chapter 106
I left in the middle of the celebration, our security distracted, like everyone else, by the win.
I yanked off my heels and sprinted down the private stairwell, passing through secret halls until I was underground, on field level, by the equipment bays, the muffled sounds of the stadium everywhere, celebrations in full force.
I grabbed the ball boy when he ran by, stuffing a hundred-dollar-bill in his hand and told him to get Chase.
He recognized me, the teenager old enough to understand the problems with the owner’s wife wanting a private meeting with a player.
But he took the money, disappearing onto the field, and a few moments later, Chase was there, my hands pulling off his hat, his shirt damp with sweat, his clay-streaked baseball pants pushing against my hips, our mouths frantic as we kissed.
With boxes of balls at my back, his hands cupped my face, my hands raked through his hair, and we kissed as if it was our breath, necessary for the beating of our hearts, the flow of blood through our veins.
“I love you,” he said, pulling at the holder of my ponytail.
“I love you too,” I gasped, kissing his neck, the taste of it salty champagne, my hands gripping at his uniform.
“Come home with me tonight. We won. You promised.”
“Tomorrow morning,” I swore. “Just give me until tomorrow.”
“I can’t wait that long.” He kissed me again, his fingers tangling in my hair.
“Yes, you can.” I stepped back, his hands falling, my chest heaving. “I’ll tell him tomorrow.”
“I love you,” he repeated, his eyes stuck on me.
“Always.” I smiled, pulling my hair back, tucking in my shirt. “I’ll call you when I’m on my way.”
I ran back to him for one last kiss, then turned and slipped through the door, leaving him in the dark room, the taste of him still on my lips, my promise hanging in the air.
I ran up the service stairwell, toward the sky level, back to Tobey.
One flight before the top, I stopped, pulling on my heels, smoothing down my hair, my heart still pounding.
Taking a deep breath, I slowly climbed the final stairs, back to Tobey.