Page 7 of Merrick
It's been almost a week since the Fireman's Ball, and I haven't been able to get that almost kiss out of my head. Even now, it's so hard to focus on the game when Jemma's little shorts showcase the curves of her bare legs so nicely. I have to find a way to get her alone again. I need to know if she feels even a fraction of what I'm feeling. I won't sit by anymore, loving her from afar. The feeling of her in my arms, the sweet scent of her hair, and the almost taste of her lips are more than I can take.
I try and focus on the game, but it’s hard not to sneak looks at Jemma. She catches me a few times, but the smile she flashes at me when she does gives me hope that there might be a chance for something more.
“And that’s game!” the ump calls out.
We lose by two runs. I already know without looking at him that Mattie is going to carry this loss on his shoulders. My gaze scans the young players in front of me until it finds him. He’s trying to hold it in, but the slight quiver in his lower lip gives it away.
I wait for Aaron to address the team before I ask him to stay back with me. I sit down on the bench next to him.
“You know that this loss wasn’t because of you, right?” I ask. Mattie sniffles but doesn’t say anything. “You are still young and learning the game. Even the best players have a bad game. All you can do is learn from this so that you will be better in the next game."
“Okay,” he says, his voice quivering a bit.
I wrap my arm over his shoulders. “Come on, buddy. Let’s go find your mom.”
We walk out of the dugout, and Jemma is standing right there. She probably heard us, but I can see Mattie relax a bit at seeing her. Jemma holds out her arms to him and lets her pull him towards her.
“You did fantastic, sweetheart.”
“I struck out.”
"You and a couple of other kids. But those kids didn't get five kids out at first base like you did,” she says.
Mattie perks up at that. I smile at Jemma, realizing I still have so much to learn about what to say to help him.
"Hey, buddy," Aaron calls. "I was thinking of going to take Ember to Pizza Park tonight. Do you want to go with us?"
Mattie's mood shifts from sullen to ecstatic in a blink of an eye.
"Maybe you can sleepover too? If it's okay with your mom." Ember adds.
"Please say yes," he pleads, looking at Jemma.
“Are you going to be good and listen to Uncle Aaron?”
“Yes!” Mattie jumps up and down.
“Okay, but not too much candy this time," she says, looking at Aaron. "His mood the next day after your sugar bender was less than ideal."
Aaron and Mattie exchange a guilty look, and I bite down on my lip to keep from laughing.
“We better head out before Pizza Park gets too crowded,” Aaron says.
“Do you need me to drop off some pajamas?” Jemma asks.
Ember shakes her head. “I got him some pajamas and a toothbrush to keep at our house. We’ve got him covered.”
Jemma says her goodbyes with everyone, and we watch them head off to Aaron’s truck.
"Well, I guess my evening just opened up," Jemma says to me.
I don’t know if she planned this or not, but I’m going to take the opportunity that’s just been handed to me and take it.
“Do you want to have dinner with me?”
