Page 130 of Foul Territory

“Probably, baby. Did it feel sturdy?” I ask, adding the tomatoes and cucumbers I’ve diced into a large salad bowl.

“Enough to put your books on the shelf and test it out first.” She winks and steals a cucumber from the bowl.

“I see how it is.” I shake my head.

“Oh,” she shouts, waving her hands and jumping from foot to foot. “I forgot to tell you. Jade invited us to this big industry party. I told her I needed to check with my roommate and see if he’s free.”

My eyes narrow on the way her lip curls on one side. She knows exactly what she said. It isn’t the first time she’s said that evil word. I dry my hands on the towel I have thrown over my shoulder and drop it on the counter.

Rounding the island, I place a hand on either side of her, boxing her in. “Call me your roommate one more time,” I say, bringing my face closer to hers.

“What are you going to do about it…roommate?”

I glance around the kitchen. The steaks are resting, the salad is done, and the potatoes are in the oven. As long as I turn theoven off…

I grab Sydney by the waist and throw her over my shoulder. “I warned you, baby,” I say, walking to the oven and flipping it off.

“The potatoes are going to burn.” She tries to wiggle herself loose but I just hold on tighter.

“It wouldn’t be the first time.” I slap her ass enough to make it sting and walk us to our bedroom.

“What are you going to do?” she asks when I toss her on the bed.

“Remind you what kind of roommate I am. Now strip.”

“Are you ready for today?” my teammate, Caleb, asks as we take the field for the start of the game.

I nod. This is it. My major league debut. I can’t believe this is really happening. Hours of practice, nights spent outside while everyone was asleep, sacrificing almost everything to get to this moment.

He slaps me on the back and walks out to first base. I follow behind him, savoring every moment. Spinning as I walk, I take in the crowd.

My parents, brother, and Sydney along with her parents have seats near the dugout. I wave over to them, but I don’t see Sydney. I know she’s here. She's texted me a selfie every five minutes. First it was with the Cardinal mascot and thenit was with a big plate of nachos. She said she was sending that one to Lauren for some reason.

I want to see her but I don’t let it bother me. Knowing her, she is standing on top of someone in the front row trying to get a better photo. Maybe I should tell her they have professional photographers. She doesn’t have to capture everything herself.

The announcer begins to introduce the starting lineup. I hold my breath until I hear my name. I stand behind home plate, taking a minute to etch this memory in my brain and my heart.

“Making his major league debut, behind the plate is number nineteen, Koa Mahina,” he says over the loudspeaker. I raise my hand and wave at the crowd before lowering my mask.Fuck, I made it.

“To make his debut even more memorable, we’ve asked his girlfriend to throw the first pitch. Please welcome Ms. Sydney Pierce to the field.”

My heart begins to race as Syd walks up to the pitcher’s mound. She looks gorgeous as always with her legs on display in denim shorts and my jersey knotted at her waist.

I wanted her here to witness what she helped me accomplish but to have her be a part of it like this makes it even more special.

Holding my gloved hand out over the plate, I open and close it to signal that I’m ready for her.

She nibbles on her lower lip before winding her arm back and throwing the ball in my direction. I standand run forward to snag the ball out of the air. The poor thing didn’t even make it halfway to the plate.

Sydney doesn’t seem to care as she laughs wildly into the warm summer air.

She runs toward me and leaps. “Nice catch,” she says, as I hold her up in my arms.

“The best one I’ve ever made.”

SYDNEY

TWO YEARS LATER