Chapter 9
MAVERICK
“I don’t have much experience with relationships, but I’m pretty sure the guy normally picks his girl up to go places.”
“Hello to you, too,” Sadie replies to my grumble with a smile as she gets out of her car.
She’s not dressed as a librarian today, although the dress she’s got on is still pretty modest, covering up a lot of her curves.
But her hair is down, flowing over her shoulders, and I’m annoyed at myself for noticing and for liking it.
It doesn’t slip my attention that she ignores my statement about picking her up. But this is the fifth time we’ve met up over the past week and a half, and every time she’s insisted on driving herself. I can’t figure out why, and it’s frustrating.
“Okay, remind me. Who do we have to focus on today?”
“Everyone,” I retort as we walk toward the restaurant where most of my teammates and their significant others are waiting.
Every year, at the end of the All-Star break, the guys rent out a local restaurant for a team dinner. And every year, I come up with a reason not to go.
This year, I was given no choice but to come with Sadie.
And it’s make-or-break time. The press has been surprisingly easy to fool so far.
The photos Colin’s arranged to be leaked have painted a pretty picture.
But tonight, we’ve got to convince twenty baseball players and their respective partners.
Up close and personal, they’ll notice everything.
I take her hand, lacing our fingers together as we walk inside. The room is already loud with boisterous conversation and laughter, and I immediately want to leave.
“It’s okay, we got this,” Sadie whispers, leaning into me slightly as she squeezes my hand. And I feel my breathing even out.
“Mav!”
Monty, one of the catchers, weaves his way through the tables and chairs to reach us, a goofy grin on his face.
The guy is permanently happy, and while I’d never admit it, I admire that about him.
Even if I secretly wonder just how legit his good mood is.
I mean, how can someone be so fucking happy all the time?
“Hey, Monty. This is Sadie. Sadie, Dan Montgomery, catcher.”
“Oh, we know each other.” Monty grins at Sadie. “She always stops by when we visit the children’s hospital. But I gotta say, you’ve become somewhat of a legend around here.” Monty smiles again.
“I have?” she asks, looking from him to me with a confused smile on her face. “Why?”
“Because you got our boy Mav smiling. It’s a fucking miracle.”
“Fuck off, I smile,” I grumble, but Monty and Sadie are both just laughing at me. Which stings a little. Am I really that grumpy, even around my team?
Who the fuck am I kidding? Yeah. I am.
“Come on, Sadie. Let’s introduce you around to the players you don’t know yet so this guy can go get a drink and find a quiet corner to chill.”
Monty gestures to lead Sadie away, but I pull her back to my side. “I can take her around.”
He looks at me, surprised. “Of course, man. Sorry. Not trying to overstep. I just figured with how you don’t love crowds, I’d do you a solid and handle the intros.”
Well, now I feel like an ass. “It’s fine.”
“Okay, cool.” Monty gives Sadie one more quick grin before walking over to another group of guys. Sadie steps in front of me, her big eyes staring up at me. She’s not wearing her glasses today, making them seem even larger than normal.
“What was that all about?”
“I didn’t know you already knew some of the guys.”
She tilts her head as she looks at me, tucking a strand of hair behind her ear. “Not well, but yeah, I sometimes stop by to see Willow when they come for a visit. The relationship between the Tridents and the hospital is good for the foundation; they help bring in a lot of money.”
“Well. You’re here with me. I’ll introduce you to everyone, not Monty.” It comes off sounding more controlling than I mean it to, but damn it, I don’t need Monty charming her.
“Fine.” Her easy acceptance makes me breathe a little easier until she shifts in closer. “But I’m asking what Monty meant when he said you don’t like crowds.”
I shrug. “It’s not a big deal. I’m just not a fan of socializing with big groups.”
“You’re a professional athlete. You’re surrounded by crowds all day, every day.”
Goddamn it, she’s way too insightful. “Yeah but playing in front of a crowd is different from having to talk to them.”
Her eyebrows draw together as she chews on her lower lip, staring at me like I’m a puzzle she wants to solve.
Good fucking luck, Specs.
“You’re an introvert.”
Well, fuck. It took the guys on the team an entire season to figure that out and stop inviting me to everything.
At first, they didn’t understand it wasn’t because I didn’t want to hang out.
It was because I was so fucking drained from the social energy it took to perform at games, hell, even at practice sometimes, that when it was done, I just needed to go home and be by myself.
Monty was actually the first one to figure it out, which makes me feel even more guilty for snapping at him earlier. The guy was just trying to give me a break. Of course, he’d assume my girlfriend would know how uncomfortable these types of situations make me.
“Don’t make a big deal out of it. Let’s just go meet the guys,” I say, looking away from her all-too-knowing stare.
I lead her toward one group, and pushing down my discomfort, introduce her around.
This group of players don’t do the children’s hospital stuff, so they don’t know Sadie.
There’s a lot of questions about our relationship, and to my immense relief, Sadie steps up and handles them.
She’s fucking amazing, spinning stories, laughing with the guys, and charming them all.
I play my part of boyfriend with my arm around her waist. And slowly, I start to relax.
We drift around the room, stopping at the bar to get a glass of wine for her and a club soda for me. She takes it with a smile of thanks to the bartender before turning to me.
“You don’t want a drink?”
I’ve already revealed enough of myself for the night so I just shake my head.
“Sadie, you’re here!” Willow’s excited squeal has us turning around, and I mentally thank her for the interruption.
I stand back as the two women hug, giving Ronan Sinclair, Willow’s boyfriend and the starting first baseman, a nod.
“How’s the shoulder?” he asks, taking a drink of his beer.
“Fine. Hoping to be back in a few weeks.”
“Good. It’s not the same without you out there.”
“Diaz is a solid player.”
“His arm isn’t like yours.”
Okay, I can’t lie, that feels good to hear. “Thanks.”
Ronan leans against the bar and looks from the women to me. “Sadie’s a good person. Willow thinks very highly of her.”
I sip my soda water, waiting to see where he’s going with this.
He takes a minute, studying me intently. “I know I’m the new guy, and with all the shit Willow and I dealt with recently, I probably shouldn’t be the one to say this. But I’m going to anyway. Because Willow also thinks highly of you.”
That takes me by surprise. But he’s not done.
“Take it from someone who recently fucked up and had to spend several days worrying he’d lost one of the most important people in his life. Treat her well, put her first, and don’t be a dumbass.”
I was there in the days after Ronan and Willow’s relationship suddenly became public knowledge, after he punched out a player from another team that harassed her.
It wasn’t pretty. I don’t know the details, but I saw how devastated he was those few days before they worked it out, so I know what he’s getting at.
Hell, I was the one to sit next to him on the bus and tell him to get his head out of his ass and fix things.
The difference is, he loves Willow. Their relationship was at stake.
For me, the stakes are different. I don’t have a relationship on the line, it’s my career.
Choosing my words carefully, I respond, “Tell Willow I have no intention of doing anything to hurt Sadie.”
The women in question turn back to us in that second, and Sadie’s smile is warmer and more relaxed than I think I’ve ever seen. She slides her arm around my waist and snuggles into my good side, and fuck, if it doesn’t feel good.
Too good.
I shift slightly so she can’t feel exactly how my body reacts to having her pressed close to me.
“How are you doing?” She lifts up to whisper in my ear, and the fact that she’s checking in on me when she’s the one who is surrounded by strangers stirs something else inside of me.
“I’m good, Specs.”
And that is not a lie. Not fake, not pretend. Somehow, tonight has already been easier than I anticipated. And it’s all because of her.