12. Chapter 9
Sloan
Trying to navigate my injury and new career has been harder than I thought. Luckily, some of my old teammates decided to go out to Ruby’s tonight, and for the first time, I’ve decided to accept their invitation.
For a long time the thought of being around them hurt.
“Sloan!” Jet yells over the crowd waving me over to the patio. There are a few of the guys here already, and they have a big pitcher of beer.
“I can’t drink too much tonight,” I tease, sitting down at the table, knowing Jet is a drink pusher. I’ve made that mistake before.
“I’m surprised you came. You’re starting to become a little recluse,” he teases, pushing my shoulder with his.
I reach across the table and pour a beer, reveling in the cold liquid rolling down my throat, but almost choke on it when I look across the room and see bright blue eyes piercing through me.
Shit. Jax’s eyes are beautiful.
He looks away for a second when Ruby hands him a soda, but they stay on me for longer than I can reconcile as he snacks on a bowl of peanuts, visiting with Ozzie.
I try my hardest to focus on the conversation happening around me, but it’s hard.
I haven’t been a part of this world for a year, and they all have new inside jokes, close calls and iconic plays to discuss.
I only witnessed them from the stands or on TV, so it’s not the same.
Plus, I try not to cover Moonshine football games, the salt in the wound is still too pungent.
Sitting here with my old teammates—who feel unfamiliar and out of touch—is hard, so I focus on Jax.
His dirty blond hair is tousled in just the right way, the stubble on his jawline accentuates the chiseled edges, and his eyes are so striking, I can’t look away.
“It’s been long enough, Sloan,” Jet says when he leans over to grab the pitcher of beer. “You’re allowed to take chances. He likes you.” He gestures towards Jax with his chin, and I flush.
“He flirts with everyone.” I chuckle, trying to conceal my reaction.
“Yeah, but he’s not looking at anyone else—ever. Unlike the dickweed you were dating. I’ve seen Jax out, and he doesn’t pay women any mind. But he looks at you like you’re the only one in this place.”
I look back over in Jax’s direction, and sure as shit, his eyes are on mine.
“Maybe you should go say hi,” Jet suggests, but it’s too late, Jax is already walking over.
My breath quickens, and my pulse starts hammering. I can feel it everywhere, like a drum settling deep in my bones.
“Hi there, beautiful,” he says, handing me a small plate with a brownie. His voice is smooth and sultry. He shakes Jet’s hand and says hi to some of my other teammates he obviously knows.
“Ruby said the new brownie is to die for, so I thought I’d share it.
” He takes a slow bite, and then scoops another bite onto the fork and holds it up in my direction.
I open it so he can slide it into my mouth, surprised at how easily I surrender to his request. The chocolate flavor rolls over my taste buds, and I can’t help but close my eyes.
“She’s right,” I say with a small moan. “This is delicious.”
“I thought you’d like it.” He’s always so thoughtful.
I look down and notice a piece of KT tape covering his elbow.
“Are you ok?” I ask, gesturing to the elbow in question.
“Yeah, it’s been sore. I’m taping it and icing out of precaution. I don’t want it to turn into anything serious.”
“I’m glad it’s nothing serious.” I place my hand on his bicep, and his eyes trace the contact, and the look in his eyes makes my blood heat.
“Well, I just wanted to come over and say hi. I have to get going, we have an early morning at the field.” He winks and turns to walk away.
Panic takes over, and I don’t want him to leave. I’m not ready for our conversation to be over yet. Before my mind can even register my actions, my mouth opens. “Jax.”
He stops and turns to look at me, and all I can do is smile. I didn’t have anything in particular to say, and he knows it.
He looks at me for a moment, and while there are no words that pass between us, the moment is full of tension—it’s heavy. Then, after a beat, he smiles with a small wink, and then turns and walks away.
My heart hammers in my chest, and I watch until he leaves my line of sight.
“Yeah. There’s a lot there, Sloan,” Jet’s words cut the silence, but don’t steal my attention.
I’m not sure there is a worse way to start a day than with a text from someone who fills my heart with hate.
Tanner: Horner is really trying to sell this whole draft idea, and apparently has some big announcements coming. Jax is hurt, so he’s covering the game with you.
I send him back a thumbs up emoji, rolling my eyes.
I wish he would just let Ali take over. She’s better at it, and way more likable… to me.
Tanner: I won’t be there. Going to Millie’s work thing. Ali is in charge. No funny business. Jax is a wild card.
I take a breath of relief. Ali will be producing the show. It runs much smoother when she’s there, especially because Tanner is right about one thing, Jax is a wild card. A flirt. Never serious.
Me: I hope you both choke on your dinner.
I look at the message and then delete it. If I piss him off, he’ll make Ali’s life miserable.
Me: Tonight’s show will be great, Ali’s got a great system.
I watch the three little bubbles pop up and disappear a few times before his text comes through.
Tanner: Stick to the questions.
I don’t even respond. I can tell he’s in a mood to have the last word, so it’s easier on me if I just let him. Dealing with his bullshit and literally no escape in sight means I have to play nice until the terms run out in two years, or I get a non-media related job. Those are the options.
“Hey, did you hear Tanner’s out today?” Ali asks as she walks up behind me. We’ve become really close, so close in fact that I’m surprised Tanner hasn’t reassigned her to another show.
“Yes, thank fuck. I don’t want to interview Jax with him here.” I let the tension in my shoulders melt away. Jax always flirts, and Tanner gets annoyed—which pisses me off.
“Well maybe if the two of you weren’t mentally undressing each other, he wouldn’t be so jealous.” She giggles.
“We are not mentally undressing each other, and he has no reason to be jealous. He ended things. I was blissfully ignorant of his true colors.” I cringe as the words leave my mouth. “He did me a favor. I just didn’t know it.”
“I get it. It doesn’t make it any less painful, though.” She offers me a sympathetic smile as we walk towards the press area where we film.
“No, but him being a complete asshat and pretending to do what’s best for my career helps it sting a lot less.” I scoff. “It didn’t take long for me to get over him.”
“Hey beautiful,” Jax says as he places his hand on the small of my back to squeeze through to his chair.
“Hey,” I say with a smile. He strained his arm a few days ago and is out for the rest of the games against the Coconuts. “How are you feeling? You said it wasn’t that bad.” I remind him pointing to his still tapped up elbow.
“Fine, it’s still just a precaution. The worst thing you can do as a pitcher is throw on a sore arm.”
He moves his seat closer to mine. “Do you mind? I’d like to see the game while we chat. The camera’s blocking my view.”
I look at Ali, “What are your thoughts, producer?” I tease.
“As long as you are both on camera, it’s ok with me.”
He bends down to put his water bottle on the ground and she mouths, “Oh. My. God.” then quickly slips her professional mask back on when he sits back up.
“Are you ready?” she asks us both as she hands us each a mic to clip to our shirts.
“Uh huh.” I nod in her direction, signaling I’m ready, even though the words are escaping my brain at the moment. He makes me lose all train of thought.
Jax looks at me, but it quickly turns on his million dollar smile when the red light flashes on above the camera, and the live comment feed comes pouring onto the screen. He’s way more comfortable on camera.
“Hey guys,” he starts before I even have a chance to get the intro going.
Flustered, I place my hand on the arm of his chair and begin talking, “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 gives me an apologetic look then turns back to the camera. “I’m excited to be here today.”
“Jax, why don’t you update everyone on your injury before we get started? I already see the questions of concern pouring in.”
“I’m fine. Being a pitcher is stressful on the arm, and injury can happen really easily when the muscles are strained.
I was having a hard time lifting, so I was put on rest as a precaution.
” He smirks at a fan taking their seat next to where we are filming.
“I’ll be back next week, but today, I’m pretty stoked about spending time with you guys, and Sloan.
” He winks at me, but it’s subtle, not something the camera could pick up, and the gesture makes my stomach erupt with excitement.
Jax is a flirt for sure, but the few times I’ve seen him out with the team, he’s never with a girl.
“So what does the team have in store for us today?” I ask, keeping to the questions Tanner left.
“Well today is Orbit’s birthday, so he will be throwing the first pitch and doing a few walkups with various players. He was also the head of the pregame parade out front.”
“Aw, happy birthday, Orbit.”
I love how much the team loves their mascot. Just then the lights flicker and Happy Birthday plays over the speakers as Orbit comes in on a royal chair being carried by several players from both teams. Confetti cannons go off, and he starts pumping his gloved fist into the air.
“Oh, and every fan got an Orbit plushie as they entered the park today.” His lips turn upward as he hands one to me.
“Thanks,” I say sheepishly, hugging the small replica of Orbit.
Jax has a lot to say. He spends a good portion of the show telling fans al?l the things he loves about Mango Ball and narrating what is happening on the field.
The fans love it, but I know Tanner is going to have a fit, and honestly, it makes me feel a little insignificant on my own show.
It makes me a little worried Horner might take to the idea of the Moonshots running the in-stands show and dissolve their contract with us.
I mean, they have a ton of rostered players who spend time in the stands on rotation as it is, hyping up fans.
Having them rotate here would make sense and be an easy change.
My thoughts are interrupted by “Where is My Husband” on the speakers, followed by both Orbit and Rikki doing back flips off the ledge in the outfield and then running across the field lip syncing the words as a camera guy impressively keeps up with them both.
We both watch, mouths agape at the skill being executed as the camera man has a near miss with a player on the field and spins to avoid contact.
“I’m not sure who is more impressive,” Jax cuts in, “Orbit in that suit running that fast, or the camera man keeping up with them.” He laughs, and the sound jolts me out of my thoughts.
When he brings his hand down to his side after pointing to the field, his pinky grazes mine, and as it does, he rubs it back and forth before it slightly curls around mine.
It’s quick, but feels intimate. A little stolen moment neither one of us saw coming. When I look up at him, his expression looks just as shocked as mine.
Thankfully, the camera is focused on the field, because the fans would have had a field day with this.
Me? I need a moment to readjust myself in my seat to dull the ache growing between my legs.
Who knew a pinky was so powerful?