CHAPTER 12

~Josh's POV~

Though we do make it back to the hotel and are changed out of our pool party garb way before Donna's 6:30 deadline, when I attempt to heat things up, she rebuffs my advances with promises that we'll have plenty of time for that later. I would normally use my powers of persuasion in this scenario, but she seems so excited for the surprise she has planned… I don't want to ruin it for her. We're both dressed casually; her in tight jeans and a "Rock the Vote" t-shirt, me in jeans and an old Mets t-shirt she suggested I wear, claiming the soft fabric accented my biceps. Who am I to argue with that? She grabs a sweater and tosses me my zip up hooded sweatshirt, warning that it'll be cool later tonight. So I'm guessing this means we'll be outside somewhere.

"Are we going to grab dinner somewhere?" I ask after my stomach growls loudly.

"We can eat once we get there. Come on, let's get going. If we leave now, hopefully we'll beat the rush," she says excitedly, coming over to give me a quick kiss before grabbing my hand and pulling me out the door. Her enthusiasm is adorable and rubbing off on me. I realize that I can't wait to see what she has in store for our final evening here in L.A.

We get outside and I notice the same black SUV and driver waiting for us. When we got back from Svengal's party, I sadly parted with the keys to the Mustang, thanking Chad for setting up the rental for us. Donna must have set up the car service for the evening.

Once we start traveling, I decide to try and get more information out of Donna. "So, still no clues, huh?" I ask, making sure to smile so my dimples are showing… she is powerless to the dimples.

"Uh uh, Joshua. The only clue I am giving you has already been given. Not my problem if you didn't catch it," she replies with an evil giggle. What the hell? The dimples aren't even working?

"Clue? Donna, all we've done in the last hour is come back to the hotel, change, NOT have sex, and established the fact that wherever we're going has food. That's not much of a clue," I whine.

"That wasn't the clue I was referring to."

"Okay, well, we brought sweatshirts to keep warm later, so that suggests outside activities…" I fill her in on the conclusion I reached earlier.

"That would be a valid conclusion," she replies simply, giving nothing more away.

"So… we have outside and food. And we seem to be driving away from the shore and toward the city," I observe, looking out the window. "Universal Studios?" I guess.

"Not a bad try, but no, Josh. Do you see any reason why we'd have to get to a theme park by a certain time?" she probes. "Plus, there's no way in hell I'm dealing with you and lines for rides." I sigh in frustration.

"Come on, Donna... pleasssseeee? I'll make it very worth your while later," I tantalize, wagging my eyebrows suggestively and making her laugh.

"Joshua, I have no doubt you'll make it worth my while later whether I tell you where we're going or not," she challenges. She has a point there. What the hell would either of us gain by denying her the immense pleasure of my sexual prowess? "We'll be there in a few minutes and all will be revealed," she affirms.

"Fine, Donnatella. Just remember, payback's a bitch," I promise. I may not be able to get her back right now, but all in due time. I sit back in the seat and pull her against me, wrapping my arm around her shoulder. We sit in amiable silence as I watch out the window, trying to discern our destination by the passing buildings in this relatively unfamiliar city. Donna seems content to study my efforts with a smile. She's very happy with herself right now. And despite my whining, I know she put a lot of thought in to this and I really do appreciate her efforts.

The SUV pulls off the highway and I feel my pulse race with anticipation. Los Angeles is a web of freeways. You usually don't hit the surface streets until you've exhausted the 101 or the 110 or whatever the hell one you're on. So we must be close. I see a sign that says "Dodger Stadium" with an arrow pointing to the right. Then it hits me! Outside. Food. Casual dress.

"We're going to a baseball game?!" I ask, almost jumping out of my seat.

Donna laughs as I start fidgeting around in my seat in excitement. "Well, I guess we have to now. Wouldn't want to wipe that look off your face, Josh."

"We're going to Dodger Stadium! Donna, I love you, I love you, I love you," I cry, pulling her in to a tight hug and kissing the top of her beautiful head. I haven't been to a ballgame since well before our first campaign. Then another thought hits me. No. It can't be. It's just too perfect.

"Donna… who are the Dodgers playing tonight?" I ask tentatively, releasing her from my strangle hold so I can look at her face. She beams that beautiful smile at me.

"Let's just say it's a good thing you packed that shirt," she replies, raising her eyebrow. I look down dumbly at my chest, reaffirming that I am indeed wearing a Mets t-shirt. Did I say Donna is perfect for me? Because she is so completely perfect for me.

"You got us tickets to the Dodgers game when the Mets happen to be in town?" I ask for verification. She nods and I pull her face to mine, kissing her with abandon. "Donna," I mumble against her lips, "thank you, thank you, thank you, thank you. I can't believe you did this for me. God I fucking love you!"

"I saw the schedule and couldn't help myself," she replies. "I love you too, Josh."

We pull up to the passenger drop off area of the stadium and the driver stops the car to let us out. I don't even wait for him to open the door for us, jumping out of the car and pulling Donna along with me through the crowd of blue.

"Josh, slow down," she laughs. "We have plenty of time. The game doesn't start for another hour."

"Good, then we have time to do this," I say before stopping and pulling a stunned Donna in to my arms. I kiss her like they do in the movies, wrapping my arms around her and bending her backwards, communicating my love and appreciation for this wonderful woman with my lips. At first she lets out a whimper of surprise, but then she moans deeply and I feel my groin twitch in response. I stand us back up fully and slowly release her, planting butterfly kisses along the line of her jaw. "Sorry," I whisper between kisses. "I just couldn't help myself. You're amazing, you know that?"

"Don't you ever apologize for kissing me like that," she answers breathlessly. "A girl could get used to that." She smiles, taking my breath away. I notice an errant strand of hair and tuck it behind her ear, letting the back of my hand caress her soft cheek.

"Good, because I plan on doing lots of that," I grin before leaning in for one more deep kiss.

"GET A ROOM!" I hear someone yell. Donna laughs and pulls back.

"Good thing we already have one, huh? How about we save that thought for later," she says seductively. I nod in agreement and take a deep breath to help calm myself down.

"Ah-kay. Should we maybe grab some Dodger dogs and beers and find our seats then?"

"Probably a good idea," Donna says. I take her hand in mine and we get in line while Donna pulls out our tickets. My excitement is reaching fever pitch and Donna is giving me the evil eye as I rock back and forth on the balls of my feet. I don't do well waiting in lines on a good day. She pulls on my hand and insists I calm down or she won't let me get a beer.

"Oh I'll be having a beer, Donna. And then a few more after that."

"Joshua, you may have two beers. I don't want to be holding your hair while you puke the entire flight home tomorrow." She's cute when she's bossy.

"I'm a man, Donnatella. A man at a ballgame with his woman! I'll be just fine," I insist.

"You already had a margarita today. Any more than two beers and I'll have to have our driver carry you in the hotel. And you won't be in any shape for any extracurricular activities on our last night. You don't want to miss out on our extracurricular activities do you?" she asks in a husky voice. I gulp audibly and shake my head.

"Two beers it is!"

"That's what I thought," she laughs.

We finally get to the gate and Donna hands the attendant our tickets, which are scanned and returned. "Keep those safe. We should, you know, frame them or something… to remember the trip by," I suggest. She smiles warmly and tucks them in her pocket. See, I can be sweet.

Once we get through security, Donna loops her arm through mine and we get in yet another line for food and beer. We end up each getting a Dodger dog and beer and decide to split an order of French fries. She would have just eaten mine anyway. Donna pulls out the tickets once more to check our seating assignments. I balance my beer in one hand and our box of food in the other, letting Donna pull me through the crowd to our seats. We step out of the concourse and on to the steps leading toward the field. We descend closer and closer to the field until Donna finally stops just a few rows back from the visitors' dugout.

"Donna, seriously? These are our seats?" I ask as she pulls me in to the row, giving me the aisle seat.

"Yup!" she says proudly as we sit and I hand her the box of food while I get situated.

"But how… how did you score these tickets?" I ask, shocked by how close we are to the field and soon, the players themselves.

"I may have asked Mr. O'Donnell for some help…" she replies.

"Really?!" I squeak. "But when?"

"When you went to call Leo the other day and left us alone. I asked him for suggestions for things to do and see and he brought up having to see a game at Dodger Stadium. I mentioned how you liked the Mets and when he heard that, he told me it was fate that they were in town this weekend, so he offered to help me get tickets for tonight's game. I guess he has some connections with the franchise. Anyway, here we are! Close enough that you might even get a 'Dude' from Mike Piazza." I smile at her thoughtfulness and teasing, giving her a quick kiss.

"I can't thank you enough, Donna. This is really great. And I can't think of anyone I'd rather share it with," I say earnestly, returning her smile.

Donna and I make quick work of our food, both feeling pretty hungry. We didn't bother eating anything at Svengal's… instead opting to make our work as quick as possible and get out of that hell hole. If it weren't for the fact that Donna was with me… and that I got to meet Bruce Springsteen… I don't think I would have made it as long as I did with those people.

Dodger Stadium is pretty nice. Definitely one of the bigger parks I've been to. At one point in the game, the announcer says about 52,000 people are in attendance. I just hope they're all voters! And, you know, Democrats. Donna and I spend most of the game commenting on plays and bantering back and forth. I may or may not yell out a few obscenities when the ump makes a terrible call. Piazza definitely didn't strike out on that last pitch! I'm rewarded for my efforts when my yelling grabs his attention and he subtlety tips his hat in my direction. Donna claims it's pure coincidence, but I assure her he remembers me from the spring training game I went to a few years ago. We end up each having one more beer and just before the 7th inning stretch, I convince Donna to share one final beer with me in celebration of the Mets 7-2 lead over the Dodgers. She caves, but makes sure to keep the beer in her possession the majority of the time.

We're both relaxed and having fun together. Donna is very knowledgeable about baseball, so it's nice not having to explain the game to her. (God knows I've spent countless frustrated hours in the past trying to explain it to Mandy and Amy… neither of whom seemed to really care and took more delight in pissing me off.) I think Donna actually might know more about baseball than Sam does! Not that that says much. She even knew that Piazza started his Major League career as a Dodger!

As the game reaches the middle of the 8th, I look over and realize Donna is enjoying this just as much as I am. Her smile is genuine and her enthusiasm is real. She's sitting beside me, now wearing her sweater to keep warm against the cooler night air. Her hair is a bit windblown and her eyes sparkle under the stadium lights. She takes a sip of our shared beer and automatically hands it toward me, completely in synch with my movements. I take a sip and hand it back. My thoughts drift to just how much I love this woman. I really can't wait to spend the rest of my life with her. I lift my arm around her shoulders and pull her against my side, kissing the top of her head.

"I love you, Josh," she says loud enough so that only I can hear. I lay my cheek against her soft hair and inhale the smell of her shampoo.

"Mmmm, I'm glad about that... I guess it's a good thing I love you too, huh?" I reply as she snuggles against me. We watch the end of the game like that, relaxed and content. A feeling I'm quickly associating with being in Donna's presence. The Mets closing pitcher records the final 3 outs in the bottom of the 9th and I pump my fist in victory… 7-5 over the Dodgers. Donna and I share a quick but passionate kiss before following the crowd out of the stadium. Our driver meets us where he dropped us off and we head back to the hotel in Santa Monica. Donna falls asleep during the ride, her head resting against my shoulder. She looks so peaceful my heart almost aches. As cliché as it sounds, I know I'm the luckiest man on earth for having the love of this woman. And I don't plan on ever letting her go.

When we get back to the hotel, I gently jostle Donna awake. "Donna… Donna, honey, we're back. Come on, let's get you inside," I coo. She slowly comes to and stretches as I ease out of the vehicle and reach back to help her out.

"Well, did you like your surprise?" she asks, her voice still somewhat sleepy.

"Of course. I woke up in bed with this stunningly beautiful woman, got to meet one of my idols who happens to be a fan of my work, and then the love of my life took me to a Mets game… all and all, I think this would definitely make the list of top 5 best days of my life," I say with a smile.

"Love of your life, huh?" she probes.

"Haha, you would pick up on that tidbit. But yes. You're it for me, Donna. As great as this day was, you were the highlight of all of it. It would all be meaningless without you," I tell her, pulling her close.

"You're it for me, too, Josh. I love you."

"I love you too… I'm even willing to prove it if you're up for it?" I ask with a wink.

"You prove it every day… but I wouldn't say no to some demonstrations."

"Ah-kay," I say before meeting her lips with mine. The kiss is passionate and promising enough to satiate us for the few seconds it takes to get from the elevator to the privacy of our suite.

"We should pack, Josh," Donna says, throwing her sweater on the couch of the main room.

"Yes we should… and we will. After…" I assure before I capture her lips with mine and reignite the fire between us. We spend the rest of the night making love and eventually collapse in each other's arms in exhaustion. The last thing that crosses my mind before sleep overcomes me is the joy in knowing that this is how I'll be ending my days from here on… in the loving arms of Donnatella Moss.