Page 38 of The Yips

Me: Enough.

Kylie knew running was how I coped with my anxiety and also checked in to make sure I wasn’t overusing it. I had run throughout my pregnancy with Crew, and while I neverpushed myself too hard, she wanted me to be careful not to use it to escape reality. Since I had Crew, my focus was entirely on learning how to be a mother and working. It wasn’t until I got the green light to start exercising again that I began to feel more like myself.

Kylie: Oh, that dress you wore in Minnesota, I think it was Stella McCartney?

Me: I didn’t look. But I have no idea. It might as well have been Gap.

Kylie: Shit, these things are a waste on you. Do you know the shoes were from Louboutin? It’s your sister duty to let me borrow those.

Me: Sorry, sis. My feet got bigger with pregnancy. Those won’t fit you. And yes, of course, I know what a red bottom is.

Kylie: Dammit. Good luck with Mom…and take that man home.

Me: That’s the plan.

Kylie: Good girl. Regular sex, it’s excellent for anxiety-busting.

It was mid-morning when I realized I had no idea how I would get to Sam’s house after the game. My mom could drive me there, and she and Dad had an extra car seat in their car, but if I went home with Sam, he wouldn’t have one. I also couldn’t bring the car seat into the stadium.

Me: How are we getting back to your place?

Sam: I can drive.

Sam called instead of texting, and we worked through a plan. I would ride with my mother, but he would pick up the car seat before he went to the stadium. It would be easier for all of us to leave together after the game from the player’s lot versus walking through the crowd to public parking. I sometimes forgot that Sam couldn’t just walk through a crowd like the rest of us. He’d sat at my bar unrecognized, but that was based on good timing, and he’d gotten lucky.

When Sam stopped by to pick up Crew’s car seat, he brought us both jerseys in our size. I had borrowed my dad’s, which was way too big.

“Can I take your heels?”

“My what?” I asked him, confused. Did he want to return the shoes he’d bought me? Did he plan to return them?

“I have imagined you in nothing but a jersey and those heels since the other night. But I’m sure the real thing will be far better than what I’ve imagined. I want to make that fantasy a reality tonight.”

“Oh, OK. That, um, sounds like fun,” I stuttered.

“Yeah, fun,” Sam drawled.

I brought him the heels, which he stuffed in the car seat, with an overnight bag for Crew and me.

“Sorry, we come with a lot of extra junk.”

“I know, which is why I came early. I can help you with some of these things, Kels.”

A surge of heat ran through me as I watched Sam with his arms full of baby bags and a car seat. What about this was so sexy? Was it him? Or just this energy of absolute unflappability? He feared nothing, not even a single mother with an infant son. He’d probably even install the car seat quickly. I still struggled every time I had to do it by myself, breaking out into a cold sweat as I fought the straps and latch to secure it.

I closed the space between us, stood on my tiptoes, and pulled him towards me. Noisily, the car seat and bags clattered to the floor, but neither of us cared. His arms closed around my waist as our mouths met, and my lips parted as his tongue dipped inside, tangling with mine. He tasted of mint, and the scent of Old Spice flooded my senses. He groaned as I tugged at his hair; his medium-length waves were just enough for me to hold onto. Every time we kissed, my hands wound their way into his hair. When he drew me closer, I gasped at the feel of his erection against my mid-section; unable to resist, I let go of his hair and let my hand drop down to explore.

He tore his mouth from mine, chest heaving, and rested his forehead on my forehead. “Kelsey, fuck.”

“God, I love how you go from zero to a hundred so fast.” Or how I did every time he touched me.

“I haven’t started from zero since I met you. You look at me? I’m at fifty. Touch me? I’m at seventy-five. I have no idea how I’ll get through this game tonight, knowing that I’m burying myself deep inside you once we get home. When you look at me from behind home plate, know that I plan to make you scream my name repeatedly tonight.”

He kissed my nose, pulled away from me, abruptly collected everything he’d dropped, and left my apartment without looking back.

CHAPTER 34

Sam

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