Page 78 of Clumsy in Love

“A Knicks game sounds amazing, but baseball’s cool too. And at the risk of sounding like a simpleton, I’ve never been to a Major League Baseball game.”

At the gate, Cole flashed his phone, and a worker scanned the tickets. On the way to their seats, she bought a Yankees baseball hat, sized it, and put it on, slipping her ponytail through the hole in the back. He led her to the section closest to the field on the first base side.

“These are great seats.”

“I bought them this morning. Best I could get on such short notice.”

They took their seats, and she soaked it all in—warm-up music blared, bright field lights came on, and the smell of roasted peanuts filled the air. Men carried trays of food over their shoulders, shouting their wares, and she got a kick out of purchasing from them.

“Play ball,” the ump yelled, and everyone cheered.

The game was slower than basketball, but the crack of the bats, the roar of the crowd. It was so…America.

After a hot dog and soda, she talked Cole into splitting a pretzel. He complained when her idea of “splitting” was giving him a bite or two. She was just about to dig into a tray of nachos when she saw their faces pop up on the kiss cam.

The Jumbotron showed both of them frozen with wide eyes. Finally, the pressure of the camera caused her to look at him. “I don’t think they’re moving until we kiss.”

He raised his eyebrows. “Let’s give the people what they want.”

She smiled as he slid a hand behind her neck and kissed her. When he pulled back and she opened her eyes, he was staring at her, his intent clear. She leaned in and kissed him again. The Jumbotron, the crowd, and the nachos all fell away. He was all-consuming—the smell of him, the sight of him, the feel of him. When he let her go, she’d forgotten her own name.

“I think we’re clear,” he said, putting his forehead to hers and breathing heavily. “Kiss cam’s moved on.”

“Yeah, good. Okay.” She pulled away reluctantly. This man could ruin her if she wasn’t careful. Fifteen more hours. She just had to hold out for fifteen more hours.

After the game, he laced his fingers through hers as they made their way out of the stadium.

“It’s gonna be tough to get a cab around here. Let’s walk a bit.”

Even when the crowd thinned, and he didn’t have to worry about losing her, he kept hold of her hand. As they walked and talked, she was careful to watch for scaffolding posts, which were everywhere.

She was babbling on about the game when he tensed and stopped. He put a finger to his lips, and she shut up. All of a sudden, she felt it too—danger.

To their left was a business doorway. It was indented from the sidewalk, and he pushed her into it. “Stay here.”

“What?” she whispered. “Don’t leave me!”

A woman screamed, and Cole sprinted toward her. Holly peeked out from her hiding place just in time to see Cole tackle a man who was mugging an elderly woman. Holly ran to them as Cole wrestled with the man on the ground.

“Police,” he yelled. “You’re under arrest.”

The woman stood by, frozen in fear, hand covering her mouth. Blood leaked out from under her fingers.

Holly studied the fight, intending to jump in and help Cole somehow, but his last punch KOed the robber. Cole cuffed him with some kind of plastic handcuffs he’d had in his pocket.

“Holly, can you sit on him for a minute?”

“Sure?”

Before she could actually do anything, Cole jumped up and ran off, telling her to call nine-one-one and saying something about a second assailant. Holly toed the man with her foot to make sure he was out, then plopped down onto his back and called nine-one-one.

Before any other policemen arrived, Cole returned, dragging another perp by the shirt collar.

“Thank goodness,” Holly said. “I think this guy’s waking up.” The man beneath her moaned, and Holly jumped off him like he was on fire.

“I didn’t mean sit on him literally.” Cole shook his head and chuckled. “What did dispatch say?”

“Someone’s on their way.”

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