As I’m fixing my hair, I get a FaceTime request from my friend, Kayla, back in Willow’s Gap. Accepting it, I smile big when I see her smiling back at me. “How’s it going?” she asks. I can see she’s driving with her phone mounted on the dash.
“Not bad, I’m getting ready for my first day in the office.”
It’s so exciting to say those words. It’s exciting to have purpose, not that I haven’t kept busy with moving and being with Slade, but I’m the type of person who needs something for myself.
“Have you been by there yet? Do you have a desk?” Kayla asks as she checks her blind spot and then grins at me. “I’m so excited for you!”
“I went by there last week, just to get a feel of the place. I have my own desk, and it’s by a window. There’s only three employees and a handful of interns. I work very closely with Nita, the lady who’s been running it the last few years. Back when I lived at home, we video-chatted and things like that, but it’ll be nice to brainstorm in person with her. I officially met her when I went into the office,” I explain to Kayla as I finish fixing my hair and putting on my makeup.
She tells me about the goings on at home, all of which is nothing too crazy. Before I know it, I’m done and ready to go.
“I gotta get goin’ Kayla, but we’ll talk soon?”
“Same, have a great day!” She blows me a kiss in the phone; I blow her one back, and get ready to start my day.
The office is casual, and I learned that quickly when I took my tour. Today I’m wearing a pair of sandals, jeans, and a flowy top. With a smile on my face, I slide on my wedding and engagement rings before I grab my purse and go to tackle the world on my own.
I’ve only driven by myself here a handful of times to places that aren’t the stadium. Situating myself in the driver’s seat, I start it up, input the address, and hope I can recall at least a little bit of how I got there last time.
“You’re early, Malone,” Nita greets me as I walk into the building.
“If you’re not early, you’re late.” I give her a grin. “That was ingrained into me when I worked in L.A., plus I didn’t really know how traffic was going to be around here.” I shrug.
“I love someone who takes their job seriously.”
I can see the respect shining in her eyes. Many people may have thought I took this job because it was “to get me out of the house”. And while that’s kind of the case, I really do love PR work. It’s what I’ve been drawn to most of my life. “I’m planning on taking this one as seriously as I did the one in L.A. I’m a great worker and I wanna make Slade proud.”
“Then I have no doubt you will.”
She shows me back over to the desk I was told would be mine when I came to visit before, and I have a seat. This is the setup I had wanted at my old job. Dual monitors, fast Internet connection. I gave the IT person a list of programs I wanted installed, and as I open my scheduling programs and Photoshop at the same time, I want to clap my hands at how fast it all populates. This, right here, is going to be a huge pleasure.
Graphics, Twitter, Instagram posts - it’s all at my fingertips, along with my wish to make Slade’s charity one of the most popular in the league.
Cracking my knuckles, I get to work.
Savage
I’m sitting at the breakfast bar, eating my egg white omelet when my phone vibrates beside me. Seeing Pete’s name, I snatch it up quickly.
“How is the best agent in the league?” I grin, knowing he’ll love how I’m sucking up.
“He’s busy as fuck, considering the little show you and your new wife put on yesterday?”
“What do you mean?”
My mind goes back to yesterday. I barely saw her since the game started early in the evening.
“When she told you to hit her a homerun? Is that ringing a bell?”
“Yeah, what’s the big deal?”
“Have you even looked at the news today?”
“No, I just woke up, but I’m assuming that’s what you want me to do,” I groan as I get down from the bar stool, making my way into my office where I have a bigger computer.
In this moment, I do what I dread doing; I google myself, wondering what the hell is going on now. As soon as I do, I see pictures of Malone staring back at me, winking as she throws the words out like a challenge. Then there’s another picture of me crossing home plate and acknowledging her as I go back to the dugout.
“Looks pretty positive to me,” I comment as I scroll through a bunch of articles that talk about how in love we are.
“The good ones are really good, Savage, but the bad ones are bad. Talking about how you need her to hit well, how she’s got you unfocused.”
“This is complete bullshit. We’re in the first full week of the season. Who’s to say I’m unfocused? I’ve hit two homeruns in two games.”
Anger courses through my body; this is the shit I hate about what I do. What other couple has to deal with this? I realize quickly this is what JD was trying to warn me about.
“My performance will speak for itself, Pete. I’m good to go this year, ready to come back, and ready to show them I’m multi-year MVP material. Everything else? They just need to keep their damn nose out of it.”
“Slater, you and I both know it doesn’t work that way.”
“Make it, you’re my agent. Figure it out.”
Annoyed, I hang up, and before I can convince myself to keep looking at the articles people have written who don’t even know me, I decide it would be better off for everyone involved if I just go for a run.
The April sun is beating down on my bare back as I jog the path I mapped out in the area before I even signed the closing papers for the penthouse. Hard rock is raging through my earbuds, and it’s fitting my mood today. In fact I’m not sure it’s ever fit my mood better. As my feet pound the pavement, I’m hoping to pound the irritation out of my body.
Glancing at my heart rate monitor, I see I’ve gone the typical three miles, and I’ve done it faster than normal. Ending at a local smoothie place, I un-tuck my shirt from the waistband of my shorts, shrug it on, and go in to get something to cool me off.
As I’m standing in line, a text comes through.
M: How’s it going, Slade? Miss me yet.
Imagining the words in her voice is enough to bring a smile through my face.
S: Missed you when I woke up this morning and you were gone. But I guess it’s good practice.
M: Yeah, I was informed of your road trip coming up. Can’t say I’m gonna like it.
S: Not like I’ll love it either.
The line is moving, and as I glance up, I realize they’re almost to me.
S: I gotta go, I’m getting a shake after my run.
M: You ran? And I don’t get to see what you look like afterward, that’s my fave. When you’re all sweaty and your skin is glistening.
S: My favorite is when you’re all sweating and your skin is glistening too. See you at home, wifey.
It gives me such a stupid thrill to call her that, even in a text message. There are some things you wait your whole life for, and I believe with everything I have, she’s mine.
“I need to get me a setup like this,” JD says as he and another member of our team, Jax, throw a baseball back and forth. Meanwhile, I sit signing hundreds of posters.
“You aren’t popular enough to get a setup like this.” Jax gives him a pointed look. “This is big baller shit, and we should be lucky that Savage here still talks to us little people.”
I laugh as they jaw back and forth with one another. “Not so long ago I was sharing a dorm room, driving a truck I wasn’t sure would make it ten more miles, and eating ramen to get me through the month. Don’t even act like I don’t know what it is to struggle.”
It irritates the fuck out of me that guys think I’ve just been handed what I have.
“But you have to admit you have a God-given ability that not many have,” Jax says the words carefully.
“Mig
ht be God-given, might not be. How many other guys do you know on this team who employ a chef? Have a trainer that comes in during the off-season and helps them, at least when they’re not rehabbing? How many of them are the first one at the practices and one of the last to leave? That’s always me, y’all, it’s how my dad taught me. Anything less, and I don’t deserve the paper my contract is printed on. Ability will only take you so far. You’ve gotta have respect for your teammates, the game, and the motivation to be the best. Money comes and goes, so does talent, but heart will win every time.”
“See?” JD gestures to me. “Why aren’t you the one in the locker room giving us these speeches? We’d respond a million times better to them than the shit Coach spews at us. He’s a great coach and a good man, but a motivational speaker he is not.”
“I’ll see what I can do about spouting some words of wisdom.” I laugh as I put my head down and begin signing faster when I get a glimpse of what time it is. Malone will be home soon, and I wanna be there to hear all about her first day in the actual office.
“Let’s go get a beer after this.” Jax ducks as JD throws the ball a little too close to his head. “If it wouldn’t defile your fine specimen of a body, Savage.”
I shake my head. “Today was Malone’s first day at the office, and I want to see how it went. I’ll have to pass on the beer.”
“Bring her.” Jax gives me a look. “We need to meet her, like really meet her. See how she hangs with us.”
“If Malone comes, then you know I have to invite Felicity, and that leaves you the odd man out.” He turns to Jax.
“Like I care? While the two of you go to bed with the same ladies every night, some nights I go to bed with two ladies. I’m living the life, gentleman. Invite both of them, I’m not bothered. But let’s go to that little bar down from your penthouse, Savage. They got the best bar food ever.”
“They also got that waitress you like to hook up with.”
He’s not fooling me at all, but as I finish signing my posters, I pull out my cell and text Malone. When she agrees, I stand up, stretch, and grab my keys.
“Let’s go, I’m starving. Signing my name for part of the day is hard work.”
“Oh to live the life of a celebrity,” JD jokes as he and Jax go over to his truck, and I go to mine.
Pulling out of the warehouse I use for an office, I smile. Thankful as hell for the friends I have.
Nine
Malone
Slightly nervous covers how I feel right about now as I park my SUV in my assigned parking spot and then ride the elevator down to the shopping level of our building. There’s a certain giddiness I have in meeting my husband tonight, with friends. It’s not something we’ve been able to do a whole lot of and reminds me of going out on dates with him.
Entering the bar, I don’t readily see him. Firing off a quick text, I lean against the wall, waiting for him to answer.
M: Hey! I’m here but don’t see you?
I expect him to text me back, but I’m delighted a minute later when I see him walking through the crowd toward me. Hand to God I literally lose my breath, watching him approach. My eyes go from the top of his head, covered by a hat, down over a worn t-shirt hanging over the top of loose jeans. He smiles as he sees me, and from the looks of it, he didn’t take time to shave today, which is my favorite. Especially when he rubs the roughness against my neck as he’s sneaking in for a kiss.
When he gets to me, he lifts my body against his chest, reaching down to lightly cup my ass cheeks in his big hands. With his hat pulled low, passers-by can’t really make out who he is.
“How was your day?” he asks as he nuzzles in against my neck. “Missed you.”
“Missed you too.” I kiss his cheek as he puts me down. “It was a great day.” My excitement is evident in my voice. “I was able to play with graphics, make up new hashtags, and put your gorgeous face on all kinds of stuff.” I wrinkle my nose as I smile up at him.
“Not sure if that’s going to get us donations, sweetness.” His voice is deep against my ear.
“Pretty sure you don’t realize how hot you are, Slade. Trust me.” I run my hand down his abs. “You’re gonna get us lots of donations.”
He releases me, grabbing my hand. “C’mon, let’s go join everybody else.”
“Sorry it took me so long to get here,” I apologize as we snake our way through the crowd, to what appears to be the back of the bar. “Even with the GPS, I got slightly turned around.”
“You should have called me; I probably could have helped you out.”
“After tomorrow, you won’t be here for a few days,” I remind him. “I’m going to have to figure stuff out on my own, so I figured I might as well give it a shot.”
“And look at you.” He turns back, cupping my cheek. “You did it.”
“I did.” I grin happily at him.
As the two of us approach the wrap-around booth our group has been sat in, I wave at JD and Felicity. “Hey!”
Slade scoots in, allowing me the seat on the edge of our side, wrapping his arm around my neck. “This guy you haven’t met is Jackson.”
“Call me Jax.” He holds his hand out to me.
Both JD and Slade groan loudly. “Listen.” Slade gives me a bored look. “Jackson didn’t want to be called Jax until the three of us binged Sons of Anarchy on a road trip. It’s the dumbest shit I’ve ever heard in my life.” He shakes his head at me.
“Women respond to Jax,” the other man argues with Slade. “Don’t hate, congratulate.”
Everyone groans again. “They respond to Jax because they automatically think Teller. As in badass motorcycle guy. Not Williams, as in relief pitcher. This is why JD and I have ladies at our sides tonight, and you my friend are by yourself.”
“Motherfucker, I’m a closer.” He looks at Slade like he could kill him. “You have me to thank for all those wins I save for us.”
“Okay, okay, I’m sorry. You’re right; I downplayed your position on the team. Forgive me?”
“Forgiven. So new Mrs. Harlow, you got any single friends in that small-ass town you came from?” Jax gives me a wink before he kisses the back of my hand.
I laugh - there’s nothing else to do. “No, at least none I’d introduce to you.”
“Ohhhhh!” The guys laugh, Slade giving me a pat on the back. “That’s my girl.”
“Damn, okay. Well, welcome to our crew. I’m your third wheel, Jackson. Jax, if you’re nasty, but either way, I’m glad to meet ya.”
“Nice to meet you too.” I laugh as he pulls his hand back, almost like he’s been reprimanded. “I think I’ll call you Jax.”
He winks. “I knew you would, I just knew you would.”
“I don’t think I need another beer,” I whisper into Slade’s ear. We’re sitting so close together I might as well be in his lap.
He chuckles. “I think what you need is some food.” His voice is deep, the timbre rolling over my body. “Let me order you some cheese fries.”
Those have been my favorite since we moved in together. I get them at least twice a week. “Oh yes, please.”
He lifts his hand, calling over our waitress, placing the order for me. JD and Felicity order something as does Jax. I’m not sure how long we’ve been sitting here drinking, but I’m feeling good as I rub my hand on Slade’s thigh under the table.
Taking another drink from his beer, he leans in. “You keep doing that, and I might do something to you too.” There’s a warning in his tone, but it’s the type of warning I love.
Tossing my hair over my shoulder, I turn my face from him as Felicity begins talking.
“Next week, we’re planning on getting together a few days,” Felicity explains. “The first road trip is always the hardest. Just let us know if you can come,” she’s saying.
And that’s when I feel it. Slade’s big hand on my thigh. But he’s not stroking the outside like I was, no, he’s cupping the jean-covered flesh as he moves closer to the heat
of my core. Desire pools in my belly as I try to concentrate on what she’s saying to me. My throat is bone-dry as I reach forward and take another drink from the beer I’ve already said I don’t need more of. Clearing my throat, I nod. “Sounds good, I’ll let you know. I’m planning on getting a lot of work done at the charity this week too.”
“Don’t work too hard,” Slade cautions. “I’m not leaving so you can pull all-nighters. Just because you’re on salary doesn’t mean I expect you to put in more than your forty hours.”
“I know, but I want this to work well for you. I want it to be something you can be proud of.”
“Anything you do, sweetness, I’ll be proud of.”
I beam up at him, because him being proud of me, is the biggest compliment he could have given.
Savage
The smile on her face is wide and bright as I lean down to kiss her softly. Knowing that she’s doing things to make me proud is one of the best gifts she could have ever given me.
She’s cute in her semi-drunkenness. Her eyes are bright, shiny, and as she reaches for another drink of her beer, I wonder if I should keep her from it. Then I realize I’ll be gone before she gets up in the morning, and maybe this is the only way she can handle it.
“Your cheese fries.” The waitress sits down our order in front of us. If there’s one thing she’s loves, besides me, it’s these.
The two of us are sharing, so I don’t think anything of reaching over, grabbing a few of them, dipping them in the ranch, and holding them up to her mouth. When she bites, she bites up to my fingers, using her tongue to swirl around my flesh.
When she’s done, I drop my hand back down between her thighs, slightly swiping against her core. She inhales deeply, choking on the bite she’s taken. “You okay?” I slap her lightly on the back.
She’s shooting daggers at me, but I know at the same time, she loves it.
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