Chapter 34
Tasha had never been to a real baseball game before, not one with skybox views and players who made more in a week than she’d seen in a year. But here she was, walking through the exclusive entrance of the Braves stadium with Mrs. Riggs, as if she belonged there.
It was Sunday afternoon, and the sky was baby blue with just enough sun to make everything feel golden. The kind of day that smelled like popcorn, sunscreen, and money.
Kenji was already in uniform, jersey crisp, cap low, chain glinting beneath his neckline.
He looked like a walking billboard for every woman’s fantasy.
As they were escorted to his section, her heart began to race.
She was so excited. Once she was seated, her eyes were locked on the field, and there he was.
Dark.
Tall.
Handsome as ever.
Kenji stood near first base, glove in hand, locked in, chewing gum, and focused. Until he turned just slightly… and tilted his chin up. Like he knew she was watching. Like he felt her.
She waved, just a small one, and he gave her a nod back. Kenji’s mother, sitting near her, leaned in with a friendly smile. “So, I guess you're his girl now.”
Tasha paused, lips parting to answer, but what was the truth? She didn’t even know yet.
“I’m… umm…we just friends,” she said.
And that was enough.
The game was already in the second inning, and the crowd roared as it was finally Kenji's time to bat. Tasha leaned forward, clutching the edge of her seat. “Ohhh lo lo look. It’s Kenji time to bat.”
Mrs. Riggs chuckled beside her, unbothered and proud. “Mm-hmm. That’s him. Watch what he does.”
The stadium went quiet for a half-second as the pitcher wound up. The ball came flying, Kenji twisted, made contact, and crack, it soared over center field.
“Hooo shit!” Tasha jumped up. “Go go go… yes, Kenji. Go. Go.”
“Yes! Home run,” Mrs. Riggs shouted, jumping up and down. “You know, that’s number twelve this season,” she informed, leaning over to tell Tasha. “My son is batting .337 right now. His slugging percentage is high, too.”
Tasha fluttered her lashes, motioning her index finger and thumb together. “Clock it! You better say those stats. Yasss!”
She laughed, handing Tasha a cold bottle of water, while still watching the field. “These people know I don’t play about my son.”
Kenji rounded the bases with that cool, collected ass jog that said I do this shit, and the stadium erupted.
Fans yelled his name, and cameras tracked him back to the dugout, where teammates gave him high fives, helmet taps and some even gave a quick slap on the ass.
He didn’t look their way yet, but Tasha noticed the little smirk tugging at his lip.
“Oh, he showin’ out,” Tasha whispered, with a fuzzy feeling inside.
The Braves held their lead all game. Kenji made a clean scoop at first base in the 6th, and by the 8th, he hit a double that cleared the bases. 3 RBIs in one swing.
“Boy out there puttin’ in that work,” Tasha said, eyes wide.
“He locked in,” his mama said proudly, sipping her lemonade like it was wine. “And I ain’t never seen him lock in like this... not til you.”
That hit different. Tasha didn’t know what to say, so she just smiled and looked back at the field.
By the 9th, Braves were up. Kenji’s stats flashed on the screen:
6-for-6 | 4 HR | 2 Doubles | 7 RBIs | 3 Stolen Base
Kenji was clearly the MVP of the game. When the last out was called, the Braves' stadium went wild. Fireworks cracked over the Jumbotron, and “Welcome to Atlanta” blasted over the loudspeakers. Tasha stood beside his mom, clapping and laughing, soaking in every bit of this moment.
Minutes later, Kenji was down in the players’ tunnel, jersey drenched in sweat, with a towel wrapped around his neck. He was still hyped, his adrenaline shooting through him, but when he saw Tasha, something in him slowed.
He didn’t hesitate. Walked straight up and kissed her like it was second nature. Mrs. Riggs smiled, eyeing them over the rim of her glasses. “Friends, my ass.”
Kenji and Tasha laughed as he turned and hugged his mom tight.
“You played well today, baby,” Mrs. Riggs whispered.
Kenji nodded. “Appreciate y’all flying out last minute to watch me.”
Tasha looked up at him, teasing. “You always show out like that when you invite people to watch you, Mr. Ballplayer?”
Kenji smirked, eyeing her. “Only when someone special watches. You were my good luck charm today,” he said, voice hoarse but warm. “Hit a double, stole a base, got MVP. That’s all you, Ms. Lady.”
Tasha laughed. “If you say so….”
“It’s true. You are.”
She stared at him for a beat, then smirked. “Boy, get outta here.”
As the SUV prepared to pull away from the stadium, Kenji placed his Braves’ duffel bag in the truck because he wasn’t flying out with them at the moment. The coach had called a mandatory meeting that he couldn’t miss, so he would take a later jet to meet back up with Tasha.
He kissed his mother first, then turned to Tasha, brushing her cheek with the back of his fingers before he leaned in closer.
“Alright, I guess that’s it.” He kissed her nose. “Text me when the plane lands,” he said, looking between the two of them.
Tasha nodded, that giddy feeling coming back over her. “I will. You be safe, okay?”
His lips hovered over hers now, then he kissed her, slow and sure. No rush, no cameras. Just them. Like goodbye… but not forever.
“I’ll see you soon,” he told her, hitting the top of the SUV. “Drive safe with them, my man.”
The SUV rolled off, and Tasha turned in her seat to watch him shrink in the rearview, tall and steady even from a distance. Cruising through Atlanta traffic with the windows slightly cracked and the sun casting lazy streaks across Tasha’s lap, she faced forward, exhaled slow, and leaned back.
Mrs. Riggs was quiet at first, scrolling her phone.
Then, out of nowhere, she spoke. “He hasn’t been doing anything but smiling since meeting you.”
Tasha blinked. “Huh?”
“My son,” Mrs. Riggs said, not looking up. “He’s falling for you, girl. I know that look. Trust me.”
Tasha didn’t say anything for a second. Her hands were in her lap, fingers tracing patterns around the game ball that Kenji gave her.
“We not together,” she said softly.
Mrs. Riggs gave her a look.
Tasha sighed. “Okay, I mean, maybe not officially... but I don’t even know what this is yet. He got his world, I got mine. And mine is messy as hell right now.”
“You think his ain’t?” she asked, raising an eyebrow. “Just ‘cause he got money and stats on ESPN doesn’t mean he isn’t dealing with stuff too.”
Tasha looked out the window for a long second. “Yeah. I guess you right.”
They were quiet for a moment as the car climbed the freeway ramp toward the airport. Planes soared overhead.
Mrs. Riggs turned to her again, this time softer. “I’m not trying to be nosy, baby. But I see how he watches you. Like you the only thing in the room. That boy has been through his share of girls… but this? This ain’t no pass-through situation. He really likes you.”
Tasha’s throat tightened again. “I got a lot going on, Miss Riggs.”
“I know,” she said. “I also know my son doesn’t stray easily. If he wanted simple, he’d pick simple. But he picked you. So maybe… stop tryna make sense of it. Just let it be.”
Tasha smiled a little. “You tryna be our li’l love doctor or somethin’?”
Mrs. Riggs grinned. “Nah, girl. I’m trying to make sure you don’t fumble my son.”
They both laughed. The plane ride was smooth.
Tasha sat by the window, watching the clouds roll by, thinking about Kenji’s kiss.
She didn’t know what this thing was yet.
But for the first time in a long time… she didn’t feel broken.
She didn’t feel sick. She just felt like a woman being wanted in the most honest way.