Vicky’s soothing voice came from beside her. “You’re upset, Lanie. Maybe Ethan’s right and you should go home.”
“Of course I’m upset. Who wouldn’t be after a disgusting pig grabs you, rubs his stench all over you, and clamps his sweaty hands over your mouth and nose so you can’t breathe?” She grimaced in disgust. Needing his spit and sweat off her face now, she held out her hand to Vicky. “Give me a wet wipe so I can clean up. No way am I going back in that ladies’ room.”
She grunted a “thank you” when Vicky laid two in her palm. Ripping into one packet, she wiped her face and hands. After opening the second, she gently took Ethan’s hand and cleaned the blood from his knuckles, making a soft keening noise at the bruises already forming.
“It’s mostly his blood,” he bit out, anger still radiating off his tensely held body.
“All the more reason to get you cleaned up. No telling where that pig has been.” She said this matter-of-factly, keeping her gaze fixed on her task. Hoping if she stayed calm, he would relax a bit.
When she was done, she pitched it all in a nearby trash can. Looking at Vicky for support, and finding only concern, she laid her palms on her husband’s chest. “Let’s get back before it’s over.”
“I need to get you home.”
Her calm and collected tactics clearly weren’t working. She scowled up at him. Sure, he was pissed, but not more than her. Besides, the incident had passed and leaving would accomplish nothing.
“Fine,” she huffed. “You go home. I’m going to watch the game with Ray.” She spun on her heel but only took one small step, before his arm caught her around the waist.
“Wait.” He pulled her in for a tight hug. “Are you sure you’re okay?”
“Absolutely.”
Turning her, he searched her face, worry still furrowing his brow. Leaning into him, she pressed her argument. “The game will help take my mind off the whole sickening incident.”
His mouth tightened, his fingers flexing around her arms as he silently debated her request.
“Please, Ethan. We don’t want to miss it.”
A roar from the crowd seemed to help him decide. “Fine, but you don’t leave my side.”
“I’ll be stuck to you like glue. I promise.”
By the time they regained their seats, it was the bottom of the ninth, the game once again tied. There was a conference on the mound with the winning run on first and no outs. Ethan sat silently beside her. Not only was he not letting her out of his sight, he had a constant hold on her, with an arm around her shoulders, clamping her to his side. It was apparent he had no intention of letting her go. On her other side, Lanie could hear Vicky quietly explaining what had happened to Ray.
Although she didn’t want to bring it up, she felt she had to. “Ethan, shouldn’t we alert security? We can’t leave him there.”
“Who says? He’s got a bloody nose and a bruised jaw. Unfortunately, he’ll live.”
“I called security from my phone, Lanie,” Victoria said. “With the size of the crowd and the playoff excitement, they’re swamped. But since he was, um, well...falling-down drunk was the term I used, they said they’d send someone to take care of him. I gave them my information if they have questions. If he’s smart, he’ll leave it alone.”
“He hasn’t proven to be particularly clever so far,” Lanie responded glumly as she leaned her head against Ethan’s shoulder. It was easy to turn her face into his neck. When she did, she whispered, “Thank you for saving me.”
“It makes me sick he touched you. I wish I could have spared you that.”
“How could you have known he would be here, let alone attack me?”
“I should have gone with you, which was my gut feeling in the first place.”
“You came looking for me?”
“You were gone too long. I was worried.”
The stadium erupted with boos as the next Yankees relief pitcher walked out of the bullpen and made his way to the mound. The reliever, which Ray mentioned was their best closer, shut the home team down, the batters going down in order.
As the third man struck out, Ethan cursed under his breath. They were headed for extra innings.
“This is great. Free baseball.” Lanie’s attempt to lighten his foul mood—rare for Ethan but justified in this case—fell flat. She squeezed his tense thigh. “I think I’ll take that beer, honey, and keep ’em coming. I have a feeling it’s gonna be a long night.”
Ethan shot her a look that said she was a nut, and with a shake of his head, flagged down a vendor.