Page 130 of Fake Love

Every pitch, he would pop back. Fifteen pitches in total but in the end, I was able to get him to swing on a sinker to get him out.

It's when the third batter came up that I felt it. I felt the energy of the stadium inside of me. I felt the pressure that this game had in my hands. I felt every single inch of excitement and I needed to do something to release it.

One pitch.

One pitch was all it took.

I threw the ball, and I saw it the second that it met the wooden bat. I kept an eye on it and I was able to calculate where the ball was going to go.

Right into my glove.

One simple flick of the wrist and the game was over.

All that hard work done with one movement.

That’s when all the celebrations started.

With the amount of cheers and commotion, I was sure that we were going to set off the earthquake detectors.

So much was happening on the field as hats and shirts were being passed around but I only cared about one thing.

Getting to my girl.

She had flown back from Chicago with me, saying that she was going to be there win or lose.

I was hesitant since I didn’t want to leave my mom by herself after her surgery. After arranging a few things and making sure that the hospital had my number just in case, Jen came with me.

So the second I could, I looked for her on the field.

I saw her first by the net and the second I did, I was taken back to our first kiss in Sacramento.

It was as if everything was coming full circle.

The second she was in my arms, I didn’t want to let her go.

After more celebrations, the on field award ceremony and a few champagne showers, we came home.

The second we were in our space, our hunger for each other took over and Jen and I had our own celebration.

Now hours later, she’s asleep and I’m taking in the dawn.

Last night, I was on a high like no other. A high that I was able to get from something other than coke and a part of me is happy for it.

Extremely happy.

A happiness that I hold as I watch as the city starts to wake up and the sun starts to rise.

I don’t know how long I sit there by the window watching the city, but right before the sun is fully up, I hear footsteps behind me.

Turning slightly, I watch as Jen walks over to me, giving me a sleepy smile. She comes to my side and when I open up my arms for her, she wastes no time taking her place on my lap.

“You’re up early,” she says, cuddling deeper into my arms and her face against my neck.

“A little too hyped up to be able to sleep,” I answer, tightening my hold on her body.

“Good or bad hyped up?” she asks, her breathing coating the skin of my neck.

“Good.”

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