Hiding in Plain Sight:
It was early morning in December. She had spent nearly every night at Mike's house since their first kiss. She hated sneaking around, but he was her home. The worst part, the paparazzi outside of the hotel she was still staying at.
She loved this time, cup of coffee. No texts, calls or meetings. Just them. "Hey Mike, let's find me a place this week, so I can properly hide from TMZ. And maybe you can stay at my place once in a while. Or do you think that's impulsive since I still don't know if I'll be in the majors next season."
"Or… I have another idea. Have you ever heard of hiding in plain sight?" He was fixing breakfast for them, pancakes in the off season.
"You've lost me, old man" his Rookie said with a raised eyebrow.
"I have this huge house and three extra, unused bedrooms. What if you were my roommate? Then no one would be the wiser about you coming and going from this house, because it would be our place." He grabbed something out of a drawer and walked over to her. He sat down next to her, and took her hand. "I've been thinking about this, pretty much since the first night you stayed over." He placed a key to the house in the palm of her hand, and looked at her with those eyes.
"Hiding in plain sight. This might work." And she held his cheeks softly and kissed his nose.
- Blips Party -
It was Friday night and the team had gotten to the point of being able to celebrate how far they came in the season, rather than linger over the loss of the last game. Blip and Evelyn just moved into a new home and were ready to show it off. Most of the team was still in town.
Mike and Ginny arrived separately and about 30 minutes apart. Mike also arrived with a blond college co-ed on his arm. It killed Ginny, but it was part of a plan. She knew he had no interest in this girl, and in reality, felt bad for her - she was just arm candy for the evening.
Ginny had wanted to avoid Mike's date. Noooo such luck. Ginny was in the kitchen helping Evelyn, and Mike's date walked in. "Hi, I'm Shannon. I'm here with Mike."
"Ginny." She stuck her hand out as politely as possible.
"I'm Evelyn, welcome to my house. How did you and Mike meet?"
Shannon responded, "we just met, this is kind of a blind date. A friend set us up. She said she thought we'd have a lot in common. Any suggestions to get to know him better? Aren't you his roommate?" She said looking at Ginny. "I see him out with different girls in the media all the time. I'd love to get a second date."
"Just be yourself, sweetie. But don't put out until at least the third date." Ginny responded. She knew this girl had no chance of a third date.
"Roommate, Ginny? What the hell?" Then in a much louder voice, Evelyn yelled, "Blip, get your bony butt over here."
"Yeah, Mike and I were talking on the phone the other day about what part of town I should move to. But I've been so nervous about signing a lease or buying a place not knowing my future with the Padres." By this time Blip, Tommy and a few other guys had joined the conversation. Sweet Shannon had bounced off to try to impress her date. "I hate living in that hotel with all the paparazzi outside. So he offered one of his spare rooms until I have a better idea of what is next for me."
"Hun, are you sure about this?" Evelyn asked, as the guys stared over at Mike, not sure what to make of the situation.
"Well, I'll have to deal with his parade of women in and out of the house. And he's charging me rent, but it's less than I'm paying at the hotel."
"If he tries anything…" Blip inserted, "I think we'll all kill him."
"Thanks guys, I can take care of myself. But I could use some help Sunday moving out of the hotel. You know Mike, usless… Pretty please?" The stage was set. "Back to the party, thank you my guardians." Said with a hint of sarcasm.
The mood continued to be light hearted, fun. The house was beautiful. Everyone was exploring the various rooms and Evelyn was proud to show each of them off. The twins couldn't wait to show Aunt Ginny their rooms. They were pretty bored with the party, and showing Ginny their rooms, meant an opportunity to play video games and hide out from the adults. Mike noticed them take her upstairs and managed to slip away from his date for a bit to join the tour. Only about three minutes into showing the toys in the second boys room, Evelyn called them back downstairs. Mike seized the moment to steal the simplest of kisses from Ginny. "How are you holding up? I got a mini-lecture from Blip about 'hands off and all' once you move in, so that must have gone well, because they are helping you move Sunday."
"I don't love seeing 'Tit's McGee' hanging all over you down there, but if anyone is going to believe we're just friends moving in together, they need to believe you are still out their dating."
"Sorry Gin, it will be worth it. I'll leave shortly, drop her off and only kiss her on the cheek, promise."
"I know. I hear the twins coming back upstairs. You should head back down. I'll stay up hear for a while and play games with them." One final kiss before he made it downstairs. Ginny hung out with the boys for another 20 minutes. By the time she made it back down to the party, Mike had disappeared with his 'date'.
Ginny said her good-byes and left directly for Mike's. In a matter of day's, it would soon be her home too, and everyone would know. She used her key and walked through the door. There sat her Captain on the couch. Sipping a beer, with another one open.
"Took you long enough."
She dropped her stuff on the counter, walked over and sat next to him. Before she could pick up the extra beer, he set his down. He leaned in, kissed her, "Welcome home." Then handed her the extra beer, sat back put his arm around her and settled in to watch TV. Home, yes it may be a total man cave, but next to him, anywhere was home.