Chapter 14
Maren
“What?” Sadie yells in surprise as I start to recount my encounter with Oscar. “Why was he in Jax’s bedroom to begin with?”
“I don’t know.” I take a deep breath. “Sadie, I need you to focus. He knocked on the door and when I opened it… I— I almost flooded my panties right there.” I stand up and walk over to the counter to grab my water.
“What did he say?” she asks, sitting on the edge of her seat like this is the most entertaining thing she’s ever heard.
“He pushed his way into the bathroom and trapped me in a heated kiss. Then he started telling me that I take up all his thoughts and I make him feel things he shouldn’t want to feel.” I roll my eyes.
“You liked it.” Her tone is playful and accusing.
“Of course I liked it. It was hot, frantic, and unexpected. But he’s a dick, and I don’t do dicks.”
“I mean… technically—”
I cut her off. “Sadie, you know what I mean, I have zero interest in getting involved with a guy like him. Plus, he’s not available, and I barely know him.”
She stands from the couch and gives me a pointed glare as she joins me on the stools at our counter. “Technically, he’s never been more available.”
“Stop with the technicalities, Sade. You know what I mean. He’s emotionally unavailable, and that is not what I am looking for. I don’t even know that I’m looking for anything right now. I just got this job and that needs to be my focus, nothing else.”
“You don’t have to be looking for something to find it,” Sadie says as she stands from the counter.
“I’m going to bed. But don’t hyperfocus on this all night.
I know how you are, and you are going to read way too far into this and be up all night.
He likes you, or is at least attracted to you. That’s it.” She smiles and hugs me.
“He ditched another girl, for something he thought was better,” I say.
“He lost control when he realized he wanted you,” she says. “Stop complicating what happened.”
“It feels disrespectful.”
“Yes, but that doesn’t mean he meant it to be.” She smiles again and then disappears down the hallway, leaving me to do exactly what she asked me not to.
I barely slept last night. I walk onto the field completely exhausted. Visions of Oscar pushing me back into the bathroom and slamming his lips on mine kept running through my mind, leaving the most uncomfortable ache between my thighs.
Today we are working on a field dance, thank fuck.
I don’t think I could handle Oscar in the studio today.
He gets extra fucking grumpy when we rehearse in there.
The dance today is simple. Everyone is doing the same three moves to the music while Jax winds up to pitch.
It should only take the guys about 15 minutes to learn it, and then they can all leave and I can work with Orbit on his dance for when he throws the opening pitch at tonight’s game.
I love Orbit. Gavin, the guy behind the suit, used to be a dancer, so teaching him a few 8 counts will be a breeze. He also had some gymnastics experience tucked away in his past life that I want to tap into because the crowd would absolutely love it!
I mean, what would be better than a guy in a white astronaut suit tumbling and dancing around? I also think he used to do rings, so I’m hoping my request for a rental for the game went through before our rehearsal time.
“Mare, you are a genius,” Horner’s voice billows across the dugout as I’m walking up the stairs onto the field.
“The gymnastics rings are on their way. They should be here before the game, but I already talked to Gavin, and he has a routine he used to do all the time that he insists will be like riding a bike.”
“Oh, good. I was literally in the process of brainstorming a backup plan if we couldn’t secure the rental.” The relief that washes over me is short lived as Oscar emerges from the tunnel into the dugout just behind Horner.
He doesn’t say a word. He just stands there and stares at me, like I did something offensive just by existing.
“Morning, Oscar,” I say with slight sarcasm in my voice.
He tips his chin in my direction and moves to grab a ball out of the bucket behind Horner.
“Ozzie, when a pretty lady talks to you, you should use words in your response.” Horner laughs, but the laugh is more out of irritation than amusement.
Ozzie. That fits him so much better than Oscar.
“It’s fine Horner, he’s clearly not a morning person, even on late start days.” I smile at Horner. “Come on Grouch, let’s go learn this routine so you can go catch up on your beauty sleep.”
He moves past me, and as soon as we get out of Horner’s earshot, he speaks, “I’m sorry.”
I look at him shocked.
“I lost control. My emotions are all over the place every single day, and—” He clears his throat, “It’s not fair to you or Pips.”
“Do you even know her name?” I ask genuinely curious, he doesn’t need my judgement right now. He feels bad enough.
“Ronnie,” he says. “I just like calling her Pips.”
His answer brings me a sense of relief I didn’t know I was wanting.
I take a deep breath.
“Do you like her?” I’m not sure why I ask. I’m not sure I even want to know the answer.
“No, she’s nice, but I called her this morning, and we both agreed it’s just a fun time. A distraction.”
“That’s good I guess,” I say, feeling relieved again. “You probably need time without catching feelings for someone else right now.”
“I don’t think I have a choice,” he says looking me in the eyes, “Someone showed up here and they just happened, no matter how hard I try to avoid them.”
My heart stops, but he starts moving towards the field like he doesn’t want to wait for my response. Like he’s afraid of it.
I follow behind him, and when I step onto the field, I try to register what he just said, but quickly have to turn it off so I can do my job.
Thankfully this routine is simple or I’d never make it through it. It’s also fun, and includes all of the players on the field, as well as Marty, the dancing ump. It’s the best distraction I could ask for.
“Alright, the song is going to start and you are all going to do the same 3 moves 5 times behind Oscar. Oz, you are going to do them twice and then throw the ball to Jax for the pitch.”
He nods his head to show understanding, but doesn’t say a word. His eyes have softened though.
Deciding not to focus on his eyes, I walk around him and address the rest of the team.
“We are dancing to ‘Levitating’ by Dua Lipa, and when she starts singing you are all going to cross your arms, lean back and tap your right foot on the ground as you cross it in front of you.” I show them the move several times and have them all practice it.
“Good. Then you’re going to step back and bring your arms to your sides. That’s the second motion.” I show them again and have them practice it.
“Rikki.” I laugh. “You are putting way too much hip into it.”
“I watch you intently to make sure I fully understand and you put a lot of hip into it.”
I blush, and out of nowhere Ozzie moves in between Rikki and I to show him the move himself. The act is possessive, like he doesn’t like Rikki taking my attention.
I take a deep breath trying to hold on to any shred of composure I can muster up at this point.
“Right, do exactly that, Rikki. Sometimes it’s easier to picture it when you can see someone who doesn’t have a dance background.
I think I just naturally move more fluidly.
” I smirk, trying not to laugh as I take in Oscar’s face as my small insult registers.
“What’s the third step, coach?” Jax yells from the other side of the pitching mound, always the peacekeeper.
“You are going to repeat the first step on the other side. Like this,” I say, showing them it all together.
“I’m just going to let the song play, while you do this as many times as you all need to until you feel like you have it down.
Then the only thing that will be different tonight is Jax here will throw the pitch on the word glitter and Grouch here will throw gold confetti into the air. ”
Oscar gives me a look I can’t read followed by a smirk and then goes over to where Jax is to practice.
A few seconds later he starts intentionally messing up the motions, and it frustrates Jax.
“Oz, go practice by yourself over there,” Jax points to the outfield, “where you won’t distract me.”
“I forgot the motions,” Ozzie says looking at me, “You didn’t really show them enough times for them to register for someone as inexperienced with dance as me.”
Jax glares at him with irritation, unable to see the smile spread across Ozzie’s face.
“I’ll show you one more time,” I offer. “But if you don’t get it after that, it’s on you,” I tease back.
I stay with Ozzie for a few more minutes showing him each motion and then watching him follow.
His eyes are full of heat and don’t leave me the entire time.
At one point, he bites his lip, and I can tell he wants to move closer.
Then he does. He’s so close in fact that his elbow brushes mine as we dance side by side to the music as it plays on repeat.
His closeness throws me off kilter, and when I stumble the next move, he laughs. The sound is so beautiful, and the light in his eyes is even better.
“Thanks,” he whispers. “I think I like having time to get to know you.”
He is slowly… very slowly, peeling back the layers of armor he’s built. With each glimpse I get, one thing is very clear: I’m going to fall for him, and when I hit the ground—I won’t recover.