my chest. I knew it wouldn’t be my number. One of the guys on the team wears the number twelve. No, the number staring back at me is my dad’s number. Six.
“How did you know?” I choke out.
“I asked Hyla,” Aaron says.
Fuck . I really don’t want to cry here, but it takes all my strength to keep the tears at bay.
“Thank you. All of you.” My voice is rough, but it’s the best I can do when I’m filled with so much emotion. “This means more than wearing my own number.”
“Thought you might feel that way. We’re glad to have you as a part of the team, kid.”
As more guys filter into the locker room, Coach smiles, then walks out and yells, “Game in thirty. Get your asses moving!”
We all laugh, then I look over at the guys. “Thank you for including me in this.”
“Hey, we’ve been on this roller coaster together for a long time. I have no idea what chaos you have up your sleeve today, but I’m glad you’re still here with us,” Joel says.
I glance at the time. “Speaking of which, I need to get out of here. But I’ll see you all after the game.” I pull the jersey over my head and smack Aaron on the shoulder. “Thank you all again. Kick ass out there.”
Then I turn and head for the exit so I can meet Kyle in the booth.
I get there a few minutes early, but it’s unlocked and set up already, so I set my water bottle down and get comfortable in one of the chairs. It’s not fancy, but the view of the field from here is insane.
“Hey, man. Ready for this?” Kyle asks when he walks into the booth.
“I think so. I don’t usually have a problem shutting up about baseball, so this should be fun.”
Despite how big a part of my life baseball has been, I’ve never been in any kind of commentating booth. From up behind home plate, we have a view of the field I’ve never experienced before, and it has me itching with anticipation for the game to start.
“Remember, roast the other team harder than you roast ours, but don’t be afraid to call out the guys when they do something dumb.”
“Don’t worry. I won’t have any problems with that.”
“The Finger Lakes Sea Dogs are fighting for the win, but Brockport is giving them a run for their money,” Kyle says.
“It doesn’t help that the Sea Dogs pitcher is starting to struggle on the mound.”
“Between innings, the Sea Dogs sent Aaron Cooper to warm up,” Kyle says. “This is his first game pitching in years. Trevor, what can we expect?”
I laugh confidently.
“You can expect a lesson on the skill and finesse of a pitcher. Look, I’ve been playing with him since I was old enough to hold a bat, and I can tell you, he knows his stuff. There’s a reason he became a pitching coach at nineteen. And it wasn’t desperation. He knows this game. He knows the mechanics of pitching. Hand injury or not, he has tremendous skill. Now that he’s back at the top of his game, any batter going up against him should be worried. He still holds the state title for most shutouts ever pitched.”
“Here’s hoping we get to see him play soon.”
I cover my mic and eye Kyle. “No shit.”
He blows out a breath, as annoyed that they haven’t pulled this pitcher as I am.
It’s the top of the seventh, and this game has been way too tight. It makes for a lot more fun to call, but for the first game of the season, you want the team to get the W.
Rae is probably losing her shit over how badly this pitcher is doing and over worrying about Aaron. If anyone can turn this game around, it’s him.
“With one on first and one out so far, this inning could go in any direction,” Kyle says.
“First pitch now to Trent Adams of Brockport. Right down the center and it’s… fouled off.”
“Second pitch, and it’s… high and outside.”
“All this Brockport team needs is one good hit and it could change the outcome of this game,” I say, the tension hitting me all the way up here.
“This is it,” Kyle says. “Third pitch. Another fastball, and—it’s a hit!”
“It’s a grounder between first and second, but Wilkinson is there! He nabs the ball and sends to shortstop Brent Noyce covering second, and then over to Ricky Williams, who holds the bag, and it’s a double play for the Sea Dogs to retire the side!”
“That’s how we do it in Old Lake Town!” Kyle yells.
My heart is pounding with adrenaline, and something snaps into place for me. This might not be a career, but it’s something I know I want to do in some capacity. This is as close to being in the game as I can get, living vicariously from my spot above the field, but it’s more too. Because this takes it all back to my love of the game. It twines everything I know about the mechanics of baseball with my memories of watching the game with my dad. Doing this, I keep a little piece of him alive even more than I would if I were playing because his voice is in the back of my mind with every play I call.
Jesse texted me a couple of weeks ago with some information about the commentating gig for the Knights, and I’m willing to get on my knees and beg to make sure I get it.
“The tension is high here in the top of the ninth. The Sea Dogs are up by one, and Aaron Cooper has struck out the last two batters. If he can pull off one more strikeout, the Sea Dogs will start their season with a win.”
My eyes are locked on Aaron as he gets ready to throw his first pitch to the next batter.
“He’s got this.”
“And he does. Strike one,” Kyle says.
“Second pitch and it’s… fouled off. Strike two. The crowd here is going wild, and I know we’ve got a group of Ida family here supporting our Ida Warriors alums. They want this win as much as the team does.”
“Another foul,” Kyle says, watching as Aaron throws the next pitch. “And another.”
Aaron’s shoulders tighten as frustration builds. I know how badly he wants this. But I’ve watched him do this hundreds of times. For a split second, he might not think he has this, but he does. Two more fouls, and he’s ready to lose his shit.
“Aaron Cooper is looking more than a little stressed,” Kyle says.
“Keep watching. If there’s one thing he can do, it’s tune everything out. He wants this win, which means he’ll get it.”
Kyle looks at me skeptically when there’s another ball fouled off, but I see the change in Aaron’s demeanor.
“Don’t look at the number of fouls. Look at his stance. The determination in his eyes. And that brief communication with his catcher.” Then his eyes drift over his shoulder, and I know without a doubt, he’s looking at Rae. “He’s about to win the damn game.”
And just like that, the ball flies over the plate, staying right in the center of the box until the perfect moment when it drops.
“Oh my god. That’s an immaculate two-seam fastball, leaving the hitter from Brockport almost falling over to hit it, but he can’t! Strike three!”
“The Sea Dogs win,” I say, eyes locked on the field, and for the briefest moment, Aaron’s gaze flits up to the box before turning toward the stands, where Rae is running onto the field to get to him.
“First game down. What do you think?” Kyle asks. “In for a whole season of this?”
I give him my best cocky smile. “Put me down for next season too.”
I’ve finally found what baseball looks like for me in the future.
“Hell of a game,” I tell the guys when I get back to the locker room. I look at Joel. “That catch for the double play and you being a sneaky fucker stealing bases led to some fun commentary.” Then my eyes go to Aaron. “And you were on fire. It was amazing to see, man.”
“Thank you,” Aaron says, humble as always.
“Sounds like you had a good time too,” Miles says.
“I did. It was as close to being on the field as I could get.”
“It kind of felt like you were,” Joel says. “At least your sarcasm was there.”
I give him a little shove. “Fuck off.”
We laugh as they finish getting changed and Coach says a few words.
I walk out of the locker room with the team, and despite not playing tonight, I still feel the high of the game. That only increases when I see Chelsea waiting for me.
A year of playing at Syracuse, and I never had anyone waiting for me—besides occasionally my mom or Hyla. But never this. I never had someone I considered mine waiting for me.
Chelsea smiles so brightly it nearly knocks me over. Not that it’s surprising. She knocked me on my ass the first day I met her, and I’ve never recovered.
She runs over and throws her arms around me, pressing a quick kiss to my lips. “You were amazing! I loved hearing your sexy voice all game.” She lowers her voice. “Hopefully you’re recovered from this afternoon, because I need more of you.” Her teeth graze my ear lobe, and I almost moan.
But then she tilts her head and runs her hand over the jersey before looking around me to see the number on the back.
“Your dad’s number?” she asks.
I nod. “Mine was taken, but—”
“This is even better, right?”
“It made me feel even more like he was here with me.”
“He definitely was. I could feel it emanating from your voice. His spirit is part of your passion.”
I sweep my hand through her hair, looking into her eyes, in awe of her.
I’ll never stop being grateful for the way she sees and understands me. I wish I could’ve had this—had her—for so much longer. Maybe we weren’t meant to find each other before now or maybe we missed out on the chances we were supposed to have, but whatever the case, I’m going to enjoy every moment I have her in my arms, hoping that’s where she’ll be for the foreseeable future.
Fuck, who am I kidding?
Chelsea Winters is my whole future, and I want her in my arms forever.