Page 46 of The Plan

"So when August said it was a double date, that was because—"

"Because I planned them to be double dates, yup."

I laugh again at how far he went. We were going on those "double dates" almost every other week since that first time they went bowling in January from the time we went roller skating at the beginning of March... For three months, he planned these secret dates before actually asking me out, but in his head, he was already going on dates with me?! I laugh again because he's delusional.

When I turn to him, he’s watching me with a soft look, and I can’t believe he was willing to do all that for months.

“I said I’d fight for you, Vid, yet you dance on guys and drag them to bathrooms while ignoring me every time I say I want to be with you. I willneverput my hands on you like that, Vid, so what's it going to be? Because I’ll wait a hundred years and a hundred days for you, but not if you're going to continue like this.”

I look into his eyes, and I don’t like this feeling. Like I’m cornered. I think about his words for a second, and although I was joking when I teased him at the party, I can admit it was wrong, and hehasbeen fighting for me. Chasing me even.

“Fine.” I turn to him, and a small smile creeps on his face. “But I’m telling you now, if you hurt me, you won’t ever see this side of me.”

“She can be a raging bitch.” We both turn to Hazel, who’s climbing the kitchen counter for something.

“Do you need help reaching that?” Sire offers, and she waves him off. He shrugs before turning back to me. “It’s not going to happen. Promise.” He holds his pinky out, and I eye it for a beat, but I don’t let my thoughts win this time. I ignore the weird feeling in my gut and interlock our pinkies before kissing my thumb, pressing them together so the promise is locked in.

I smile up at him, and when he looks down into my eyes, he says, “So, can I be your boyfriend now?” God, he’s so persistent. I want to fuck with him and say no, but I can’t when he’s looking at me the way he is. Like his world will fall apart if I say no.

“Before I answer, is there anything else we need to clear the air about?” He hesitates and looks off to the side. I can’t tell if he’s thinking or if there's actually something else we need to talk about.

He shakes his head, and I let out a small relieved breath. “Then yes, Sire. You can be my boyfriend now.” He smiles so big his one dimple pops.

“Thank fuck. I’ve been dying to do this.” He pulls me in, and as soon as our lips meet, all the thoughts telling me not to let him in disappear; in this moment, nothing feels more right.

Chapter Eleven

Sire

The Present

Stop smiling like that. Youlook stupid.” I smile at Vidia’s tone, but nothing she can say right now can falter my mood. Today is our last physical therapy session, and I’m heading straight for the airport after this to fly to New York for our first game against the Yankees.

The season officially starts tomorrow. My arm is healed, I’m going to play tomorrow, and we’re going to have a great season. Nothing can burst my bubble.

I push the piña colada closer to Vidia with a smile. She still hasn’t taken any of the ones I bought her, but when I came back in after our last session after I left my phone, I caught her taking a sip of it.

She sighs in defeat, then takes the piña colada from my hand, and my smile grows. I speed through the session, and she tells me to slow down multiple times, but I feel great.

By the time the session is over, I walk over to her desk and grab a pen for her before handing her my form, stating I’m clear to play. “Someone’s eager,” she mumbles as she takes the form and pen.

I watch her carefully as she reads over the form, but she pauses before signing it and looks up at me. “I'm clearing you on one condition, Sire.” I hesitate for a minute, but I’ll agree to anything to play.

“You need to ease back into it the first few weeks, if not the first month.” She must sense I don’t know what she means by that because she goes on. “I don’t want you to pitch as much.” Remember when I said I’d do anything to play? Yeah, scratch that. I’d do anything but that.

“Funny. Sign the paper.” I know I said I was in a good mood, but I don’t feel like joking about this right now.

“I’m being serious, Sire.”

“No, you’re not,” I fire back, and I feel like I don’t answer quickly enough. “You can’t be serious because I’m apitcher. The team's starter pitcher, so you can’t be serious when you tell me you don’t want me to pitch, Vidia.” My voice grows louder with each word.

She lets out a sigh like she knew this would be my reaction, and it hits me that she isn’t joking. “Please don’t do this.” I shake my head and look between her eyes in a slight panic.

“I’m not doing this because I hate you, Sire.”

I let out a scoff. “Sure you’re not.”

She squints her eyes at me.

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