10. Mia
Mia
There’s sleep, and then there’s sleep when you’re being cuddled by a six-foot-four man, and then there’s sleep after said man gives you the best orgasms of your life. The moment Adam carried me back to my bedroom and wrapped his warm body around me, I was out like a light.
Sometime through the night, we must have rolled our separate ways, but I’m officially feeling a tad on the clingy side. Rolling over, I search for his warmth, but come up empty.
Sitting up, I look around my room and don’t see any sign of him. A small wave of panic runs through me that he left in the middle of the night, but I slept in his button-up shirt… The man’s definitely built enough to go anywhere shirtless, but surely he wouldn’t.
I swing my feet off the bed, and the moment they touch the floor I hear music coming from downstairs.
I let out a breath. Thank goodness, it would’ve been sad to kill such a gorgeous man.
Making my way downstairs, the music gets clearer. I can tell right away that Adam found my grandfather’s record player and his James Taylor records. The same blissful feeling I get when Adam looks at me warms my body; what are the odds he picked this album?
An easy argument could be made that we’re moving too fast, but I don’t care. Not a tiny bit.
I get halfway down the steps before Adam sees me. “Good morning, baby.” He meets me at the bottom of the stairs with a kiss. “I made myself at home.”
I chuckle. Yeah, I’m not about to complain about him being shirtless in my kitchen, making breakfast with my favorite feel-good music on.
“No, I’m glad you did. Gotta admit, I was thinking I was going to have to murder you if you snuck out.”
“Sorry, I’m an early riser. It’s a habit I haven’t been able to beat yet.”
“Like your ten-minutes-early habit?”
His hands wrap around my waist. “Yeah, just like that one.” He carries me over to one of my barstools and sets me down with a quick kiss to my temple. “I hope you like your eggs scrambled because that’s my one and only specialty.”
I snort a laugh. “That’s perfect. What else did you make?”
“Pancakes. I burned the first few, but I got there. Then I did some bacon and placed a delivery for your favorite.” Stepping to the fridge, he grabs an iced matcha then sets it down in front of me.
My smile has to be downright cheesy. ‘Thank you.”
“I also couldn’t resist the record player. Where did you get that?”
“It was my grandfather’s,” I say with a smile, but Adam stills at the idea of turning my dead grandfather’s record player on without asking. “No, Adam, I play that thing every morning.”
He lets out a breath. “I can see why.”
“He left me the record player along with his collection, then Winedown was to be mine whenever I was ready, and if I still wanted it.” Sliding off the barstool, I make my way around the island to Adam.
“He also left me his house for whenever that ten-year plan includes a family. And in that house, whenever I stayed the night, he would put this record on in the morning and every time ‘Your Smiling Face’ came on, he would dance with me.”
I reach for his hand the moment the song ends and my favorite one comes on. “Dance with me?”
“Without question.” Adam spins me around and his hand finds my waist as he pulls me to him. “You’re making it really hard for me to want to get on that flight tonight for Spring Training.”
“I’ll never make it easy for you, All-star.”
Start of Spring Training.
I want you to know the kid you signed the shirt for just talked to me in the lobby for TWENTY minutes about how amazing of a player you are.
I said you were a pretty cool regular person too, but he didn’t care that much.
Please quit talking to the kid that stole your underwear.
Don’t be such a baby. He gave it back.
He’s forever on my shit list now.
You’re literally his idol!
That changes nothing.
I may or may not have told him I could get him some tickets to a Blues game.
Mia.
Adam.
No.
Don’t do this. Just agree and say yes, Mia, I will get you the tickets.
You know I could just buy them myself.
… Don’t.
What if I wear one of those sets from the bag for you?
Shit. Fine. I’m only getting him two tickets.
Thanks babe!
I’m going to call in that deal now though. FaceTime you in ten?
I’ll get changed.
Week three of Spring Training.
“Okay, so I absolutely kicked ass today.” I put Adam on speaker then put my phone on the couch and grab my celebratory pizza.
“I hired a new bartender to take over once Jensen’s gone, I filed my taxes, and prepped some quarterly stuff for this current year.
I had a phone call with my dad and our family’s financial team—” I take a deep breath and slow down.
“It was just a lot of productivity that felt very big… However, as I’m repeating back, it sounds very boring. ”
“Not boring at all when you’re the one saying it.”
“Oh, so cheesy.”
He chuckles. “What’s the crime in being cheesy? It made you smile, didn’t it?”
“No,” I lie, taking a bite of my pizza.
“Yeah, fucking right.”
He’s right about the smile, but I don’t have to admit it.
It’s been nice getting to talk with him while he’s gone.
I hadn’t expected him to make so much of an effort to be in touch, but he has.
He texts when he can, calls when I’m free too, and our FaceTimes usually turn a little steamy. I freaking miss him.
“So, what’d you do today?” I ask before I take another bite of my food.
“Oh, the usual. Hit balls with a bat, caught balls in my glove, and was practically in a squat the whole day.”
“Riveting. You know, you could put a bit more excitement on that. Throw in a few details…dare I say, give me some gossip, just anything.”
Adam’s laugh has this tingly feeling coursing through my body.
It’s such a sexy laugh, it’s ridiculous.
“Alright, well, I did hit a homerun today. Much to Beck’s dismay—the fucker claims he’s going to get more than me this season, which is about as likely as Tripp and Emma admitting they actually want to be more than friends. ”
I can’t stop myself from grinding my teeth at the thought. “Does it not just kill you guys to not say anything?”
“We all say shit. They’re sticking to their story.”
Christ, something will give eventually, I’m sure, but damn. “If we keep on them, I’ll get myself worked up again. What about catching? How’d sitting in a squat all game go? That’s got to be why your ass is phenomenal.”
Adam chuckles. “It was fine. The game today had Will pitching the majority of the time, we’ve played together so long there’s rarely any slip-ups between us.”
“At the risk of asking a dumb question, do you have issues with other pitchers?”
“Not a dumb question. You, especially, never have dumb questions, but we have one specifically that used to be terrible about ignoring signals or forgetting what they are, but he’s gotten better.
He struggles the most during Spring Training since we try to use hand signals mixed in with the PitchComs just to keep us fresh on them if they give us issues during the season.
He started with the system so anytime we do it old school… he’s not a fan.”
“Right, and PitchComs are?”
“Next time you watch a game, look at my right knee. I have a little remote-looking thing. I can press a button to tell the pitcher what to throw or send something to one of the players in the field if we have a pickoff. We all have this thing in our hat and helmet that has the wire we put in our ear.”
I hum as about five other questions run through my brain about pickoffs and how that voice in their ears sounds. “Dang it, since you’re all cute and I want to keep dating you, I’m going to have to learn everything about this sport.”
“You don’t have to—”
“No, let me stop you there, All-star. I’m going to have to learn everything about this sport. Don’t question it.”
His laugh is sweet. What I wouldn’t give to be able to jump through this phone and magically appear right next to him. “As long as I get to teach you.”
Week four of Spring Training.
“Alright, Jen, you good?” I ask, passing through the bar after our lunch rush. It’s her last day, and with Adam being gone, I’m not looking forward to losing my favorite employee.
“Yeah, all good here. I think I just saw Lily pass through. I’ll give her the rundown, then probably take a fifteen-minute break.”
“Sounds good, I’ll be in my office for a bit, but holler if you need anything.” Passing around the horseshoe of the bar, one of my grandfather’s friends comes into view. “Hey, Harry, long time no see.”
He huffs a laugh. “Yeah, well, I heard through the grapevine that you’re officially taking over this place. Been here all week trying to catch you, but it seems you’re just as busy as your grandfather.”
A proud warmth comes to my chest. “You know, he and Dad trained me well. There’s always something to be done, isn’t there?”
“That there is, dear.”
A waiter drops off Harry’s club sandwich and he immediately picks it up. “I’ve gotten addicted to these things now. I think you’ll be seeing quite a bit of me for a while.”
“Good, don’t be a stranger, and have my staff let me know you’re here next time.”
He nods. “Will do, darlin’.”
On the way to my office, I stop by the computer and comp Harry’s bill. It was nice seeing him, even better to see that he seems impressed with the place.
I remember my grandfather always talking about Harry, but I didn’t meet him until my grandfather’s funeral. I want to say they grew up together, then Harry had moved away or something… I’ll ask my mom next time for more details to make sure I’m not mixing him up with someone else.
Sitting at my desk, I rummage through some of the inventory sheets on my desk before Jensen bursts through my door.
“Okay, hear me out.” She takes the seat across from me and pulls it closer to my desk. “I miss Beck. You miss Adam. Let’s go down to Florida and see them this weekend.”
For a second, I genuinely consider it. I wouldn’t mind a weekend with warm weather and seeing Adam, but then the appeal lessens the more I think about it.
“As fun as that sounds in theory, Jen, I don’t think I can. It’s your last day, and the new girl starts on Sunday—”
Jensen doesn’t let me finish before calling my bullshit.
“You mean the new hire who’s been bartending in Boston for the last decade…
Mia, come on. Listen, I knew convincing you wouldn’t be easy, so I came prepared.
I already checked the schedules—you have the best staff on shift this weekend.
Let’s face it, you always set a very balanced and well-fitted staff each time, but they’re all extremely capable this weekend. Your presence isn’t exactly needed.”
“Ouch, warn a girl.” I know she’s right, but still, this place means so much to me, and it feels like I’m really just getting started.
It’s too soon to be leaving for a full weekend, and to that point…
“Wouldn’t it be a little weird for me to just show up at Spring Training?
We’ve been dating for barely a month. It screams a bit like crazy girlfriend, no? ”
“No, it doesn’t. It would if you had some weird motive for going, not because you want to see him. Come with me, you know you want to.”
Shit, I really do. The hesitation still shows on my face, but Jensen leans in. “Picture it, Mia. Adam’s ass in baseball pants.”
At that, I can’t help but laugh. She’s got a good point there.
“And how would Beck feel about that statement?”
“He’d say, ‘Have you seen Adam’s ass in baseball pants?’ Stretching before the game? The man’s obsessed with me, but he’s not blind.”
Yeah, that’s fair. His ass is pretty great. Dammit, I want to give in. Things have been pretty amazing, and him leaving hasn’t caused any weird dynamic shifts between us. His initiative on communicating hasn’t dropped either.
“Would it help if I told you that I know for sure Adam would want to see you?”
I was already halfway there, but sure. “I’m listening.”
Jensen smirks, knowing she’s almost got me. Pulling out her phone, she scrolls a bit then shows me a group chat.
The Real MVPS
Beck
This is bullshit. Why do Dex and Will get to have their girls on the plane with them while we travel?
Callie
I’m the TEAM PHOTOGRAPHER!
Will
Don’t lessen Callie’s presence like that. Apologize.
Lucie
Oh he’s just sad because he misses Jensen. Give him a break.
Beck
Sorry Callie Bear, you know I still love you.
Beck
Just platonically. Actual friends, brother-sister style, you know… unlike other people.
Tripp
Fuck all the way off. I’m tired of explaining this shit to you guys.
That text gets me, and I look at Jensen. “Listen, I have so many thoughts on Tripp and Emma.”
“We all do, just…”
She waves her hand for me to keep going.
Jensen
You’ve been gone for an hour. How have you already pissed everyone off?
Beck
It’s a gift. But also I may be in a better mood if you surprise me sometime (a few times) down in Florida.
Lucie
OOO COME SEE ME TOO!
Callie
GIRLS BEACH TRIP!
Emma
GIRLS ONLY brUNCH!
Adam
Bring Mia too. Will agree to some girl only time if that’s a nonnegotiable.
Those damn butterflies go right on cue. I swear those things are the cause of my irrational thinking when it comes to Adam.
“Alright, fuck it, let’s go to Spring Training.”