Chapter 28
28
AIDA N
“What has you grinning like you just landed a 70-pound Spottail Bass, Preach?” Rhodes’s amused voice knocks me out of my giddy trance.
Tearing my eyes away from the phone screen is akin to torture, but we’re minutes away from first pitch, and I’m more keyed up than ever before. Knowing Crew has completely accepted Lyla the way I have has my heart soaring in my chest.
Even if the words haven’t actually left her lips yet, I know she loves me. Loves us . I don’t even try to reign in my goofy grin when I meet my best friend’s stare. “Crew called Lyla Mommy.”
Rhodes’s eyebrows hit his hairline as a shit-eating grin splits his face. “I owe Wren fifty bucks and breakfast in bed.”
“How is that different from any other morning?”
A blush heats his cheeks and he clears his throat loudly before murmuring, “I have to serve it naked, wearing a bowtie… not around my neck.”
A bark of laughter has us both turning to see Copeland with a sm irk. “Why do you bet her at all when you know she will always be right? And why the fuck would you agree to that?”
Rhodes shrugs. “I would’ve done it without the bet if it’d make her happy.”
I just know we’re wearing matching sappy ass grins and Cope shudders, faking a gag. “There’s so much love in the air I’m practically choking on it.” He drops down next to us and stretches his shoulders out, trying to hide a wince.
Warning bells go off in my head when I see his wince, but I don’t want to stress him out before the game, so I file it away to bring up later. He hooks a thumb in Rhodes’s direction. “I know why this idiot is being a sappy motherfucker, but what’s the look on your face for, Preach?”
I couldn’t contain my smile if I tried. “Crew started calling Lyla Mommy today.”
His face immediately softens with a small smile. Coming from the broody bastard, a small, genuine smile might as well be him shouting his excitement from the rooftops. “I think she’s really good for y’all. I’m happy for you, Aid.”
Coach yells for us to take the field for opening ceremony, but I clap my friend on the back. “Thanks, Cope. Now all I need is for her shithead ex to be arrested and for her to tell me she loves me too, and everything will be perfect.”
He snorts, punching me on the shoulder. “If you think she isn’t head over heels for you, you’re an idiot.”
Opening ceremonies are over quick, and then the game begins. The Renegades chirp at us any chance they get, but there’s tangible tension between their players, and it shows. Their plays are half-assed, and where their teamwork is usuall y tight and seamless, today, it just seems sloppy and stilted.
The first several innings pass quickly, and though we’re up by two runs, they were hard-won. New York is our number-one competition for the World Series this year, and we’re determined to bring the Commissioner’s Trophy home to Charleston, where it belongs.
“Is it just me, or are the Renegades off their game today?” Rhodes asks from the fence next to me. Our goal as a team is to keep our focus on the pitcher and the ball at all times - whether we’re on the field or in the dugout waiting to bat, so neither of us moves our eyes from the field as we talk quietly.
“I was just thinking the same, actually. The longer I watch, the more Rad seems to be the one at the center of all the tension.” The Renegades shortstop, Conrad ‘ Rad ’ Ames, is one of the less douchey players in New York. I don’t have any issues with the guy, and even Copeland, who’s notorious for disliking most other people on sight, is relatively friendly with him.
Rhodes raises his hands to grip the siding in front of us. “You think he’ll be looking for a trade soon?”
At that, my gaze whips to the side. “You think he’d come here?”
He shrugs. “Couldn’t hurt to keep an ear to the ground. You know Daniels isn’t going to last long here with the way he’s constantly stirring up PR messes. And ever since the Derrick scandal last year, the league is being extra cautious with anything that could bring bad publicity.”
Shaking my head, I recall the drama with Wren’s ex. He’s been trying to make amends with the couple for a while now, and to say Rhodes still isn’t his biggest fan would be putting i t lightly. “Can you believe he came out last month? Like, posted a picture with his boyfriend and everything.”
Rhodes’s eyes cut to mine briefly. “I’m happy for the guy, but it still doesn’t excuse the shit he put my starling through.” He grumbles in irritation.
Before I can do more than nod in agreement, a commotion pulls our focus to the field where two of the Renegades are in an all-out brawl on the field. “Oh shit!”
Our coaches and theirs rush the field, and it takes four of them and the umpire to break up the fight. Rad and the Renegades Center Fielder, Ryan Strand, are at the center of it. When the dust has settled, and everyone is forced apart, Ames and Strand are both ejected from the game, leaving the rest of us to wonder what the fuck just happened.
Coach storms back into the dugout with a scowl on his usually happy face. “What is this, social hour? We’ve got a game to win! Daniels, get your ass to the plate!”
The rookie hops to quicker than I’ve ever seen him move and somehow manages to run two bases on the first pitch. “Damn,” I mutter. “Way to go, rook.”
By the end of the top of the 7th inning, we’re ahead by four runs and feeling good. There’s always a chance New York could make a comeback, but they’re a mess after the fight earlier.
Live While We’re Young by One Direction starts playing, which is an unusual choice for the 7th-inning stretch, but Copeland walks up and points towards the Jumbotron with a huge smile on his face.
Glancing over, I do a double take when I see my girl holding up a glittery pink sign.
From the blush on her cheeks, I can tell she’s embarrassed, but she looks cute as all get out up on that screen.
The words on the sign finally register in my brain, and my jaw drops. Guffaws sound around me, and Cope snorts. “Aaaand there it is.”
My eyes dart around frantically, but Coach catches my eye and mouths, “Go get her,” at me.
He doesn’t have to tell me twice.
I take off at a dead sprint through the tunnel leading out of the dugout and into the locker room, only to find Lyla already standing right outside with a shy smile on her gorgeous face.
I don’t say a word, storming toward her, scooping her into my arms, and cutting off her giggles with a scorching kiss. My erection presses painfully against the cup in my sliders when her tight little ass grinds down, but I grin and bear it.
“I can’t believe you just told me you love me on national T.V. Fuck, I love you so goddamn much, angel. ”
Without even consciously deciding to do so, I’ve led us to one of only two other doors in this hallway. “I need you, Lyla. Right now.”
She gasps, her hands digging into my hair and tugging hard. “Here? Anyone could see.”
My smirk is wicked as I move one hand off her ass and open the door her back was pressed against, quickly locking us in an equipment room. “Any other objections?”
Her eyes are wide and glittering in the low light coming from under the door. “No, Daddy.”
I groan loudly and set her down, spinning her around and bending her over a tall stack of folded backstop mats. “Fast and hard, baby. We have five minutes max.”
The look in Lyla’s eyes when she looks over her shoulder at me nearly has me coming in my cup, and the reminder of the offending item has me shucking off my pants as fast as I can and sighing with relief.
My girl watches me the whole time with a mischievous grin, biting her lip when she notices the hard plastic hit the floor.
“No,” I growl.
Her eyes snap up to mine, an indignant look replacing the lustful one she wore seconds ago. “What do you mean, no ? You dragged me in here!”
Moving forward, I slide my bare erection between her thighs and kick her legs together so they press in around me. The action must give her some friction against her clit, because she rocks against me with a pitiful whimper. One hand comes up to tangle in her long hair, allowing me to pull her head back so I can trail kisses down her neck.
“I said no because you looked like you were seconds away from dropping to your knees for me, and we don’t have time for that right now, you needy little thing. So bend over, shut your mouth, and take Daddy’s dick like a good girl.”
She moans loudly so I lean forward and place a palm over her mouth while the other works to unbutton her shorts. As soon as they’re undone, she helps me by shoving them down her legs and stepping out of them. I back up to admire her briefly, running a hand over the smooth globe of her ass.
“You ready, angel? Fast and hard.”
My hand is still over her mouth, but her mumbled agreement is enough for me. One hard thrust has her crying out as she stretches to accommodate me, but I don’t give her any time to adjust, setting a brutal pace to the sound of her muffled moans and whimpers. “You want me to play with your clit?”
She nods frantically.
“Then I need you to keep quiet when I move my hand, baby. Can you do that for me?”
“Yes, Daddy,” she whispers.
I reward her with gentle passes over her swollen clit. “Good girl,” I purr.
My pace begins to falter when her pussy flutters around my length, letting me know she’s as close as I am. I curse. “Fuck, angel. Are you going to come for Daddy?’
Another nod, followed by a quiet whine. I circle her clit with firm pressure and use my free hand to pull her back flush to my chest, pinching one peaked nipple. The change in angle has her crying out in the small room as she detonates, and I quickly follow her over the edge.
Thankfully, there are paper towels in the corner, so I quickly clean both of us up while I fight to steady my breathin g. I still have another two innings to play, and I can’t take the field looking freshly fucked.
Checking my watch, I see I’m on the verge of being late and kiss Lyla hard and fast. “We’ll talk after the game, yeah?”
“Of course. Go kick ass, babe. I love you.”
My heart speeds up, and a huge grin takes over my mouth. “Love you even more, my girl.”
After making sure she’s safely in the elevator that will take her to the family boxes, I haul ass back to the dugout only to be greeted with raucous applause and laughter. I flip them off, but even their teasing can’t dull my mood. The girl I’m in love with just told me she loves me too in front of millions of people.
Nothing could possibly ruin this day.