10. Chapter 7
Sloan
I’ve covered several games now, but this is the first one with Jax, and for the last few weeks I couldn’t help but hope he would be the player on the docket. Today is going to be a great day!
Ali: Good luck on your exclusive with Jax today! Don’t let his ocean blue eyes distract you.
Me: How about you don’t let his ocean blue eyes distract you and make sure you keep me on track, Miss Producer.
Ali: I can’t believe Tanner let me take the lead on this!
Me: I can! He wasn’t going to sit here and watch it. He’s been trying to get Horner to change players for a week, but Horner loves Jax too much.
“Is that my name I see on your screen?” Jax whispers in my ear, and his breath on my neck makes me break out in goosebumps.
I quickly lock my phone and turn around to face him. My hands are shaky. I know he can see right through me. He makes me flustered. How could he not with his icy blue eyes, dirty blond hair, and perfect amount of scruff dusting his face?
“Um… I was confirming who the interview was with, with my producer. You’re late, and I wasn’t sure who was coming.”
Lie.
Well, not entirely. He is late, but only by a minute or two. The words roll off my tongue with confidence and composure. I think. Until he responds.
He winks at me, “Sure.”
“She’s right there,” I say, pointing to Ali. “Ali, tell him.” She’s close enough I barely have to strain my voice, and I know she could clearly hear the entire exchange.
Thank god, she knew to text me and not start that conversation out loud for everyone — especially Jax, to hear.
She offers Jax a smile, but that’s it.
“She’s not confirming a damn thing.” He laughs.
“She’s not denying it either,” I say with a shrug as goosebumps roll over my flesh.
“Are you always this cute?” he asks, and it instantly has me sitting up straighter.
I know it’s supposed to be a compliment, but I don’t like being recognized for my looks.
I’ve worked too damn hard to be diminished to everything being credited to my pretty face.
It makes me question whether or not I’ll be worth shit when my looks fade, and that pisses me off.
Then it dawns on me he might have been referring to the way I was acting, but it’s too late, the words are already leaving my mouth.
“I’m also witty and smart,” I scoff.
“Triple threat—I like it.” There is his damn smile again.
Before I can come back with a comment, Ali is signaling me that we’re ready to start the interview.
“You’ve stepped into Boss Kicker Chronicles where if it’s bold, badass, and worth the breath, you’ll hear it here. Today, I have a special treat for you, the Moonshot’s pitcher, Jax Calder.”
He waves at the camera and gives a shy hello. It surprises me. He seemed so confident a moment ago, and he’d stepped right in without flinching when Oscar needed to be saved the first time I met him. Maybe a warm up question will make him more confident.
“Jax, what have you been up to, other than eating Mango Dogs every chance you get?”
He smiles, clearly remembering stuffing his face on camera, just as Orbit comes sauntering up to us and hands us each a Mango Dog. “I knew the first date was memorable,” he teases, and the comments on the screen go wild.
They pour in faster than I can read them, with hearts lighting up the screen.
“Don’t get ahead of yourself, it was the dog that was memorable.” I smirk, trying to distract from the pink in my cheeks. “Thanks,” I say to Orbit as he scurries away after ruffling my hair a bit.
I take a giant bite, and can’t help the little sound of pleasure escaping my mouth and the subtle happy dance that takes over my body.
When I open my eyes and look at Jax, preparing for my next question, he’s staring at me mouth agape—Mango Dog halfway to his lips.
I give him a sarcastic look back, “Never seen a girl eat before?”
He blinks as if my words brought him back from another place entirely, “You make it look good, that’s all.”
Ali clears her throat, and again the comments are on fire.
Stop giving him reasons to flirt, I internally scold myself. #1 rule: No mixing work and pleasure, I remind myself.
“So, I hear you have the fan walkup today. Tell us a little bit about the tradition, what your walkup song is—what fans can expect from you and your number one fan.” I force myself to change the subject because if I don’t, who knows what will happen.
He snickers, because he sees what I’m avoiding, “This is a long standing tradition here in Mango Nation. Fans can apply for number one fan recognition at any game when their favorite player is featured. They submit photos, videos, write letters, and then one lucky fan is selected to join their favorite player for their walkup when they have their first at bat. One thing that sets Mango Ball apart from MLB is that in Mango Ball, every player bats and fields. In traditional baseball, there might be designated hitters who only bat, and players who are pitchers only, but not here. Meaning I also have a chance at the plate. For my fan favorite night, my number one fan picked the song Ordinary by Alex Warren. It’s her favorite song.
She’s three. She and I will be performing the short routine she did for the video she submitted.
I’m excited to perform the debut choreography of Rosie. ”
My chest tightens like I’ve swallowed sunlight.
There are a lot of professional athletes who turn it on for the camera, say they’re for the fans, but in reality just want to reap the benefits of having an enormous fan base.
Jax isn’t like that. I can tell by the way his eyes mist over as he talks, the look of complete excitement and admiration in his voice as he continues to talk about Mango Bay, Moonshot Fans, and the game of Mango Ball in general. He means every word.
One thing I’ve learned since interviewing various members of the Moonshots—from Horner, to the players, staff, and even Orbit—is that when they say “Fans First,” they mean it.
I’ve seen players stop the game to buy a snow cone for a crying fan, redo at bats when a fan challenges a call with a smile on their face, even when it doesn’t go their way, be late to warmups to make sure every fan in line gets their things signed, and stay late taking selfies until the last fan has left the premises.
It’s magic. Not something that can be orchestrated for the show.
Real love.
Love of the game.
Love for the fans.
Love in its purest form.
That’s all I see right now when I look at Jax, and it makes me wish he saw me in the same light.
Maybe I’d break the rules for him.