Page 54 of Caught Looking

“Hey Seth, sorry to bother you, but we need you.” A man with a clipboard looked pained, his eyes darting between us and the camera crew waiting by the dugout.

“Duty calls, babe. Don’t go anywhere.” He gave my hand a squeeze before jogging over to the reporter waiting with a microphone.

It was fun to see Seth so happy and in his element. I giggled as Hunter and Wes dumped a cooler of ice down his back. Rhett and Erik Cassidy tossed pieces of bubble gum at him as he answered questions.

The Mantas were more than a team. They were a family. One I’d always felt adjacent to because of Rhett, but now I felt like I was being sucked into the center of.

And I liked it.

Outside the locker room Rhett pressed keys into my hand. He was freshly showered and ready to head to the airport. “Turn the alarm on.”

“Yes Dad.”

He glared at me. “I left food in the fridge. I’ll be back Thursday but I’m going straight to the field.”

“Have fun and tell Hope I love her and miss her.”

My cousin had a tender smile at the mention of his partner. “I will. I wish I could stay longer.”

This time of year was hard for them both being in the heat of their seasons. I thought being away from Seth for six days was a lot. They were apart for weeks at a time while Hope raced in Europe. “Be a good water holder, or whatever you’re called.”

“She won’t be racing while I’m there. Just training.”

“Well be a good training buddy.”

He kissed my cheek. “Have a good game this weekend. I’ll watch the replay.” Then he gave my shoulder a squeeze and walked off towards the buses waiting to take them to the airport.

Then Seth appeared. I didn’t know if there were cameras waiting to capture this and I didn’t care. The very sight of him took my breath away. “Hey.”

His hands framed my face as he kissed me. “I miss you already.”

“I’ll be here when you get back.”

He stared into my eyes for a long time, then nodded. “I got you a few things.” He handed me a backpack.

I went to open it but his big hand covered mine. “For when I’m gone.”

My heart skipped a beat. This was sweet. And I hadn’t even thought to send him off with something.

He tipped my chin up. “Don’t overthink it. Kiss me.”

I kissed him, wrapping my arms and the backpack around him. He swept me off my feet. Then he tucked me into his side as we walked towards his bus.

“Stay with the security detail. If anything seems off let them know, then call me. I want to stay in the loop.” The walk to the buses was entirely too short. He stopped outside the second one and kissed my forehead. “Fuck, I don’t want to leave.”

And since the best thing I could think of to send him off with was a kiss, I dropped the bag and leapt into his arms. He caught me, just like I knew he would. I wrapped my legs around his waist and kissed him deep. When he set me down he looked happier, more assured.

And that relaxed me more than anything.

He tossed me one last wicked grin as he stepped up into the bus, but I was the one laughing as I walked away, hearing the guys on the bus catcalling my boyfriend.

15

SETH

Normally I loved being on the road. Every city was different. Each one had a unique vibe, different food, different people. Soaking it up was one of the perks of the job. Who else got to travel this much and get paid stupid money?

But today I hated it. I could be in bed with Annalise right now, sliding into her tight body, making those sounds come from her lips that were mine and mine alone. Sex with Annalise had blown every expectation, every hope I had, out of the water. I’d been insatiable, but so had she. I had never stayed up all night chasing orgasm after orgasm before. But for Annalise, for what we’d become when our skin touched, I’d never sleep again. She’d completely taken over my mind. I seriously thought about retiring so I could spend every day with her.