Page 24

TWENTY-TWO

ARDEN

“You must be Arden!” a gorgeous blonde says as I arrive at my seat. It’s the first Fury game I’ve been able to make it to since I moved here, and I’m definitely kicking things off with a bang because this place is already electric.

“Hi!” I reply. “Lark, right? Jackson told me I’d be sitting next to you!” She nods and I reach out, taking her extended hand in mine just as the most beautiful brunette I’ve ever seen pops out from behind her.

“Oh my God, we heard all about you at Ace’s graduation! I’m Monroe!” I shake her hand as well, lowering myself into my seat as fans move around us. With more than thirty minutes until the first pitch, I’m guessing most people are still waiting in lines to get their food and memorabilia before they settle in. Jackson told me not to bother with any of that since his teammate, Ace, has his fiancée’s snacks delivered down here anyway. I’ll admit it’s nice to be set up like one of the WAGs, even though I have no idea if I qualify. Hawk and I haven’t defined our relationship yet, and I know Jacks and I have a lot to sort through before we can even begin to figure out what’s going to happen with us. Our parents are obviously the main concern, since I doubt they’d accept us dating with open arms. But, at the end of the day, we’re adults—and that decision is ours. As complicated as it all is, I know with absolute certainty that I want both Jackson and Hawk if they’re okay with that. I can’t imagine having to choose one over the other. I wouldn’t be able to do it.

“So,” Monroe says, leaning forward so she can see me, “you’re a pro volleyball player. That’s fucking badass!”

I smile in response. “It’s crazy. We’ve only been practicing for a couple of months, but my teammates are all super talented. We’re having a lot of fun.” It’s not a lie. Other than my coach giving me shit for absolutely no good reason, playing for the Flare is an amazing experience—one I’m extremely grateful for. I can’t wait until the season starts so we can show the world that we’re a force to be reckoned with.

“I told Ace that I wanted to catch a match,” Lark says. “I hope that’s not weird. I just feel like women’s sports don’t get the attention they deserve, and if we can help by shouting it from the rooftops, we should.”

“Agreed,” Monroe says, just as a giant, purple—well, I don’t exactly know what it is—comes up behind her, catching my attention. It’s like a train wreck I want to look away from, but somehow can’t seem to even blink as I try to make sense of what I’m seeing. Big, googly eyes adorn its face, the center of which showcases a giant, teal nose. One arm hangs by its side, almost touching the ground, while the other holds a cup that looks to be full of gummy bears.

“Umm…” I trail off, pointing at it before both girls turn around.

“Hey, Friggle Baby!” Monroe exclaims, flicking one of the small horns that protrude from the top of the creature’s head. “Been waiting for you to come say hi.” It bounces up and down excitedly, reaching across and handing the cup to Lark.

“Thank you, Friggle,” she sing-songs, turning back toward me. “He’s the mascot. Creepy as fuck, but from what I can tell, completely harmless. Ace sends him down with candy every few innings. I’m not sure if it’s to embarrass me, or just because he can’t stand the thought of me not being completely sugared up at all times. Want some?” She tips it my way, and I oblige, plucking a red bear and popping it into my mouth.

“Thank you,” I giggle, just as Fury players begin to funnel onto the field for warm-ups. Riggs Valentine runs out first, prompting Monroe to grab the purple monster by the furry hand.

“C’mon Frig,” she says, tipping her chin toward the railing that runs along the third base line. “Let’s go fuck with Val. We’ll pretend to make out and see how long it takes him to chase us down.” He resists, digging his giant feet into the concrete steps, but she wins, pulling him toward the field as he shakes his head in disagreement.

“That girl is a menace, and I love her for it,” Lark says with a laugh right before her eyes light up and a wide smile stretches across her face. I follow her line of vision to see the Fury’s catcher, Ace Mathers, waving up at her before making a heart with his hands. She sets her cup down, returning the gesture before mouthing I love you . I remember videos of their engagement going viral on social media not too long ago. They’re the cutest couple I’ve ever seen, and I’m a tiny bit jealous of how open they are with their relationship.

I don’t know what’s going to happen with Hawk and Jackson, but if we decide to keep doing what we’re doing, what’ll it be like when we go public? Not only do Jacks and I have to worry about our parents—but how will people react when they find out their favorite baseball players are dating the same girl? Will I get shamed and disrespected for it? Is what we’re building strong enough to withstand it, or will we break? The thought makes my stomach turn with anxiety. But before it has a chance to take hold, Hawk steps onto the field, eyes immediately finding mine. The smallest hint of a smile pulls at one corner of his mouth, and I’m instantly calm. It doesn’t matter what people think about us, because this right here, is worth any number of hurtful words a bunch of strangers can hurl my way. Knowing I have someone—or two someones—to pull me out of the darkness when I need it, means everything to me.

We hold each other’s gaze for a few beats longer until Jackson walks up behind him and slaps a hand on his shoulder. Like a magnet, he finds me, shooting a sexy wink my way. He’s so hot with his messy chestnut-brown hair and chiseled features that it’s hard not to drool knowing what he’s hiding under that uniform. I look around nervously, checking to see if anyone is paying attention to the three of us sneakily flirting, but it seems we’re going unnoticed as fans maneuver up and down the stairs around me.

“Umm, what am I watching right now?” Monroe says, snapping me from the trance the boys had me under. I didn’t even see her come back, but by the confused look on her face, she’s been standing here for more than a few seconds.

“What?” I reply, guilt written all over my face because I’m a terrible liar. My eyes bounce between her and Lark as they await my answer, but otherwise, I’m frozen. Sweat beads at the back of my neck and I swallow thickly, my heart practically jumping out of my chest. They both seem really nice, but I don’t know them well enough to explain what they just witnessed.

Monroe leans in so only we can hear her. “Do you… like them both ? Because, not to be gross, but I’m going to need some alone time after seeing the way they just looked at you like you were a whole damn meal.”

My eyes go wide as Lark cuts in, also speaking quietly. “You don’t have to tell us anything if you don’t want to. It’s none of our business. But if you need to talk”—she motions between the three of us—“this is a safe space.”

I nod in understanding, relaxing slightly as I take in their soft expressions. Other than Stella—who’s always supportive, but so far away—I don’t have anyone I can confide in about this whole situation. I’ve started to build a good friendship with Zara, but as her teammate and captain, I’ve tried to keep my personal life separate for now. And as close as I am with my dad and Gina, there’s no way I can talk to them about any of this. So maybe I should let Monroe and Lark in a little bit. Jackson told me how amazing they both are, and I trust him.

“It’s…complicated,” I whisper. “But I really like them.” The word like is a bit of an understatement, and feels wrong as it rolls off my tongue, but I’m definitely not about to unpack any of that right now. The bond I have with Jackson grew into something much bigger the moment his lips touched mine, and Hawk knows me in ways nobody else does. It seems irreverent to diminish what I feel for either of them with such a simple word.

“Good for you,” Monroe says with a sly grin, putting her fist out for me to bump. I roll my eyes, unable to hold back my laugh as I reach out and return the gesture.

“We’re always here if you need us,” Lark says sincerely. “Ace and I haven’t been together long, but this team is one big family. We have your back, no matter what.” My heart warms at her words, and I thank her with a grateful smile just as the National Anthem begins to play through the stadium speakers.

My eyes drift down to where the team is lined up, and I’m filled with a sense of pride as I look at my guys. Being in the MLB was Jackson’s dream as a kid. He wasn’t blessed with the kind of talent that made it easy—he really had to put in the work, day in and day out. Seeing him down there doing what he loves makes me unbelievably happy.

And then there’s Hawk. He had such a rough childhood with every card stacked against him. Losing his brothers could’ve broken him and made him give up on any type of a future for himself. He could’ve let his depression and anxiety consume him, but instead, he pushed forward. He got help, then encouraged me to do the same. I’ll never be able to thank him enough for not giving up on either of us.

The Fury takes the field first, and almost immediately, it’s a fight. For every player Riggs strikes out, another gets a big hit, and by the middle of the first, it’s two to zero. As the players jog to the dugout, I can tell that Jacks is frustrated, but he reaches into his jersey, pulls out the chain I gave him, and wraps his fingers tightly around it. I have yet to ask him why he still wears it, but the sight of him holding onto the gold rope makes my heart beat wildly in my chest. It may just be a superstition, but part of me wonders if he kept it because it reminded him of me.

Dante Cole steps up to the plate, waiting for the first pitch to go by before he readies himself for the next. It’s right down the middle of the strike zone, and he swings, sending a pop-fly directly into the left fielder’s glove. The crowd claps in an attempt to keep the team in the game, but it continues to go downhill as the second batter strikes out in just three pitches.

Ace steps out of the dugout as Candy Girl by New Edition blares through the speakers. The fans, who had looked a bit deflated moments ago, stand from their seats, singing and dancing along. He puts on a show for the entire stadium, pointing directly at his fiancée as he does. Lark laughs loudly, catcalling her man until he blows her a kiss, takes his bat from the batboy, and heads to the plate as the song fades.

“That was the cutest thing I’ve ever seen,” I say as she presses her hands to her heated cheeks, smiling sheepishly. You can tell how in love they are, despite what Jackson told me about their age difference and how they come from totally different worlds. They’re going against what society says is normal, and that gives me hope that maybe someday, I can do the same.

The rest of the game is a knock-down, drag-out fight, but unfortunately, the Fury falls just short of the win. Although they only lose by a single run, I know the guys won’t see it that way. A loss is a loss—one that ended a very promising season—and I’m sure it’ll take a while for them to shake this one off. I don’t blame them if that’s the case since I know what it’s like to get so close to achieving your dreams and missing by the smallest amount.

“Well, that sucks,” Monroe says, turning toward us. “I doubt the guys will be going out tonight, so if you all want to swing by, our coolers are stocked with beer and wine. If anything, we can get them drunk, so they don’t beat themselves up over this. Plus, we’re all in the same building, which means everyone will be able to get home safely and not have to call for a ride.”

“That’s a great idea,” Lark replies, looking at me. “Think you can talk your boys into it?”

My boys. I’ve said the words in my own head a few times, even before everything went down with Jackson. But hearing them from someone else’s mouth? I kind of love it.

I shrug. “Probably. I think we could all use a night of fun. I don’t have practice until noon tomorrow, so I’m sure we’d be able to stop by for a bit.”

We say our goodbyes—the girls heading to wait outside the locker rooms, while I drive myself back to our condo. Hawk and Jackson made sure my name was on the list to go down there, but I didn’t think it was a good idea, especially after the way they lost. I’d want to hug and comfort them. Then I’d probably want to kiss them. We can’t do that in public—at least not right now.

Just as I’m pulling into my parking spot, my phone vibrates. I take it out and swipe up to find a text from Jackson.

JACKS:

Where’d you go? We came out from our post-game interviews hoping to find you waiting for us.

ME:

I just thought I should let you guys process things alone. Are you okay?

JACKS:

It sucks, but there’s always next year.

ME:

You gave it your all. Be proud of yourselves for that.

Monroe asked if we wanted to go to their place for a bit. We don’t have to if you’re not feeling up to it, but I didn’t want to be rude. Or I can go alone.

JACKS:

It’s fine. Riggs mentioned it too. Should we just meet you there?

ME:

Yeah. I’m about to go up now. I’ll see you soon.

JACKS:

Sounds good, Princess.

My stomach flips with excitement, knowing they’re on their way to me. As much as I want to spend more time getting to know the girls, I’ll be counting down the minutes until I can be alone with them again…and fantasizing about all the filthy things I want them to do to me.