I smile to myself as I pull up our conversation again.
Isabella
Something wrong?
I turn back around in time to watch him read the message. I see his lips move as he talks to his phone and types out a reply.
Ryan
Everything is so very right
You’re going to kill me
In fact, it’s entirely possible I may already be dead
Did you drive here?
Isabella
No, I rode with Liz and Jordan
Ryan
Good
You’re leaving with me
I feel the blush heat my cheeks as I watch him pocket his phone. We stare at one another for another several moments, only breaking when Liz and Jordan return.
“Wow, that man looks like he wants to rip your clothes off,” Jordan muses as she passes me a cider. Liz just looks amused as her head bounces between Ryan and me. He gives a quick salute to them and a wink for me before he jogs back into the clubhouse.
“So, you may have been right about the jersey,” I mutter as I drop back down into my seat and take a sip of my drink.
The only response I get from them is their cackling.
TWENTY
HEAVEN AND HELL
RYAN
We won the game,but I couldn’t even tell you how it happened. I was operating fully on autopilot for the nine innings we played. My focus entirely on the woman sitting behind our dugout inmyjersey.
Some of the older guys have talked about how much they loved seeing their wives in their jersey, and I never really understood it. But now?Now, I get it. Seeing Isa in my jersey unlocked something inside me I didn’t even know existed. It chantedmine mine mineat seeing my name written across her back. And I’m hoping the fact she showed up like this means what I think it means.
I take the fastest shower I think I’ve ever taken after a game and quickly throw on my street clothes. Pulling my phone from my locker, I see a message from Isa.
Firecracker
I brought my work badge so I’ll wait for you at the door to the players’ lot
Ryan
Perfect. I’ll be out in 5
I toss my dirty uniform into the laundry basket and throw the last few things into my duffle. Grabbing my wallet and keys from my locker, I shove them into my pocket and tug a Suns baseball cap over my still damp hair as I practically sprint from the locker room. Austin, Cooper, and Hunter are snickering behind me as I book it to the exit. I lift my hand to flip them off over my shoulder without looking.
They caught me staring at her anytime I wasn’t on the field and when they followed my attention to see her wearing my jersey, they knewexactlywhat was going on inside my head. The animal pounding on the bars of the cage, begging to be set free and claim her. God, I would’ve given anything to have been able to touch her after I saw her in my jersey. If it wouldn’t have severely pissed Coach off, I would’ve said ‘fuck it’to the game, thrown her over my shoulder, and left the ballpark. I needed to feel her. Touch her. Make sure this is real and not an incredible dream.