Page 47 of Fake Love

My decision to come to the game was spontaneous.

After I had quit the coffee shop, I made plans to go visit my parents this weekend since it’s mother’s day tomorrow and all. The plan was to drive down Thursday and head back to San Francisco Monday. I had even told Maddox this and he was okay with it.

But for some reason as I was sitting in my parents’ living room earlier today, I felt the need to look up Maddox.

I told myself that I wanted to check if people were falling for our supposed relationship, especially since I had gone to most of his games in San Jose.

Instead of finding pictures of me at the games, I only saw posts talking about how Maddox was about to pitch his first game in months.

There were so many comments on every single post I saw. Some were nasty, and a handful were encouraging.

Something about the mean comments didn’t sit right with me and all I kept thinking about was what if Maddox read them before the game.

Would that cause him to relapse?

I didn’t know.

So I texted Selena because I knew she was also in town, and an hour later we were on the road. It’s going to be a short trip since we both have plans tomorrow but hey we’re here.

“Yes, because we made a deal,” I say to her before giving her the whole truth. “Also because I saw a few nasty comments online about him, okay? I wanted to be here just in case he read them.”

My eyes find Maddox on the pitcher’s mound just in time for him to throw his next pitch and when the umpire calls an out, I can’t help but cheer.

Another K added to the scoreboard.

“You care about him.” Selena says when the next batter comes up. One more out to end the inning.

Hey, I’m learning.

“I’ve only known the guy for two months.” I say defensively like it's the craziest thing in the world to care about someone after only two months.

“So? It took me and Hunter less than a semester to grow feelings for each other. You can care about someone after a few weeks.”

I can go about this in two ways. One, agree with her and admit that I do in fact care about the man. Or two, I can deny it some more. I have a feeling if I go with option two, Sel will see right through me.

So I give her the truth.

“Okay, fine. Yes, I care about the man, but only because he’s my boss.”

“He’s also your boyfriend.” Selena says in a loud voice.

It takes me a second to realize why she did, and when a few girls in front of us turn, looking at me through narrowed eyes, I know they heard. Give me the sign I was holding earlier, there is no doubt that they know who Selena is talking about.

Sel gives a smirk because we both know that her comment will cause them to talk, exactly what we want for Maddox.

For the rest of the game, Selena and I cheer for the Sacramento team every chance we get, and when Maddox adds another three Ks to the scoreboard, we’re the loudest.

I might have even thrown in a few “That’s my man” exclamations out there just to let everyone know that Maddox is taken. Twitter will no doubt be filled with posts about Maddox Bauer having a girl at one of his games.

Maybe I should post one myself.

The idea makes me pull out my phone during the last inning and make Selena take a picture of me with my sign as my back faces the field.

I make sure that Maddox can be seen in the background and to tag him and post it right there and there. Of course I had to add a cheeky caption that will for sure make people talk.

When the game ends, Sel and I wait in our seats until Maddox comes back onto the field dressed in street clothes. We make eye contact and he gives me aa bright smile before he waves us over.

Since there are still people in the stands, I decide, against my better judgment, to run to him as soon as the groundskeeper lets it onto the field.

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