Star-Crossed in the Outfield (All About the Diamond #4)

by Naomi Springthorp

  I’ve been volunteered to help prep for the barbecue. I’m in charge of cleaning the grill, cleaning the pool, and I’m supposed to go to the store with Sherry to be her bitch boy a couple days before because Seno doesn’t want her lifting anything, and he needs her out of the house to do something for her while she isn’t there. The bitch boy duty includes making sure I keep her out of the house for two hours and text him when we’re on our way home. It’s a special day or something, so many months since their first date or some silly thing he wants to turn the romance up for. I’m sure Sherry will eat it up. Maybe I should be talking to Seno about finding a woman. You know, I found Sherry and gave her to him. I mean it was clear that she was interested and not a groupie type. Maybe he can help.

  While I wander around at the baseball complex, I’m on the lookout for the pink flip-flops and hickeys. I feel bad that I don’t know who it was. Not that it’s the first time that’s happened, but she works for the team and I probably see her everyday. I probably walk right by her and don’t even acknowledge her existence. That’s just shitty. Why did she have to wear the mascot costume anyway?

  While I sleep, there’s a movie playing in my head and I can see the whole thing unfold in front of me. Shit, I can feel the whole thing. There she was with long dark hair, olive skin that’s been tanned by the Arizona sun, warm green eyes with little gold flecks sparkling in them, and perfect curves on her slender frame. I see the seal costume on the floor in the background and I’m laying spread out flat on my bed and naked. We’re making out and it’s hot, I mean I’m hard and ready. Alcohol has helped her lose all of her inhibitions, or I think I would’ve noticed a girl that wanted to suck on my tongue like that sooner. She’s wearing boxer shorts with pink sunglasses printed on them and a matching tank top that’s stretched perfectly across her boobs that says “I wear my sunglasses at night.” She wears pajamas under the seal costume, interesting. I remember things being a little blurry and I had drunk a lot. She asked if we could just kiss and I went along with her because I never push, it’s always what they want. I suggested that we could kiss all over and she kissed me all over from my ears down my neck, across my chest, over my abs and I thought I was going to get a blow job, but she skipped that and went for my thighs, kissing and sucking and biting all over my thighs. Then she reversed and traveled back up my body with her teeth, biting and sucking until she got back to my mouth. She straddled me then and our kiss heated to the point where I really wanted her, and I absent-mindedly rocked my hips. It felt like she would leave if I pushed her, but she rocked back at me. This isn’t the way I do things, it’s always what they want. But, this girl was driving me, pushing me, making me want more. She was making me crazy.

  I told her I wanted her and she whispered all sexy in my ear “I want you, too. You have to want me for more. You don’t want me enough.”

  “I want you plenty. I want you now.” I moved and took initiative, kissing her neck and sucking just below her ear. A little strange, since I don’t put out any extra effort—I never have to. I held her tight against me when she tried to pull away. “I won’t hurt you, baby. I won’t do anything that you don’t want me to.” I pressed my lips to hers and took control of our kiss, sliding my tongue into her mouth and gliding it against hers. She tasted like cookies and then all I could think about was her “cookie.” Fuck me, I had totally lost it. I rubbed my hard cock against her.

  “Give me one second.” She got up and I thought she’d changed her mind. But she put the costume back on and left in a hurry, leaving the tail behind. I don’t think she’s my Cinderella or anything, but a glass slipper would be easier to fit than a one size fits most mascot costume.

  I wish I could remember the part at the pool, before I took her to my room. Fuck she was hot and she told me no. She got up and left. Now I want her more and I don’t even know her name. I don’t think I’ve ever seen her at the complex.

  I wake up the next morning hoping Sherry invited her. I get up early and sit at the kitchen counter chatting with Sherry. “Good morning, sweetheart. It’s early for you.” Sherry’s surprised to see me.

  I pour some coffee, “I went to bed early. Umm, did you invite a girl with long straight dark brown hair and green eyes, slender but with curves, maybe wearing pink flip-flops?”

  She stops what she’s doing and looks at me, “What’s her name?”

  Fuck! “I don’t know.”

  “That’s not a pretty name.” Sherry torments me on purpose.

  “I was drunk. At least I remember what she looks like now.”

  “Is this the Seal Girl?”

  “I’m pretty sure. I remember how I got all the spots. Oh, I didn’t have sex with her.”

  “You were naked. You have spots from her mouth all over your body. But, you didn’t have sex with her?”

  “Yes.”

  “That makes no sense.”

  “She said she only wanted to kiss.”

  “I suggested kissing didn’t have to be limited to mouths.” Proud that I didn’t push her and then I remember that she left because I kind of pushed her. Damn it.

  “And?”

  “She got up and left, after she made me spotted and we made out for awhile. I shouldn’t have told her that I wanted her. Sherry, I need help. I need a chick that I like and isn’t after a baseball player.”

  “You need to talk to Rick about that. I’m good for other stuff, but not the part that has to do with you being a player. You need to know their name before you stick your tongue in their mouth and get naked. That’s the first step for you.”

  I listen to her. She’s right. I need to know their name. I’ll talk to Seno on our walk to the field this morning.

  “You need to take girls on dates a few times and see if they’re player crazy, not just fuck them as soon as you meet them.”

  “Didn’t you have sex with Sherry the night you met her?” I know he did, he came to the stadium the next day wearing the same clothes he had on when he left and had a huge hickey.

  “That doesn’t matter. We’re talking about you.”

  “What’s the difference?”

  “I’m older than you. I’ve got more experience than you. You just want to get laid. Look, Sherry broke all my rules. I can’t explain why or how. She’s different and I just knew. Fuck, you were there! You saw how fucked up I was over her. I still feel that way, but she’s mine now.”

  “So, you’re saying that rules can be broken?”

  “Yea, I am. If you find yourself breaking personal rules, you need to pay attention to what you’re doing and not be fucking around. You have no idea how many rules I broke with that woman. Fuck, she broke all my rules. I did some seriously stupid shit and I don’t regret any of it.”

  “Got it. Don’t follow my dick.”

  “I wasn’t following my dick! But, for you, yea, that’s a pretty good rule. Also, always use a condom and no sex until at least the third date, unless it’s just one of your groupie fucks that you’re never going to see again.”

  “Do the twins count as groupie fucks?”

  “If you want a real girlfriend, you need to let that shit go.” Seno shakes his head as he walks into the clubhouse to get ready for workouts.

  I know he’s right. I guess it all depends on me. Am I ready to give up the groupies? I would give them all up for the right girl. I’ll keep them until I find her.

  Chapter Three

  Chase

  Spring training is finally over. I’m cleaning the pool with a beer in my hand while Sherry sets out bowls of salads and sides that she made. Seno is manning the grill until Sherry takes the tongs from him and tells him to go have fun. It’s going to be a good night. I know because I carried all the beer and ice in. Sherry has a display of jello shots out, too. She made some non-alcoholic just for her, so she can show us how they’re done and drive Seno crazy at the same time.

  People are everywhere for the next few hours. My teammates, the ladies from the team store, the group who
work in concessions, the retired volunteers, there’s a representative from every part of the sports complex. The team had clicked together, it’s great to hang out and have fun off the field. We’re pounding beer and that turns into doing jello shots. We’re challenging each other and, well, we’re all very happy—even Seno’s wasted, so I don’t feel bad about my state of hazy desire. Somebody walks in wearing the seal costume and I head straight for it, I need her. I put my arms around the bulky seal and give it a squeeze, “I’m happy to see you. I’ve been thinking about you since you left the other night. Can we talk?” The seal stiffens and doesn’t make a noise. “Please tell me I didn’t just hit on another person in the seal costume.” The team is watching me from across the yard and trying to hide their laughter. Sherry looks up and notices me with my arm around the seal.

  Sherry walks up to us, “Welcome seal! How about I help you get changed into something more comfortable, so you can enjoy the party and have some fun?” I don’t know if she’s rescuing me or still trying to find out who the chick I had in my room was, but she drags the seal into the house with her and leaves me standing there. I didn’t see the seal again and I still don’t know who was in the costume.

  There’s music playing and when a slow song comes on, Seno grabs his wife and holds her close as they sway to the beat. Then our other teammates that have women do the same and I'm left standing there like a wallflower. It’s different to witness all these big, tough guys be turned to mush for their women. Watching how they act differently with them and the expressions on their faces, the way they move together knowingly.

  I want to dance, too. I want someone to look at me like that when I have my arms around them and want to dance with me, without me asking. Someone I belong with. I glance around and there’s a chick making eyes at me from the other side of the pool. I smile at her and wave, then gesture to her hoping she’ll meet me in the middle to dance with the crowd. I keep eye contact with her as we walk to each other and reach for her hand as soon as I’m close enough to reach it. She takes my hand willingly, glancing up into my eyes and blushing while she smiles timidly. She’s shy and it seems like she hasn’t been drinking. I pull her a little closer and kiss her on the forehead as we start to dance. I’m drunk, but trying to follow the rules. Don’t push her. I need to know her name first. No sex unless I feel it’s appropriate to break the rules. I wonder if she knows the girl from the seal costume with the pink flip-flops. I step back and look at her, wondering what shoes she’s wearing and if she has any remnants of hickeys. Her skin is soft against mine and she has dark chocolate brown eyes. Her warm brown hair is tied up into a ponytail, revealing her long sexy neck. We dance until the slow songs stop and all of the guys are back to drinking, but the women are happier because of the personal time they had with their men. Interesting things I’m noticing while I spend time here with the Senos. I watch her as she goes back to talking with her friends and grabs a beer. She glances over at me and smiles a few times, but then she turns away to concentrate on the conversation she’s having with her friends. I want to go over there and ask her out, but what if she’s friends with the seal? I at least have to get her name. I’m not used to these rules, I’m really going to screw this up. I look up to catch Sherry pulling something out of the oven and go directly to the kitchen because she’s baking. I walk up to her as she pulls chocolate chip cookie bars out of the oven and they smell delicious.

  “Hey, Sherry. Are these for me?”

  “Of course, sweetheart. I need to tell you something about the seal.” Sherry focuses on me with a funny grin.

  “Did you find out who she is?”

  “It was a him tonight.”

  “Shit! I hit on a dude?”

  “Maybe you just like the soft gray plush fur on the costume. He said he was flattered.” Sherry laughs.

  “Do you know who the girl I was dancing with is?”

  “You danced with her and don’t know her name? What did you talk about while you were dancing?” I feel like I’m being scolded.

  “We didn’t talk. We were just quiet and happy. At least, I was happy.”

  “Okay,” I watch Sherry cut up the warm cookies and put a few on a plate. She hands me the plate, “Now, you go take these to her and offer her a cookie. Or, lead her away from her friends somewhere you can talk—Not your bedroom. Find out what her name is. Maybe find out how old she is, what does she do, does she work at the stadium, is she a student, where does she live,” Sherry went on and on with things I should talk to the chick about. She stops and stares at me, “Never mind. You’re drunk again, aren’t you?”

  I smile awkwardly, trying to remember what she said. “I’m going to walk over there with cookies and find out what her name is. Maybe get lucky and bring her back for more cookies and milk. Or, something more adult like sitting on the couch and talking. Maybe kiss her on the forehead again. Her skin is really soft.” Sherry shakes her head at me like I’ve lost it as I walk out the door with a plate of cookies as an ice breaker to talk to the brown-haired girl.

  I walk up to her, “Hi, would you like a cookie?” All of the sudden I’m reminded of wanting the girl from the seal costume and her “cookie”. I’m torn and I don’t want to lead anybody on. I don’t even know who she is.

  She takes a cookie, “Thank you.”

  I start talking to her and I don’t know what I said, something about baked goods. I step a couple feet away and she follows, so I lead her off to a corner of the yard with swings and sit with her sharing my cookies. “I’m Chase, you probably know that.”

  She smiles, “Yeah, kind of. Everybody knows who you are. I’m Syl, it’s short for Sylvia.”

  “Hi Syl.” I smile at her and we talk while we eat cookies. I hear Sherry in my head and ask thoughtful things like she suggested. I learned that Syl was a college student and hoped to transfer to San Diego in the fall. She’s not a groupie and I’m not going to be in Arizona long enough to date her the required three times, but she didn’t seem like a player chaser. She works at the sports complex. I get her number, since I’d managed to talk to her without fucking her and consider kissing her. But, that would be it. A lesson in restraint. I need lessons and practice. She gives me her number and I send her a text.

  Text to Syl - You have beautiful eyes.

  Text to Syl - I’m leaving tomorrow because it’s time for baseball season to start.

  Text to Syl - If I wasn’t leaving, I’d kiss you.

  I gaze into her dark eyes and she smiles as my phone vibrates.

  Text from Syl - Please kiss me.

  Text from Syl - Let’s get out of here.

  I stand up immediately and take her hand, leading her to the empty family room via the kitchen where I pick up more cookies. I sit in the comfy chair and pull her down onto my lap with my arms around her. I hesitate, trying to be a good guy and not wanting to take advantage of someone a couple years younger than me. She giggles and puts her arms around my neck. Then shy, sweet Syl surprises me. She leans in and kisses me, licking my lips and sliding her tongue into my mouth to seductively caress mine. I let her take the lead, she can decide what direction we take and how far we take it. I’m pretty sure she’s not the girl from the seal costume. Her eyes are the wrong color and they don’t kiss the same. I may never figure out who the girl from the seal costume is, so I have Syl right now. At least I got her name before I kissed her. That’s progress, right? A step in the right direction. Syl moves her lips to my neck and her hands to my chest, running her fingers across my chest and digging her fingers into my shoulders. I move my hand to her back and the other to her head, so I can hold her against me and run my fingers through her silky chestnut hair. I bring her lips back to mine, tasting her and feeling her full soft lips pressed to mine. Her kiss wants more, but I wait for her to show me what she wants. She moves her hands under my shirt to touch my abs, but really she’s trying to get into my pants. I stop her and bring her hands up around my neck, but she goes right back for it and ru
bs against my now hard cock. I whisper in her ear, “What do you want from me, Syl? Are you just after a ball player? Thrill of the chase?”

  She moves her mouth to my ear and whispers, “I like you. You’re gorgeous. I want to fuck.”

  Alarms go off in my head, even in my drunk state I know this is a bad idea. Seno had managed to get something to sink in and I’m tired of being the dude who has sex with different chicks all the time. That’s a lie, but I want a chick that likes me, doesn’t care if I’m a baseball player and sticks around for repeat performances—and I don’t think I can have both. “How about we just kiss?” I hear myself say and I don’t know where it comes from.

  Syl pulls back, and looks at me with big eyes, “We could kiss all over.” I watch her eyes heat, “You know, naked.”

  I’m pretty sure I should be keeping my clothes on, but I don’t want to. Her breathy voice and hands all over me have my body ready and willing to do about anything. I’ve said almost the same thing to get chicks naked in my bed before and one step closer to sex, hoping to at least get head. That has to count as kissing all over. I love it when a chick sucks me off. Fuck! I need to get some distance. “Be right there!” and I get up carefully leaving Syl in the chair. She looks at me questioning, “I’ll be back, Sherry needs help.” I didn’t hear her call for help, but in my head it was there and I needed to escape.

  I walk into the kitchen to find Sherry leaning against the wall and sliding down slowly. “Sherry? You need help with something?”