Game Plan: Chapter 5
I can't stop grinning as I pull up to a parking spot across the street from Padmé's apartment building. It's a beautiful day for a date outdoors, and I still can't even believe she texted me and was up to meeting me again so soon.
It's fucking awesome!
Last night was perfect, absolutely perfect, and I couldn't wait to see her again after I kissed her goodnight and walked her to her door. I'm just glad she obviously feels the same way. I'm also thankful as fuck that I had another good man to man with Ryan this morning during our workout. He gave me some fantastic date ideas, but this time, I'm glad she suggested one herself.
Whipping out my phone, I open up my text messages and send her a quick text: Hey, I'm downstairs :)
The three dots appear immediately: Be right down ;)
I grin at my cell and shake my head. Who would've thought a simple text – and that damn winky face emoji - from the woman of my dreams could make me so damn happy? Man, I never knew a woman could make me feel this way. Never thought it was even possible.
Until now.
But, Padmé proved me wrong when she literally took my breath away when I saw her for the first time, and almost from the moment I laid eyes on her, I knew that I couldn't let her get away from me. Not only is she the most incredibly gorgeous woman I've ever seen, but she's got the whole fucking package to go with it - her intelligence, her personality, her wit, her compassion, her voice, her laugh, her lips, her skin, her scent, her devotion to her work…Oh hell yeah, she's got it all.
The front door of her building opens, she steps out, and I feel my jaw go slack. My window's rolled all the way down, and I can't stop staring at her perfect feminine form with my mouth hanging open like an idiot.
Fuck me!
Padmé's carrying a picnic basket on one arm, her small black backpack style purse is slung over her shoulder, and she's got a white, zippered, hoodie sweatshirt jacket draped over her other arm. My jeans become a little uncomfortable, a little tight from the hard-on I got happening down below, as I continue to gawk at her. She never ceases to amaze me, or turn me on, and all she's done is step outside. What can I say? Padmé just has that powerful of an effect on me.
I shake my head as if to clear it and get a better look at the perfect woman she is, as she closes the front door. She's wearing a pair of faded denim shorts that barely go mid-thigh with these adorable folded up cuffs, drawing my attention to that perfect pert ass of hers, and what a fine ass she has. I remember it well from last night, when she practically had my eyes glued to her ass from all the times she bent over right in front of me to bowl or shoot some pool. Shaking off the memory which does nothing to quell my hard-on, I let my eyes roam over her petite form and note she's got on a fitted, lavender sleeveless top in an eyelet material with a rounded collar and a small white ruffle around the bottom, and as she turns to face me, I notice it buttons up the front, accentuating her breasts and nearly makes me drool. I continue my perusal of her and let my eyes roam down her gorgeous form and find that, despite her petite size, she has these incredibly toned, tanned shapely legs that seem to go on forever. At the end of the journey, I see she's wearing some white Nike flip-flops on her dainty feet.
Holy shit!
Man, who knew someone so small could have legs like that? Not this guy, but I must admit I'm particularly interested in feeling those stunning legs wrapped around my waist as I...Whoa, slow down, dude! Getting a little ahead of yourself there! I shake my head and blink, trying to calm my body down. I don't want her gawking at my hard-on. Well, I'm lying. I actually do want her gawking at my hard-on, but not until we reach that point in our relationship. We're just not there yet. And, the very last thing I want to do is rush things between us and have her think that I just want to get her naked and in my bed. I can deal with my blue balls, they may not exactly like my right hand as of the last few days, but that's all they're going to be getting for the immediate future, because I'm going to wait until she's ready before I take that step with her.
I've never been a patient man, really, but for her, I can be. Why? Because I realize I'd actually like to take my time and savor every moment of this budding romance. Why rush things, after all?
Besides, Ryan warned me to take it slow with her, that she was a real lady and not an easy hookup type of girl. I'd already figured that out for myself, of course, but the reminder is timely…especially when she's looking as fine as all that.
Taking a deep breath, I jerk my gaze back to her face and find myself wanting to see those beautiful dark brown eyes again, but they're covered up by a pair of dark sunglasses. She has her hair piled up on top of her head in a causal loose bun with a few wisps framing her face catching my attention. She has on some dainty silver knotted earrings that sparkle in the sunlight.
Am I a lucky man, or am I a lucky man? I don't know how in the world she's still single, but if I have things my way, she won't be single for long.
Uh-huh. Just like me, she'll be off the market. And yep, I am totally off the market. Sorry ladies, but I'm taken. Permanently.
Padmé walks towards me, and I notice a little smile flirting on those gorgeous pink lips of hers. It makes me want to kiss her senseless, and only now do I realize my jaw's still hanging open, gawking like an idiot, and I snap it shut. It's a wonder I didn't catch a few flies, with my window being down and all.
I open my door and hop out, cross the street and quickly eat up the distance between myself and Padmé with long strides and meet her on the sidewalk. Her little smile becomes a real one and nearly blinds me in its intensity, I smile back and extend my hand to take the picnic basket from her. She hands it over to me gratefully, and I lean down to greet her with a kiss.
Her lips meet mine in a soft kiss, and I'd love to deepen it, maybe stick my tongue in her mouth to become reacquainted with her own, but I can't do that without wanting more. So, reluctantly, I pull back and grin down at her, offering her my arm like the gentleman I'm becoming...because of her. For her. Because trust me, with all those other women? There wasn't a gentle bone in my body. "You look beautiful," that's an understatement, she really looks scrumptious, like an all-you-can-eat buffet, and that's a buffet I'd really like to enjoy. Talk about a sumptuous feast. And, I know I'll never grow tired of it, either. I'll also never be full. Talk about insatiable? Yeah, that'd be me.
She blushes at my compliment and wraps her arm around mine, and we cross the street to my Lambo. "Thank you," she says in a way that makes me wonder if she knows just how truly gorgeous she is. Does she even own a mirror? Anyone with eyes in their heads can tell she's hot as hell, if not hotter. Seriously, it nearly guts me to hear that lack of confidence in her own beauty. I mean, come on! I can't possibly be the first man to ever tell her she's beautiful, but dammit, I'll tell her as many times as it takes, and then some, until she starts to believe it herself.
Because I kid you not. She's seriously the single most gorgeous woman I've ever seen, and that's a not a joke or an exaggeration on my part, considering the models, actresses, and even a few Playboy Playmates I've been with before. It's the damn truth. She blows all of those women right out of the water.
As we reach my car, she openly admires it, and I open the passenger door for her and grab my bag that's sitting on the passenger seat and toss it on the floorboard. Her eyes are wide as she takes in my car, something I could see even behind her shades, and when she sits down inside, I hand her the picnic basket, then close the door and run around to my side and hop in.
"Nice car, huh?" I say, starting up the engine, enjoying the sound of it coming to life. It purrs like a contented kitten, and if the expression on her face is anything to go, she enjoys it, too.
She nods, seemingly speechless.
I suppress a grin, liking the fact that she likes my car. "So where to?" She suggested a place called Sam...something or other, but I don't know this area of town as well as she does, and I've never heard of this establishment before.
She nods down the street and finds her angelic voice as I start driving. "Sam LaGrassa's, it's only a couple of blocks away." She gives me the directions, and in just a few minutes, we arrive and find a parking spot right across the street from the place.
I cut the engine, open my door and walk around to the other side and open the door for Padmé. She climbs out, picnic basket in hand, which I take from her again, and we walk across the street to the sandwich shop.
Damn, it's pretty freakin' packed in here, but it's lunch time, and this place seems like it's the place to go. I'm not wearing a hat or anything to shield my identity, and I can feel some eyes on me, but nobody approaches me or seems to be able to place me.
Good, because I don't want to be hounded for selfies and autographs right now. It's not that I mind taking some selfies with my fans and signing my name for them, but I'm out on a date with Padmé, the woman that's literally consumed my every waking and subconscious thought and just want to enjoy this time with her by ourselves without interruptions, y'know?
As we make our way forward in line, I can't help but notice how wonderful the smells in here are. Obviously, they've got good food at this place, judging by how busy they are and the delectable smells I can't help inhaling deeply. I take a few whiffs as people pass us by, leaving the shop with their sandwiches and subs in hand. They smell divine, and my stomach apparently agrees. Padmé notices and smiles, I shrug sheepishly, and explain, "Ryan and I worked out quite a bit this morning. I'm starving like you couldn't possibly believe, what do you recommend?" I ask, enjoying the look she gives me when she takes off her shades.
Padmé has eaten here many times before, she'd said in the car on the drive over here, and her dark brown eyes are wide in excitement and the look in her eyes tells me she knows just the thing I should order. "I'm going to order the Chipotle Pastrami platter with extra meat and cheese, a large dill pickle, some cole slaw and potato salad."
Fuck that sounds good. My stomach agrees, making its voice heard, loudly. "Then that's what I'll get too," I nod in agreement, my mouth watering at the suggestion. To drink, I asked for a Coke, while she ordered a Sprite Zero. I pay for our food in cash, leaving the change in the Tip jar, while she gives her name for the order so as not to draw more attention our way. I nudge her with my elbow and give her a wink in thanks for not saying my name out loud. She just gives me a slight nod and purses her lips in silent understanding, then, we move along the counter to the pickup area to wait for our order.
She smiles, knowingly, and fuck if that doesn't please me to no end. It sets off something primal inside me, and I have to fight the urge to bang on my chest. I've never met a woman like her before, and the more we get to know one another, the more I find myself falling for the gorgeous school teacher at my side, and I really want us to move to the next step. Not sleeping together, no, because I want to take a slower pace with this. She's worth the wait. I know she is. Rather, in cementing our relationship. It may be too soon to put a label on us, true, but fuck, I never wanted to be any woman's boyfriend before now, and I'm talking exclusively here.
As in, Padmé's all mine, and I'm all hers.
And, surprisingly, I'm not getting the chills or breaking out in hives at that thought. I'm actually quite proud of myself, but I know it's only because of Padmé. No joke. If she was any other woman, I wouldn't be going out of my mind for her like I am, and I wouldn't be abstaining from my carnal urges by going after other feminine eye candy, and I surely wouldn't be going out on a picnic lunch with her. Nope. I would've just taken her to bed, banged her, and moved on to the next woman.
That's one of the reasons why I'm refusing to allow myself to go there with her just yet. I'd be lying if I said I didn't want to have sex with her. Rest assured, I want that as much as I want to win the World Series, but some things in life are worth waiting for. And, I know when I finally get Padmé naked and in my bed, everything would've been worth it.
And, just like in order to win the World Series, you have to work long and hard to get there and you have to give it your all, I'm going to do the exact same thing for Padmé. I'm going to work hard and prove to her that I'm in this for the long haul, and that I'm not the same man that I was before I met her. I'll gladly wait until she's ready to be intimate, to be naked with me in my bed, and I'll pour everything I have into our relationship to make it work for the both of us, to show her how much I already care for her, and how much she truly means to me.
I'm being totally honest when I say I think I'm already falling in love with her.
But, we're still in the middle of baseball season though, and as such, I won't be around as much as I'd like to be. I'll need to bring that up when we have the talk about being exclusive, which I hope is soon, and I'll need to be nothing but blunt and honest with her.
Two things people know I am.
Whenever I met a woman and slept with her for the night, she couldn't say that I was anything but blunt and honest. They all knew the score upfront, it was just fucking, plain and simple. Nothing more. No exchanging numbers or email, no making plans for the future or even for another hookup, and sometimes I didn't even ask them their names because I knew I wouldn't remember it, or care to remember it, for that matter. Besides that, I wasn't interested in talking with them anyway. It was all about hitting the sheets.
Yeah, I was a goddamn pig. I'll be the first to admit that, but then, I saw Padmé for the first time and went cold turkey on my womanizing ways. Literally.
No doubt my mom will be proud of all this. She's been hounding me since I made it to the Majors to find a woman and settle down with her and start a family. She's not very happy about my womanizing ways, I gotta admit. She wants me to find true love and to be happy. To have kids, because that's the other thing she's continually dropped hints about since I turned twenty-one…How very much she wants grandchildren.
Kids. Having kids. Damn, that thought used to terrify me. Since I met Padmé, however, I admit I've had more than one dream about me and her having kids together. Quite a few kids, actually. And, just like the idea of settling down with Padmé doesn't freak me out, neither does the idea of becoming a father…as long as she is the mother, just to be clear.
Yeah, my mom's long-held wish has been for me to move on from my past, and I think Padmé is exactly the woman I need to help me do just that.
Suddenly, they call out Padmé's name. Great! Our food's ready. We grab our order, and I put the bag and drinks inside the picnic basket, and we walk back out to my car. I'm not exactly sure where our destination is from here, so I ask her.
"We'll need to drive, it's like eight or nine blocks from here." I nod, and we hop back in our car, and she gives me the directions. Oh yeah! I remember this park. It's only a block away from the New England Aquarium, and I can't even remember the last time I was there. It used to be one of my favorite places to go as a kid. My mom would bring me there all the time. I always found watching the fish swimming in their tanks so fascinating, so soothing.
After parking and locking the car, we walk to a nice, kinda secluded, shady spot under a tree, out of the way of the paths that tourists and our fellow Bostonians walk across every day. She opens the picnic basket and pulls out a nice folded blanket from an upper zippered storage tray. I didn't even realize how big it was or how prepared she was until now. I'm grateful for it and pleased to see how much thought she put into this on such short notice.
Did I mention how bad I have it? Did I mention how I keep falling for her more and more? Because I am, on both counts, and I'm falling for her even more as I stare down at her as she lays the blanket down and smooths it over for us.
Then she smiles up at me, and I feel my heart flip-flop in my chest. We take a seat on the blanket. I stretch my long legs out before me, and she sits to my right. Then she pulls out our food and drinks from the basket and divvies it up, and we begin to enjoy our time together, eating, drinking, and enjoying the beautiful weather. The sun is shining bright overhead. The sky is a perfect blue above us, birds are chirping away in the trees, and the sound of waves slapping against the wharf carries across the park. The temperature's in the low-eighties today with low humidity, and we hear the occasional chatter of people as they walk down the paths around us. Padmé couldn't have picked a better spot for us to just sit, relax, eat our lunches, and enjoy our time together. I've only known this amazing woman for the past week, and she's already become a major part of my life. I'm just hoping she'll become an even bigger part of my life as time rolls on.
But that's a conversation for another time.
Right now, it's time for food. As I set my meal out before me, Padmé does the same and a thrill shoots through me at doing this. It may be shocking to hear, but with the exception of my youth with my mom, I've never done anything like this before. And let me tell you here and now, I'm glad I'm doing this with Padmé. "Do you come here often?" I ask her, lifting my Chipotle Pastrami sandwich to my mouth and taking a big bite.
Oh, Man!
I groan at the delicious taste, my eyes falling closed. Damn, I haven't eaten a sandwich like this in...I don't know how long. Maybe never. I may just have to start eating here regularly. With her, of course.
Once I reopen my eyes and come back to focus on Padmé's gorgeous face, I wipe my mouth with a napkin and grin. She has a sexy ass grin on her face, and I'm sure it's because of my groan and how I acted like I've never eaten before. "I do," she nods, picking up her own sandwich and taking a bite. I watch her chew with her mouth closed, and my eyes lock onto her throat as I see her swallow it down. She blushes and looks out across the park, and I can't get over how adorable she is. "Have you ever been here before?" She motions around us, indicating the park and the general area.
I let my gaze fall down to my own sandwich, because she averted her eyes from mine, I hope I'm not making her uncomfortable. "As a kid, yeah." I just didn't know the name of this park, and it's changed a lot since I was just a kid. "My mom would bring me around here to go for a walk, and then we'd go to the Aquarium. I used to love going there, so my mom used to bring me at least once or twice a month until I was nine. That's when we moved out of the city to my stepfather's farm."
I just realize that I haven't been here since. I'm sure the Aquarium's changed a lot, too.
Huh. Maybe she'd like to go with me? "Do you like going to the Aquarium?"
Her eyes gleam, and they're locked back on mine, and she nods eagerly. "It's one of the enjoyable field trips I go on as a teacher. The kids all love it, and seeing the fish, sharks, stingrays, turtles, sea lions, penguins..." She begins to blush once more, and again she averts her gaze.
But, I don't let it go this time. I want her to feel comfortable talking to me and not get embarrassed when she's ranting about what she's passionate about. I love that about her, and nope, the L word doesn't even phase me. Just so you know.
I scoot closer to her and lift her chin with my fingertips so she has no choice but to look up into my eyes. "Please don't do that again." My voice is serious, my eyes are too. "I want to know what you like, dislike, feel passionate about...I want to know everything about you, Padmé." Her breath hitches, and I have to refrain with everything in me to keep myself from molding our lips together and doing something I know I'll regret later. "Why don't we finish eating, and then go for a walk around the Aquarium?"
She slowly nods, and smiles shyly, and we finish our food in silence. Her face is still red from her blushing and she looks so fucking adorable
We'd polish off our food platters, and she reaches in the basket and brings out a container of freshly prepared fruit salad she'd made herself that morning. Full of strawberries, blueberries, and blackberries, topped with homemade granola and chilled whipped cream, it's a great way to finish off our picnic. After practically inhaling our dessert, which was incredible, we gather up our trash, the blanket, and the basket, and we head off to walk around the park and the Aquarium and stretch our legs and enjoy the nice waterfront breeze and the sunshine. We walk around for another thirty minutes, continuing our scintillating conversation, and thankfully, not one single person pays us any mind at all or interrupts us by asking for my autograph. We're just like everyone else in the park - just two people out enjoying a beautiful summer's day.
I really appreciate that, too, because I don't get to do this very often...especially not here at home in Boston. Seriously, it's rare for me to be able to go out anywhere in this town and not have people coming up to me asking for my autograph and selfies with me. Yeah, I love the fans, true, but I gotta admit, when I'm out with my friends, family, and now Padmé, I'd rather not be disturbed.
It's as we're walking along, laughing and enjoying our conversation, that my phone buzzes in my pocket. Pulling it out, I see it's a text from Ryan. Opening it, it reads: Dormé's coming to the game. Does Padmé wanna come too? The 4 of us can go out afterward for grub. Sound good?
It does sound good, actually. I pause in walking and glance at Padmé, "Ry says Dormé' coming to our game tonight. Do you wanna come? He says the four of us could go out for dinner afterward. Whatcha think?"
Immediately, she nods and says, "Yeah! Sounds great! I'd love to!"
Awesome! Date # 3, coming right up! Ryan, my man, I owe you one!
Grinning like a fool, I text Ryan back: Shesays yeah. Count us in! Can you get her ticket for me & I pay you back?
The three dots appear: U bet. Will try to get the Dugout Box next to our dugout.
I quickly text him back: Great! Thx, Bro! See you at FP!
I put my phone back in my pocket. I will say, that's one nice thing about playing MLB baseball...the stadium staff definitely tries to help out the players when their families and WAGS want to come watch the home games. I smile down at Padmé, "This is great! Ry's gonna get your ticket for you."
She smiles again and nods, "Awww…I appreciate that. This should be a lot of fun then!"
I agree. It should.
But, as fun as tonight should be with the girls, unfortunately, our afternoon date in the park has to come to an end now. I have to be back at the stadium two hours before game time, and I still have to drop Padmé off at her place before going home, dumping out my bag and repacking it with clean clothes.
Which means, we'll need to motor on for now.
We head back to my car. I unlock it with the key fob, and we climb in. Padmé suddenly turns to me and smiles, "How about we go get coffee from Starbucks?" There's one down on Atlantic Avenue. Sounds great to me. So, I start up the car, and we drive a few blocks down Atlantic Avenue and stop in at Starbucks to grab a couple of cool beverages. She chooses the Iced Cinnamon Almond Milk Macchiato, me the blended Mocha Frappuccino. While we're waiting for our drinks, Ryan texts back that he'd gotten the girls seats in Field Box 24, Row 2. Fuck yeah! I text back and ask him to have their tickets ready and waiting for them.
I'm waiting for his response when my phone starts ringing. It's Ryan. "Hey, Bro."
"Back'atcha. Listen, Dormé and I'll swing by and pick Padmé up on the way back to FP. I'll have her ticket with me and just give it to her in the car. That way the girls can walk in together from the parking lot with me. Sound good?"
Cool. That sounds like the perfect plan to me. "Yeah, man. Sounds great. See you in the clubhouse."
He says bye, and we hang up. And, with our drinks now in hand, we head back out to the car.
I drop Padmé back off at her place after we leave Starbucks, indulging in another toe-curling, hunger-inducing, fantasy-fulfilling kissing session before I get out of the driver's seat and walk round and hold the passenger door for her, giving her my hand and assisting her from the car. I walk her to the front door of her apartment building, sharing another gentle kiss with her, before telling her I'll see her after the game, in the locker room where we'll meet up with Ryan and Dormé for dinner. She nods and then she smiles and we say our goodbyes. As I step back from her, I shove my hands in my front pockets and bite my lip. There's something I really want her to do for me. "Hey, Padmé…Would you wear my jersey again tonight for me?" Seriously, I have jacked off more times to the image of her in nothing but my jersey since the night I met her that I feel like I need to see her in it again.
She giggles and smiles at me, promising she will, and I know my face lights up like the moon with her agreement, and then she goes inside her building, and I practically skip back to my Lambo, though I'd fucking deny it if anyone asked. Over the moon or not, guys don't skip. Getting in my car, I fire it up, and then I drive home, the grin never leaving my face. Not once. Turns out, once I get home, I have just enough time to dump my dirty clothes on my bed and repack my bag with fresh clean clothes, suitable for a night out with my new almost girlfriend and our two best friends and head back to work.
And I say almost because I admit that more and more, especially after the extended picnic we enjoyed today, that's how I see Padmé. As my almost girlfriend, though actually having a girlfriend doesn't give me the chills or scare the shit outta me as much as I ever thought it would.
I've just always been so focused on becoming the man, the MLB baseball player I am today, that I didn't give any attention to my personal life. I may desire women, their sweet curves, soft skin...and everything else they hide underneath their clothes, but I just never allowed myself to really picture a future with any of them.
Padmé, though, is completely different. I can picture a future with her, and the thought of having a future, of sharing a future - till death do we part - with a woman like her doesn't scare me at all. Nope. I don't break out in hives. I don't get the chills. I don't shudder in horror. I don't panic and hyperventilate. I don't do any of the things I always imagined I would when entertaining such thoughts.
Instead, I calmly accept the reality of our situation and feel myself warming up quickly to bringing it up with her. Y'know, having us date exclusively. Us dating exclusively though is mostly a selfish thing, I have to admit, because I haven't looked at any other women since I met her. Not one. In fact, the truth is, I don't even think about other women at all anymore. Seriously, I don't. I've stopped going clubbing with the guys or even hanging out in bars, as shocking as that fact has been for my teammates to believe (or accept). Of course, on the flip side of that coin, I don't want her looking at any other men either. No sir. The only man I want her looking at from now on is yours truly.
It's a stunning turn of events, really, given this is me we're talking about here. Honestly, it's almost stupefying when I think about it.
I mean, she's an incredibly attractive woman. As Ryan said, she's hot. Really, she is. Again, how in the hell she's still single is beyond me. But, now that I have my sights set and locked on her, and only her, I don't want any other guys trying to muscle in on my turf and making a move on her to try and steal her away from me. Hell fucking no to that. Ain't gonna happen. If I've not made myself clear before, I will state it plainly here and now: Padmé is going to be mine. No ifs, ands, or buts about it. I want to charm my way into her life and have her only thinking about me, about us, about our future together…as a couple. Permanently.
Yeah, even after only a week of knowing her, I'm absolutely certain of that fact.
And we're off to a great start, I think. We hit it off perfectly almost from the beginning. We have so many things in common. She really gets me, y'know? She already understands how I think...Hell, she can even finish some of my sentences for me, like she did this afternoon during our picnic. We have the same sense of humor, like the same types of music and movies for the most part. We seem to like the same types of food, and she can apparently cook as well, always a plus for a guy who loves to eat like I do.
I'm so excited to be going out with her again tonight on a double date with our best friends. I wonder where Ryan wants to go tonight. I doubt we'll hit The Bullpen again. I'm sure he'll want to go somewhere different. I'll try and ask him about that when he gets here. Here being the stadium, of course. It's about 04:50 in the afternoon, and I'm back in the locker room getting ready for our game against Toronto tonight. I'm not pitching this evening since I just pitched our last game, but I still have to get dressed in our team's uniform and join my teammates in the dugout. The game's not until 07:10, but we're required to be here two hours ahead of time, which is fine by me.
About ten minutes later, Ryan strides into the locker room, making a beeline for me. He's grinning a mile wide as he reaches me. I'm already dressed in my uniform by this point, and I arch an eyebrow at him, returning his feral look with a matching one of my own. "So, ready for tonight, Bro?" he asks me, adjusting his duffle bag on his shoulder.
To say I'm ready is a fucking understatement. I'm so ready I'm practically giddy with excitement, but no damn way am I telling him that. He's already enjoying this far too much as it is. So, I play it cool, "You bet! Where you thinking of going anyway?"
"King's. Over on Seaport Boulevard. Ever been there?"
Again, I shake my head no. I've heard of King's but never been there. "Nope. Heard of it, though. Fun place?"
He nods, "Hell yeah. Great fun. We've been before. They've got bowling, pool tables, arcade games, foosball, that kinda stuff, and the food's good. Figure it'll be fun, a nice way to unwind, and maybe we won't get mobbed while there."
I'm definitely on board with this, no doubt about it. Good friends, food, and fun. Oh, and the woman of my dreams. Doesn't get any better than that, right? I nod, my lips pursed, "Sounds good to me. Should be a lot of fun. Looking forward to it."
He shoots me a smirk, "Yeah. I just bet you are."
"Shut up, man." My lips twist and I shake my head at him.
He just laughs, pats me on the back, and says, "Oh yeah, the girls were grabbing a snack and a drink first before heading to their seats."
"Great...By the way, did she, uh, wear my jersey?" I know she said she would, but I just wanna double check. I mean, like I said I've been dreaming about her wearing my jersey since the night we met, and I really want to see her in it again.
He smirks and nods, "Yep, she sure did. Don't worry. It's still got your autograph on it from the other night." Asshole. I roll my eyes at him, but he just laughs again, slaps me on the back, and moves over to his locker to begin getting ready for the game. I may not be playing tonight, but Ryan still has to.
Since I'm all dressed in my uniform, I plop down on my seat in front of my locker and pull out my phone. Thumbing it open, I decide to send Padmé a quick text. Grinning, I find her contact and start typing: Hey! Got your ticket?
After a moment, she fires back a response: Yep! Getting a Coke and a Fenway Frank and fries before we head to our seats
Great! Ry said he got you tickets next to our dugout
Yeah, that's what he said. I'm just following Dormé, so I don't get lost! :D
Good! Don't get lost! We're going out after the game with R&D for dinner. So, don't eat too many hot dogs
Gotcha! Wore your jersey and jeans...Better be casual wherever we go
It is. Going to King's on Seaport
Awesome! Love that place! :)
Good! See you after the game! :)
I mute my phone and press the button to lock it and then put it in my backpack and set my backpack in my locker. I wish I could continue texting Padmé during the game, but players aren't allowed to use tech devices, like cellphones, in the dugout. Still, it's okay. I'll be able to look over at her during the game from where I'll be sitting on the bench and enjoy watching her enjoy the game…not to mention stare at her wearing my jersey. I'll just have to be careful not to let my thoughts get too carried away. I mean, I can't get a fucking hard-on in the dugout in front of my team, all those fans, and the damn TV cameras. I mean, yeah, my rep's out there for all to read about on Google, true, but dammit, last thing I want or need are pictures of me on ESPN tonight with all the commentators talking about – and pointing at - a bulge in my crotch! Wouldn't that go instantly viral! No, thank you!
While I wait for my teammates to finish getting ready, I grab a light pregame meal. The team commonly provides us with a healthy spread before each game, like fruit, veggies and dip, sandwich fixings, and other light snacks. I grab a bottled water, an apple and fix a chicken sandwich, and kick back with some of my teammates, eating and discussing the upcoming game. I'd already worked out earlier in the day with Ryan, and I didn't have to be here for batting practice, since I'm not pitching tonight, which is why I had the free time to enjoy my picnic with Padmé this afternoon. Once I've downed my food and water, I just relax watching some pregame TV to pass the time until we hit the field for the game. I'm really keyed up about tonight's game, knowing that Padmé's here to watch and cheer on my team…and wearing my jersey while at it. I'm thrilled to know that she's a big baseball fan and honestly enjoys the sport that I live and breathe. From what I've seen and heard from my teammates over the years, having a WAG that genuinely supports you in your baseball career is important. I've certainly witnessed that with Ryan and Dormé. She's almost always here at every home game to cheer Ryan on and has even traveled a few times to support her love in away games. I muse on that thought. During the school year, it would probably be unlikely Padmé could come to any of my away games since she'd have to teach during the week, but maybe she could visit me some while we're down in Florida for Spring Training…and even travel for some away games next summer. I'll definitely have to discuss that with her down the road…maybe when we have the talk about being exclusive. I'll give it some more thought. I want the timing to be just right for both topics. There'll be time to think on that later.
But, here and now, it's showtime. Finally.
The whoops and hollers echo in the hallway as we make our way collectively back into our locker room. We won the game, seven to four, against Toronto. Ryan made a couple of spectacular plays tonight, one in the fifth inning and one in the eighth inning. I cheered along with the rest of my team at his performance, happy for my best friend and teammate. I glanced over to see both Padmé and Dormé on their feet clapping, yelling, and cheering for Ryan and couldn't help grinning. They were so fucking cute…Padmé especially.
And, I also couldn't help imagining Padmé cheering me on like that, too. Almost makes me wish I'd been pitching in tonight's game just to see that. There's always my next home game where I'm pitching, though. In fact, I think I'll go ahead and check with her about her schedule, and if she's free, go ahead and buy her a ticket in the same section they were in tonight. Maybe Dormé could come, too. Ryan and I could both have our women cheering us on. Yeah, I'd like that.
I'd like that a lot.
But, as we walk into the locker room and each man makes for his locker, we have the post game speech from Ben to hear, followed by the requisite post game media interviews. I don't usually mind this so much. I mean, it's a symbiotic relationship and is as much a part of the sport as the games are themselves, and I'm used to having reporters – both male and female – in the locker room before and after games. So, it's a good thing I'm quite comfortable in my own skin, because there are definitely some journalists that've seen me au natural on more than one occasion after a game over the years. But tonight, hopefully, I won't have to worry too much about having a bunch of mikes and cameras shoved in my face since I didn't pitch this game. Because I'm rather anxious to get outta my uniform, get showered, get dressed in my casual clothes, and collect Padmé, and get to King's with Ryan and Dormé. I admit I didn't have time to look up this establishment before the game, and I've never been there myself. But, apparently, Padmé has. Good. She can give me directions. I plan to drive me and her there in my car and then take her home afterward before heading back home myself.
Ben walks to the center of the room, claps his hands several times to get our attention, then congratulates us on a game well played. He rattles on for a few minutes, specifically pointing out Ryan's two outstanding plays, along with the great pitching in tonight's game. He reminds us of our next upcoming game and that he expects us to be ready and pumped for our next batting practice before wishing us all a good night and departing the room, heading for the sanctuary of his private office. We cheer and clap good naturedly before we all start to undress. I set my cap on the shelf in my locker, pull my jersey off and throw it on the floor at my feet. I step out of my cleats, putting them in the bottom of my locker. I undo my belt and pull off my pants, then my socks, before pulling off my undergarments and my jock strap. I've just wrapped a towel around my lean hips and secured it, ready for a shower, when the first reporters come walking into the room, making a beeline for Ryan. I can't help grinning. It's awesome to see him get some well-earned praise and attention. As a catcher, he's maybe not as high profile a player as I am or some of the infield or outfield players are, but he's got arguably the toughest job on the team. I grab my backpack and pause to smile and answer a few questions for ESPN, The Boston Globe, and local CBS news affiliate WBZ Channel 4, before making my way into the relative privacy of the players' showers and restroom. Reporters aren't allowed in here. It's just us guys, and while I'll usually crack jokes and bullshit with my teammates in here, tonight I am totally focused on getting my ass ready and outta here.
After all, the sooner I get cleaned up and dressed, the sooner I can be alone with Padmé in my car, and I am seriously looking forward to that.
I shower and wash my hair in near record time before drying off and wrapping my towel around my hips again and stopping by the sink to shave and then brush my teeth and then brush my hair. I apply deodorant, a spritz of cologne, then go about getting dressed. Tonight, I chose boxers, a pair of dark blue, straight leg Levi's, a white short sleeve Izod shirt, which I leave untucked, and a pair of socks and my white Nike sneakers. I also have a light blue, zip-up, sweatshirt hoodie in my backpack if it gets chilly later. As I'm exiting the shower, a clearly tired, but pumped, Ryan comes striding into the shower room, dressed similarly to me earlier, towel round his hips, duffle bag on his shoulder. He still has his eye black smeared under his eyes, but he's sporting a mile fucking wide grin, rightly so after the game he had.
I grin back, "Great game there, Bro!"
He nods, pleased at his own performance, "Yeah. I saw those two opportunities and went for it. Glad it worked out in our favor."
I punch him lightly in the shoulder, "That you did, Buddy. That you did…Listen, don't be too long. I'm going to go wait with the girls. Meet us at the entrance leading to the parking lot."
"Sure. Be out in a bit," he nods and we fist bump before he turns to head for the showers and I turn to exit the room, making my way back through the locker room and out of the clubhouse and toward the exit to the players' parking lot. The girls aren't anywhere in sight when I arrive. So, I pull my backpack off my shoulder, fish out my phone, and thumb it open. I find Padmé's contact and quickly text her: Hey! Where U at? I'm ready to go. Waiting the exit to the players' parking lot.
After a minute, she texts back: Potty break. Be there in a few. :p
I smile and quickly send back a response: K. Ry will be out in a few. Hurry, I'm hungry!
I smirk and wait for the three dots and what will surely be a snarky comeback. I'm not disappointed.
U hungry? U didn't even play! LOL
I can just imagine the grin on her face right now. I bet it matches my own. So? Still hungry. I'm a guy. Whatcha expect? Now, let's see what she says to that!
D says U R insatiable! ROFL
I burst out laughing, my grin turning positively feral. Oh, Baby…you have no idea just how true that is!
Before I can respond, I hear Ryan calling out my name as he walks toward me. He's dressed similarly to me in blue jeans, a navy blue polo shirt, and sneakers, his duffle bag slung over his right shoulder. "Girls not here yet, huh?" he asks as he reaches me.
I shake my head, "Nope. Potty break. Guess the lines in the ladies' are long."
He nods, "Gotcha. Well, they'll be along in a few minutes, I'm sure." I nod in agreement, as we step aside to allow a few of our teammates and their WAGs to exit the doors to the parking lot, all of us calling out a cheerful goodnight to each other. It's amazing how a win can boost all of our spirits, not that mine wasn't jovial to begin with, of course. I mean, even if we'd lost the game tonight, I don't think that would've impacted my mood all that much, because I was still going out with Padmé either way – and that is enough of a spirit booster for any man, lemme tell ya.
I glance at Ryan curiously, "So, how far is King's from here anyway?" I'm curious, because traffic around FP can be ridiculous after a game, and like I said, I don't know where this place is exactly.
He glances up from his phone to smile, "Not far. Fastest way to get there from here is to take Boylston and Charlesgate to Storrow before turning left onto Seaport. Don't worry P's been there before. She knows the way."
I nod again. I know the general route he's talking about. But, "P?" I ask with an amused raise of my eyebrows.
Ryan laughs, "Yeah. Dormé's called Padmé 'P' since they were kids. Padmé does the same to her, calling her 'D' most of the time. I'm used to it." He shakes his head and shrugs.
Ahh, well, I guess I'll have to get used to it, too.
At that precise moment, we hear the sound of both our girls laughing as they come into view, walking toward us. Ryan and I share an amused grin before turning to watch our ladies walk toward us. Something has obviously amused them, the way they're laughing. As they reach us, Ryan leans over and kisses Dormé on the cheek, and I do the same to Padmé. Then, before I can say anything, he asks Dormé, "What's so funny, Babe?"
Beside me Padmé groans and rolls her eyes, making Dormé laugh all the harder, "Oh, it's just…Well, as we exited the restroom, these two obviously inebriated…elderly chaps…stop us and ask us if we'd be so kind as to point them in the direction of the men's restroom, which we did…Only as they walked, well staggered off, the shorter, more rotund one of the pair, turns back to look at us over his shoulder then whispers," she rolls her eyes and uses air quotes,"to his buddy, 'Think she'd come unzip my fly for me, Charlie?' So, Charlie burps – loudly – and says back, 'You mean the tall one, John?' So, then John snorts and says, 'Noooo…Not her. The midget. She's a real cutie-patootie."
By this point in the story, Padmé is beet red and spluttering, a scowl etched on her beautiful face, while the rest of us are laughing our asses off. When I finally catch my breath, I can't help teasing her a little, "So, Babe…Want me to go kick old John's ass for ya?" Ryan and Dormé burst out laughing again, while I grin from ear to ear at the unamused look on Padmé's face. She just huffs, muttering curses under her breath, and crosses her arms across her chest.
Scowling at the three of us as we try to contain our laughter, she mutters, "You know what? I'm going to the car," and she whirls and stomps out the door, making us laugh all the harder. Still, I motion toward the door with my head, and our friends follow me out, our laughter quieting to softer chuckles as we follow after a rather miffed Padmé. Watching her ramrod straight form marching ahead of me determinedly, I feel bad for teasing her so much. She can't help her petite height, and truthfully, I actually find it sexy as all get out that she's so tiny. It brings out the inner caveman in me, makes me feel strong and masculine, like I'm her shield, her protector…her valiant knight, if you will. But, remembering how sensitive she is about both her looks and her body, I feel bad for upsetting her. We certainly didn't mean to make fun of her, of course, but damn, that was a hilarious story.
Not that I blame 'ole John' either, I can't help thinking to myself with a grin. After all, he's got good taste in women. Of course, it's just a good thing that he is elderly; otherwise, he'd be in for a serious ass whooping from yours truly. For real.
I glance over at Ryan and call out, "Meet you there." He nods, and he and Dormé head over to his gray Audi Q7, firing it up and making for the exit,while I make a beeline for my own gray Lambo, which a still visibly annoyed Padmé is standing beside, waiting for me. Fuck, she is so feisty and so adorably cute when she's pissed off.I hit the remote to unlock my car, and Padmé immediately goes to open the door herself, but I reach out a hand, laying it against the door to forestall her and lean down to look her in the eye. She averts her gaze and bites her bottom lip, but I reach up with my other hand and gently tilt her face back to mine with my fingertips, forcing her to look at me. "Padmé," I whisper softly, "We didn't mean to hurt your feelings back there. I didn't realize your height is such a sensitive issue for you, just like when we met you didn't know my childhood poverty is a sensitive issue for me. And, I'm sorry for upsetting you. Ok? Forgive me?"
She sighs and nods, a small smile lighting her eyes and her luscious pink lips. "Apology accepted. And, I'm sorry, too, Anakin. I shouldn't have gotten upset over such a minor thing. It's just…I'm the shortest person in my family, and even all of my girlfriends are taller than me, especially Dormé, and I've just been teased so much all my life by everyone for being short that it just…Well, it makes me feel like there's something inherentlywrong with me because I'm not tall, I guess." She glances down at the ground and gives a half shrug.
Watching the top of her head, I silently kick myself in the ass and remind myself of her Ugly Duckling complex and how I promised myself I'd help her work on that by reminding her often just how beautiful she truly is. So, another timely reminder coming right up, "Hey, you've got nothing to be embarrassed about, Padmé. Truth is, your diminutive height is one of the things that attracted me to you from the start."
Her head lifts up, and her eyes lock on mine, and she whispers, "R-really? You…You don't think I'm too short then?"
Shaking my head no, I lean down until we're nose to nose, my eyes conveying my sincerity, and I whisper back, "No. I think you're perfect just the way you are. In fact, you're just the right height."
She gulps, her eyes wide open and staring into mine, "I-I am?"
"Yes, you are. In fact, it makes me feel more masculine, more primal, more protective of you…Actually, it brings out the caveman in me," I tell her, our lips now only a breath apart, and I can't help the soft rumbling growl that escapes from deep within my chest, adding to the fervency of my words, and I know without a doubt, my eyes have darkened to near black with longing.
She inhales sharply, her pupils dilating rapidly at my close proximity – and my words. "It does?" her answering reply is barely audible.
Nodding slowly, I lick my lips, my own reply coming out husky and hoarse with desire, "It does." She actually fucking whimpers at me, and I can't resist temptation anymore, sealing our lips together in a deep kiss. I swipe my tongue along her bottom lip, asking her to open her lips to me, which she does, eagerly. I surge my tongue inside her mouth, immediately seeking her own and twining them together in a slow delicious tango. Tilting my head at different angles, I deepen the kiss even more, sucking on her tongue in a sensual rhythm, driving me nearly mad with desire. I groan deep in my throat, and force myself to pull back from the kiss when the need for air intrudes on our moment. I feel my pulse pounding, my heart hammering wildly in my chest.
Holy shit! This woman impacts me like nothing and no one else ever has.
It still amazes me that just one kiss with her drives me nearly mad with lust. I ease back from her a bit in an attempt to hide the raging boner I've now got. I promised myself I wasn't going to rush things between us, and that we'd wait to advance our relationship to a more intimate setting, i.e., my bedroom, until she was ready to take that step. This moment was about reassuring her, about helping her to see herself the way I see her and not about my carnal lusts. Willing my dick to stand down, I open the passenger door for her and give her my most brilliant smile. She settles in the seat, and as she grabs the seatbelt, I lean down and, with my voice warm and husky, tell her, "But, if John had been a younger man closer to our age, I seriously would have gone and kicked his ass. Just saying." I give her a wink and smirk when she gasps and her mouth falls open in surprise at my admission. I shut the door and saunter around to the driver's side and climb in, looking over at her as I strap myself in and give her a pointed look that clearly says I'm not kidding. I'm thrilled to see a blush blooming on her lovely face, and I smile again and fire the engine up, put the car in gear, and head for the exit, which security opens for us. With a wave at the gate personnel, I turn the car out into traffic, and ask which way we need to go.
She directs me toward Storrow Drive, telling me next to merge onto the MA-3 S. Using the middle lane, we then merge onto I-93 before taking Exit 23 toward Purchase Street, finally turning left onto Seaport Blvd.Seeing King's immediately, we park near Ryan's SUV. Ryan and Dormé have already headed inside. But, wow. That was pretty damn quick. Only took us about twelve minutes to get here from FP. Nice and close. Great. I turn off the car, step out, and head round to open Padmé's door, giving her a hand and helping her out. Shutting her door, I lock the car. It beeps, and then taking her hand, we head inside to find our friends.
Walking in the door, the sounds of balls hitting pins, cheers, laughter, and loud music resonates around us, enveloping us as soon as the front door closes behind us. The smells wafting our way are also incredible. Padmé looks up at me, squeezes my hand, and grins, "I think you'll like this place! It's a lot of fun!" I nod and return her grin with one of my own, and she motions with head forward, and she leads the way, pulling me along with her. We go inside, and right away, staff members are there asking to check our ID's. I'm kinda surprised, but at my puzzled look, one staff member explains that after ten o'clock at night, you have to be twenty-one or older to get in. Ahhh…So, no kids allowed at this time of night, eh? Good to know. Not that I plan to drink more than maybe one or two beers. I don't drink alcohol when I pitch, before or after the game, but I'll indulge in one beer tonight, since I didn't play this game.
And, figures that since we had a game tonight – and a home winner at that – that I'd get recognized…starting right off the bat (haha…yeah, pun intended), with the dude who checks my ID. He sees my name on my driver's license, and he jerks his head up to look at me, and this huge ass grin appears on his face, and as he hands me back my license, he reaches out his hand to shake mine, which I do, smiling all the while. "W-wow, Mr. Skywalker! It's an honor to meet you, Sir! Welcome to King's! It's a pleasure having you with us tonight!"
I thank him and nod, as I put my ID back in my wallet, and then he asks if I'd mind if they took my picture, and I assure them it's fine. I flick my gaze over to Padmé, and she's standing benignly by, a smile of amusement on her face. I guess, in a second-hand kinda way, she's what you could call 'used to' this, considering she's spent a lot of time with Dormé and Ryan in the last two years, and he does get recognized quite a bit himself when he's out and about in this city. I pose for several pictures with staff members, sign a few autographs, and after about ten minutes, I excuse Padmé and myself, reaching down to take her hand in mine, and nodding again at the staff, we make our way further inside, looking all around for Ryan and Dormé.
I admit, this place is quite impressive. It's really huge…a lot bigger than I thought it'd be, and it takes a little bit of searching before we find our friends kicked back at a four-seater table in what Padmé tells me is the Concourse Lounge, which is adjacent to the King Pin Room, where several pool tables are set up. As we walk up, I notice right away that Ryan has several people standing around him, and he's smiling and signing autographs himself and taking selfies with fans and staffers. Sigh. As much as I'd like it to just be the four of us, no way in hell is that happening tonight, I'm afraid. Oh well, being my girlfriend, Padmé will have to get used to this even more than she already is. Nothing like getting thrown into the deep end to see if you're going to sink or swim, right? Thankfully, Ryan assured me that Padmé is a fantastic swimmer.
As Padmé and I walk up to their table, people around them audibly gasp, and I hear the familiar chorus of, "Oh my! Look who it is! So, nice to meet you! Can I have your autograph? Can I get your picture?" Ryan turns to me with a smirk, motioning for me to join in the fray. Nice. I refrain from rolling my eyes, of course, and pause to pull out Padmé's chair for her next to Dormé's left. She beams up at me and mouths Thank you before she motions for me to go round to Ryan's chair and sign autographs and pose for pictures, too. Not wanting to make a scene by bending down to kiss her, I rub her back gently between her shoulder blades for the briefest of moments instead before fulfilling my own PR role for the team. We spend a good twenty minutes, shaking hands, signing autographs, and smiling for pictures all around before staff members shoo the other customers away and bring us a big pitcher of draft beer and four mugs to our table and hand us menus.
I shake my head at Ryan and smirk, "No getting round it, eh? Not after a win tonight, right, Bro?"
He laughs, "Nope. All part of the game, though. But, maybe we can relax now and just have some fun without having too many other folks bother us, y'know. I'd rather get it out of the way now."
I nod in agreement before turning to Padmé. "Sorry about that. Can't be helped in our business, I'm afraid," I apologize to her, a wry look on my face.
She just laughs and waves her hand dismissively, "Oh, it's alright! Don't worry about it. It's to be expected. These people are no different than that little boy at The Bullpen the other night…just taller and drunker, is all." Her brown eyes are sparkling and dancing with amusement, and once again, I am thankful as fuck to have met this utterly amazing woman. We all laugh and then stick our noses in the menus, trying to decide what we want. I gotta admit, I'm starving. That pregame snack is long gone by now, and if I'm going to have any energy to bowl or shoot pool or anything else, I'll need some grub first.
Our waitress arrives, and we quickly give our order for one of the Appetizer Sampler Platters with Buffalo Chicken Wontons, Fried Mac & Cheese bites, Southwestern Spring Rolls, and Nashville Hot Chicken Bites. She departs to let us continue reviewing the menu, while Dormé pours each of us a nice cold glass of beer. We clink glasses, calling out, "Cheers!" to which I add, "And, to my best bro, Ryan, and his standout game tonight!" Me and the girls each give Ryan a beer salute, and he nods and smiles, and lifts his own mug in acknowledgement. At that moment, our waitress returns, and we each place our order, Padmé choosing the Greek Entrée Salad with Grilled Chicken, while I choose the loaded Steakhouse Burger with fries. Ryan and Dormé each give their orders as well, our waitress quickly departing, and then we're back to just the four of us, relaxing over a beer, and I gotta admit…this is really nice. I don't know why I was always resistant to enjoying a leisurely evening out like this before.
Because you were always too damn focused on getting laid, that's why.
I wince internally at my thoughts, though I can't deny the truth of them. I was always focused on picking up a hot ass chick and going back to her place or to her hotel room for some erotic filled fun time, and as I said before, I did not date. Period. So, now that I am finally dating, exclusively at that, I intend to enjoy every nuance of this heretofore unexperienced experience. And, as I glance around at my laughing best friend, his fiancee, and my own almost girlfriend, I've never looked forward to enjoying anything more in my life.
Chuckling to myself, I take a swig of my beer, my blue eyes gleaming as I contemplate all the joyous wonders that are undoubtedly in store for me, for her, for us in the not too distant future, and with amazement, I can't help thinking, This is where the fun begins.