31. Chapter 31
“Staring at the door isn’t going to make her appear any faster.” Fletch leans against the lockers with only a towel on, looking the picture of casual.
Meanwhile, I’ve been dealing with nervous jitters all day. Alyssa has come to so many of my home games that I’ve lost count, but bringing her onto the field and introducing her to my teammates feels like a big next step. One I’m ready to take, but I want everything to go perfectly.
“Would you put on some clothes?” I grab a spare towel and chuck it at him. “I don’t need you scarring my girlfriend for life the first time you meet her.”
“You’re just scared she’s going to see my abs and leave you for me,” he jabs.
I scoff. “You’re just jealous that I’m dating someone who enjoys my company for longer than a night.”
Fletch’s teasing eyes turn icy. “Whatever, man.” He grabs his uniform and steps back into the connected bathroom.
Great, looks like I poked the bear. I’ll apologize to him later.
“What’s got his boxers in a bunch?” Hayden steps out of the bathroom, hitching a thumb over his shoulder.
“A stupid comment I made. I’ll apologize before the game.”
“You better.” Dawson appears behind Hayden. “We need him at his best for another game like last night.”
“And I don’t want him pitching angry.” Cooper grimaces as he steps into the locker room. “When he’s mad, his pitches feel like torpedoes.”
“No one’s going to be pitching angry.” I look at the still-closed door where loved ones can access this area, then back at my teammates. “Why were you all in there at the same time?”
“We were showering.”
My brows furrow. “Before the game?”
“We just practiced in ninety-degree heat for a few hours. Do you want us to stink when we meet your girlfriend?” Dawson laughs.
“I can go roll around the outfield, if you want, to get my stink back on.” Hayden gives a cheeky grin.
I press my lips together. “No, that’s okay. I’m surprised is all.”
“We don’t want to make you look bad, bro.” Cooper nods.
“I appreciate it.”
I check my phone for any messages from Alyssa, but instead I find a voicemail from my agent. I excuse myself and click on it, hoping with every fiber in my being that whatever he’s about to tell me won’t place thousands of miles between me and Alyssa now that we’re finally together.
“Hey, Austin. Just wanted to give you an update on that potential trade. It sounds like they’re going with a player from the Fireflies.
There’s obviously not a guarantee, but with the trade deadline coming up, I think it’s pretty safe to say you’ll be a Mustang next season.
Give me a call back after your game if you have any questions. ”
Relief floods my body. Like he said, there’s no guarantee. But we’re never guaranteed anything in life. We’re not even promised tomorrow, so why should I bother wasting any more time when all I want to do is tell Alyssa how much I love her?
I slide my phone back into my pocket with a smile and rejoin my teammates.
“What’s got you grinning like that?” Hayden asks.
But I don’t get a chance to respond before I hear Alyssa’s voice say, “Thanks, Henry. You’re a gem.”
My cheeks hurt from grinning so big as I turn around to face my girlfriend.
“Dude has it bad.” Hayden draws out the last word.
I’m man enough to admit that I really do.
I take Alyssa in as she walks toward me in a cropped white tank top and colorfully striped pants.
It’s all tied together with silk scarves around her space buns, in the exact shade of Mustang maroon.
I love how she sticks to her usual thrifted looks for each game but still ties in our colors for some team spirit. She always supports me no matter what.
I step out of the locker room and take a few large strides, meeting her halfway.
I pull Alyssa into my arms and immediately feel at home breathing in her coconut-scented hair and subtle perfume.
“I missed you,” I whisper, even though it’s only been a day.
It’s been the longest twenty-four hours without her, especially after being together for five days straight.
“I missed you, too.” She wraps her arms around my waist and rests her cheek against my chest.
I could be content staying like this for the rest of my life. No outside world. No baseball. No distractions. Just us.
I press a lingering kiss to her lips. When she pulls back and I look at her, my entire being screams that I love her. It’s a core part of me now as much as my own name.
“Are you going to keep sucking face, or do we finally get to meet the Alyssa Cartwright?” Hayden smirks.
“If a sweet kiss is what you call sucking face, I think you’re doing it wrong,” Alyssa deadpans.
The guys hoot and holler.
“Ooh, she got you good.” Dawson claps Hayden on the shoulder.
“She’s allowed to stick around.” Fletch steps around them and shakes her hand. “I’m Fletcher.”
She smiles. “Nice to meet you.”
Hayden steps forward with narrowed eyes, but when he reaches Alyssa, his face transforms into a wide grin.
“I can’t even fake being mad. That was awesome.
” Alyssa’s arms are trapped at her sides as he wraps his arms around her and lifts her off the ground in a giant bear hug. “Welcome to the family.”
“Okay, let’s not break my girlfriend,” I say.
Hayden sets Alyssa back on her feet, and she smiles up at me.
Dawson steps forward next, pulling Alyssa in for a much gentler hug. “I’m Dawson—it’s great to finally meet you.”
“You too.” She grins.
Cooper approaches next, shaking her hand. “Cooper Sinclair. We’ve heard a lot about you.”
Alyssa cocks her head. “Is that so?”
Fletch groans. “Yeah, he’s been talking about you nonstop for weeks.”
Dawson nods. “Years, really.”
“They’re not wrong.” I trace my fingers down her bare arm, then interlace our fingers.
She grabs my face with her free hand and stands on her tiptoes to kiss me. “Hopefully only the good things.”
“Only the best for my girl.” I kiss her back.
Hayden wolf whistles, and the rest of the guys clap. We step apart with matching smiles.
Alyssa laughs. “I like your friends.”
“I’m glad they didn’t scare you away.”
“Nah.” She traces her thumb over my dimple. “I don’t scare easily.”
“You two lovebirds better hurry up if you want to show her the field.” Dawson points to the clock on the wall.
“You with me?” I squeeze her hand.
She squeezes back. “Always.”
We head through the locker room and the tunnel out to the stadium. The second we step onto the infield dirt, I feel grounded. I had always planned on playing in Boston, but this team has become like family to me. If these guys are my family, Waterfront Park has become a home away from home.
“Wow.” Alyssa steps away, turning and taking it all in. “The stadium looks huge from down here.”
Hayden holds his arms out wide. “It’s the best place in the world.”
I grab a bat and gesture to home plate. “You want to try?”
“Off Fletcher’s pitches?” She purses her lips. “No, thank you.”
I laugh. “No, off mine. I’ll lob it to you nice and easy.”
She takes the bat from my hands. “Okay, but if I suck, you can’t laugh at me.”
“Promise.” I head to the pitcher’s mound as the guys position themselves around the infield. Alyssa squares her legs and holds the bat up. “You ready?” I call out.
She nods. I toss the ball in a gentle arc like they do in a slow-pitch softball league. It goes a little high, and her swing misses.
Alyssa throws the ball back to me, and she has a surprisingly good arm. “That was my bad,” I say before she can get down on herself. “Let’s try again.” I toss the ball even gentler this time, and it has a little less arc to it.
She swings, and the bat connects with the ball, sending it sailing over all our heads before it drops onto the grass in center field.
My friends and I cheer for her as Alyssa squeals, “I did it!”
I jog to home plate and lift her, spinning her in a circle. “That’s my girl.”
She’s beaming before she closes the distance between us, kissing me. It’s the biggest win I’ve ever experienced on home plate.
“Yeah,” Fletcher shouts like a teenage boy.
We both pull back, laughing at the scene around us.
Dawson cheers again while Hayden circles his arms above his head, shakes his butt, and sings, “Bow chicka wow wow.”
I make eye contact with Cooper standing at third. His lips twitch in a small smile before he shakes his head and mouths, Youths.
I set Alyssa down and grab the bat. “Come on, let me show you the dugout.” I step inside while Alyssa places her hands on the metal railing, looking in. I point out where we keep our bats and the drinks station. When I’m done with the quick tour, I cross back over to her.
“I love seeing everything from your perspective. It makes me have a whole new level of appreciation for what you do.” She gestures back to the field.
“How do you block out all the fans when you’re out there?
The booing. The chants. The groans when you strike out or make an error. It seems like it’d be overwhelming.”
I place my hands on hers and lean down to meet her eyes. “Easy. I remember you’re up in the stands.”
“I mean before we were dating.”
I run my thumb along the back of her hand.
“That’s what I’ve always done. In high school and college, I’d think about my parents being in the stands and what they say about me since they know who I really am, and I’d focus on that to block out the crowd.
But ever since being here, I’ve thought of you.
You’ve always been that calm and steady presence for me.
The person I’ve been able to lean on.” I shoot her a flirty grin.
“Although, now I’ll be thinking of you for an entirely different reason. ”
She giggles. “How am I supposed to concentrate during your games now?”
“By remembering we get to do more of this after.” I tangle my fingers in her hair and drag my lips teasingly across hers.
Her eyes slowly flutter open. “I could get used to this.”