Leave Me Breathless: The Ivy Collection

by KL Donn

  I shake my head. “No, not at all.”

  We get ready for bed, but it’s a long time before we actually sleep.

  I follow Sawyer to the elevator with Henry in my arms. He’s leaving today for spring training and he wouldn’t let me take him to the airport. Fans are usually there to see them off and it can be kind of crazy. He’s done his best to keep us sheltered from a lot of that.

  When we’re downstairs, he sets his suitcase and bag down and takes Henry from me. I think Henry can sense that something isn’t right because he’s very whiney as he snuggles against Sawyer. “I know, buddy. I’m going to miss you too.”

  My eyes burn and I try to blink the tears away. He holds his free hand out to me and I take, letting him pull me into a hug. “Do you have to go?” I say jokingly.

  “We’ll FaceTime as much as possible and I’ll call you when I can.” Just then his Uber pulls up. “Shit, okay, I’ve got to go. I’ll call you when I get settled.” He grips my hair at the base of my skull in his hand. “I love you.” Sawyer kisses me deeply one last time.

  “Travel safe and we love you too.” I take Henry after Sawyer kisses him one more time. We watch as he grabs his bags and heads outside. He waves at us just before the car pulls away. “Okay buddy, Daddy’s gone. Should we go see Auntie Elsa and Auntie Carrie?”

  I take him upstairs so I can grab our bags. I decided that during the week we’d stay at Sawyer’s and on the weekends, we’ll stay with either my sister and Carrie or my mom.

  When we are on the road, it takes me a bit to get used to this big monstrosity. I feel like I’m so high in the air, but it is a comfortable drive and if it makes Sawyer feel better, then we’ll just do that for him.

  I pull up in front of my house, well not really mine anymore even though it’s not official that we’re living with Sawyer, but maybe once he’s back, it will be. It feels like things have been moving at warp speed between us, but maybe that’s because we have a long history.

  We have something that others don’t and that’s a strong foundation.

  Elsa comes running out of the house. “Give me my nephew.” She runs to the back door, pulling it open. My son gives his auntie an excited squeal. They’re back in the house before I can even get out of the SUV.

  I grab our bags and step inside. “Hey big sister, it’s so nice to see you too. Oh I’m fine,” I say sarcastically to myself. The bitch laughs from the living room where she’s taking Henry’s coat off.

  “Hey baby sis. I’ve missed you.” I kiss her cheek as I come and flop down on the couch.

  The minute Henry’s coat is off, he takes off toward his toy basket. He squats in front of it and starts pulling toys out. “He’s changed so much since Christmas. The cut on his head looks like it’s healing well.”

  Just thinking about that night makes my stomach turn. I know head wounds bleed, but I wasn’t prepared for it to happen to my baby. “Elsa, I swear Sawyer was so amazing that night. I was a mess and he was so calm.”

  “I’m so happy for you.” She grabs my forearm. “You’re glowing.”

  I start to cry. “Elsa, I’m so happy and I’m scared to death.”

  My sister wraps her arms around me. “It’s okay to be scared. When I realized I was in love with Carrie, I was so scared. She was my first serious relationship, and I still wasn’t a hundred percent comfortable with my sexuality, but she was patient with me and showed me so much love that it helped me be more open about who I was.”

  She kisses my forehead. “I’ve watched you and Sawyer together, honey, and I love what I see. He is so devoted to you and Henry.”

  “It’s all happened so fast and now he’s gone for two months.” I shrug. “He hasn’t even been gone two hours yet and I already miss him.”

  “Of course you do, you guys have spent a lot of time together recently.” She picks up Henry who comes over to us because he doesn’t like to see me upset.

  I grab his face and smooch him right on his wet little lips. “Ma. Moo. Ba.”

  “Tell Mommy all about it.” He smiles at me. I wonder if Sawyer wants more kids. I know I’d like at least one more… maybe two. I’d love to give him a daughter, his little princess.

  “Earth to MeMe… Earth to MeMe.”

  I shake myself out of my Sawyer haze. “Sorry, I don’t know what my problem is. I’m gonna take our stuff upstairs.”

  “Okay, we have to be at Mom’s at six. Claudia will be there too.”

  “Got it.” In my room, I take our clothes out that I brought and stick them in our dresser.

  Downstairs I find my sister with my son snuggled up next to her watching some cartoon on the TV. I sit on his other side and rest my head on my sister’s shoulder. I hope spring training goes by fast.

  Claudia holds Henry on her lap and kisses the top of his head. “He’ll call.”

  I nod, even though I don’t quite believe it. Sawyer should’ve been in Mesa by now. Of course every bad scenario runs through my mind. It’s stupid and irrational, but I can’t help it.

  We just got done eating dinner and now we’re all relaxing in the living room. I’m on the verge of falling asleep when my FaceTime app starts ringing. I grab my phone and hit the button that makes my man’s face show up on the screen.

  “Hey you,” I say. Sawyer gives me that devastating smile. “How was your flight?” I stand up and step into the kitchen for a little privacy.

  “It was good—long, but good. Are you at your mom’s?”

  “Yeah, we just got done eating dinner and we’re all just sitting around relaxing. Your mom is cuddling Henry right now.” His smile makes my belly quiver and the way his eyes sparkle mischievously because he knows the effect he has on me.

  He yawns. “I’m gonna hit the sack soon. Will you take me around to say hi to everyone?”

  “Sure thing.” In the living room, I turn the camera to my sister, Carrie, and my mom. They all say hello then I hold up the phone for his mom to see him, Henry too. “Hey Mom. Hi Henry.”

  Our son looks at the phone and then up at me. “Say hi to Daddy.”

  “Doo. Da. Ma.” He reaches for the phone and gets mad when I don’t let him have it.

  “Henry, be good for your mommy.” He looks at me. “It might be a couple of days before I have a chance to call you again, but I love you.”

  All eyes are on me, but I ignore them. “I love you. Good luck and show them who is boss.” I blow him a kiss and he just shakes his head laughing. We disconnect and I look up—they’re all smiling at me.

  “Yeah, yeah, yeah,” I say before kissing Henry on top of the head.

  When we get back home, or our temporary home, I put Henry to bed and then lay down under my covers. I grab my phone and send a quick text to Sawyer.

  MeMe: Good luck tomorrow. You’re going to do amazing. I love you.

  I curl up in the middle of my bed and close my eyes and think. Day one down, only fifty-nine or so left.

  18

  Sawyer

  I wind up the bat as I wait for Troy to throw some pitches at me. He’s one of our best curveball pitchers. I wipe the sweat from my brow before I get back in my batting stance.

  He lets a ball fly and I keep my eye on it waiting for it to hit that sweet spot to swing and when I do, the sound of the ball connecting with the bat is like a massive high. “That’s great, Sawyer. Let’s do it again.” Our batting coach, Jose, shouts from behind me.

  Troy pitches to me five more times and I hit four out of five. I take off my helmet and toss it to one of the batboys that help during training. After peeling my batting glove off, I stick it in my back pocket of my pants.

  I’m surprised I was worth a damn at all today because I’m a bundle of nervous energy. MeMe and Henry are flying in tonight and I can’t fucking wait to see them. I’ve been in Mesa for the past four weeks and we’ve only seen each other via FaceTime which has been okay, but I really need to hold her and I need to snuggle my boy.

  Kevin arranged everything for
me, which technically isn’t his job, but he insisted that he do it. He flies down tomorrow, and he wants to talk about my future. MeMe and Henry are going to stay at the hotel nearby where other families are staying.

  I’ll only get to see them at night, but then this weekend I’ll be all theirs.

  I grab my water bottle and squirt some into my mouth. Jose comes over while I wipe my face off. “Shit boy, you been eatin’ your Wheaties or what? You’ve got some fucking power behind your swing. You’d never know you had a separated shoulder a few months ago.”

  They let us go and I catch one of the shuttles to take me back to the team apartments. I let myself into the apartment I’m sharing with Wally and Tito. They’re both outfielders, which means we don’t practice together.

  After my shower, I throw on a pair of shorts, a t-shirt, and tennis shoes. I throw on my Hawks baseball cap and grab my phone, ordering my Uber. We’re renting a car once they get here so they can go do stuff while I’m practicing.

  I check the flight and it’s on time.

  The whole ride to the airport, I’m vibrating with nervous energy. I get out at the doors and head inside. At baggage claim, I take a seat and wait for them to announce their arrival.

  The moment their flight is announced, I jump up and stand right next to the baggage belt. People start coming around the corner and the minute I spot them, I run right to her, picking them both up in my arms. MeMe hugs me with her free arm and then we share a kiss that is borderline obscene, but I don’t care.

  I set her down. “Fuck, I’ve missed you,” I whisper against her lips.

  “I’ve missed you too.”

  She smiles up at me and then I catch Henry who launches himself at me. “How’s my boy? Daddy missed you so much, buddy.”

  We grab her suitcase and Henry’s car seat and go over to Enterprise to rent our SUV. I sign all of the paperwork and they hand me the keys. Hand in hand, MeMe and I walk out to the parking lot and ride the shuttle to the Enterprise parking lot and find the parking spot with our SUV.

  Once we find, it we get her stuff loaded into the gray Ford Explorer. “The hotel you’re staying at is right by the apartments I’m staying at, but I’ll just stay with you guys while you’re here.”

  “Okay, great.” MeMe smiles as I climb in. “I’ve missed you.” She slides her hand up my thigh, reaching for my dick. I reluctantly stop her by grabbing her hand and pulling it off. “Hey,” she whines.

  “As much as I would love for you to wrap those pretty lips around…” I signal to my dick because I don’t want Henry to hear. “I have to stay sharp and you drive me to distraction.” I kiss the back of her hand. I love her brand of distraction, but I need to focus right now.

  “Whatever… I do not,” she says, trying very hard to sound insulted, but failing miserably. “Henry was so good on the plane. Elsa said that if he wasn’t, then she would fly down and then fly back with us.”

  We get to our hotel and I grab Henry and her bag, leading MeMe inside. I get them checked in and we head upstairs. The portable crib is already set up in the corner when we step inside the room.

  I set Henry down to explore and watch MeMe fall back on the bed. Sometimes my dick makes its decisions for me because I climb on top of her, straddling her lap.

  She smiles and then pulls me down for a kiss. It becomes heated almost instantly. MeMe’s tongue brushes mine and I groan against her lips. I reach down, ready to stick my hand under her shirt when a certain little person decides he needs to remind us that he’s here too.

  “Ba. Bo. Da.” He looks at us like we’re crazy.

  I push myself up and grab Henry. I lay him in between us and just look at him. He’s just so fucking perfect. “He’s the perfect combination of both of us.”

  MeMe leans down kissing Henry’s cheek. “He is. I can’t wait to see what features become more prominent as he gets older.”

  We get up and I change Henry’s diaper while MeMe freshens up in the bathroom. She comes out a minute later. “I’m hungry.”

  “We’ll go grab dinner There’s an Applebee’s down the street. We can eat there,” I tell her as I get up with Henry in my arms. The three of us head out and the restaurant the manager sits us in a booth that’s kind of hidden.

  There are a lot of Hawk fans down here to watch us practice. Toward the end of the day, we usually sign autographs and pose for pictures. Tito and some of the other guys have been enjoying the female attention that’s been here.

  One thing I’ve learned is they don’t hold a candle to my girl. She puts them all to shame. Those girls; it’s all fake, an illusion. Most of them don’t even see us, they see just an athlete they hope to sink their claws into.

  MeMe is the whole fucking package. She’s gorgeous inside and out. Her body is sick. The best sex I’ve ever had has been with her. Most importantly she’s a wonderful mother to our son

  “I have a care package from your mom in my suitcase,” MeMe says from across the table. “I took Henry over there last week and she pulled out pictures. Do you remember your sixteenth birthday?”

  She reaches into her backpack and pulls out an envelope. MeMe grabs one of the pictures and hand it to me. The minute I look at it, I start cracking up. It was taken just as she shoved my face in my birthday cake. The next picture she hands me is of me on top of her, rubbing my frosting covered face all over her while she screamed.

  Our parents didn’t even try to stop us. Of course this was in retaliation from when I did it to her at her sweet sixteen and did it right in front of Damon, the dickhead. He was my arch nemesis in school and she had a major crush on him. At her party it was rumored that he was going to ask her out, and I’d be damned if I was going to let that happen.

  “I got you so good,” MeMe says with a smirk on her lips.

  “You did. What other pictures do you have there?” She hands me the rest of them. I flip through them and one catches my attention. MeMe has always been my biggest cheerleader, going to all of my games. She always made signs that she’d hold up for me to see.

  We made it to the playoffs, and I had just run out to the field, I looked toward the crowd and started laughing. On the sign MeMe wrote, ‘I escaped prison to see you play. Don’t fuck it up #31.’

  She put the sign away before anyone could see it and say something to her. The last picture causes me to pause. It’s MeMe in a hospital bed with our goo covered son lying on her chest.

  MeMe looked so beautiful in that moment and I hate that I wasn’t there for it, but I can only hope that if things keep going well that we’ll be making things official and then adding to our brood. I always wanted siblings, and I was always a little jealous with how close MeMe and Elsa were.

  “Thank you for these.” I hold up the pictures. “Fuck, I’m glad you’re here. Tomorrow I have practice, but I got you a pass so you can come watch as many practices as you want. Everyone wants to meet you and Henry.”

  We finish our dinner and then take Henry back to the hotel. MeMe gives me one of the keys to the room. “I’ll go get some of my stuff and then I’ll be back.” I kiss her and then head out.

  I let myself in the apartment and grab my duffle bag. I grab enough clothes for a week and grab my toiletries. I head back to the hotel and let myself back in the room. Henry’s sleeping in his crib and the shower is running.

  Fuck, just the thought of MeMe in there naked has my cock getting hard. I want nothing more than to strip naked and climb in there with her, but instead, I lay down on the bed and immediately pass out.

  My alarm goes off and I want to ignore it, but I have to get ready to head to the sports complex for practice. I kiss the back of MeMe’s head and untangle myself from her. Fuck, her body is so soft and warm.

  “Sawyer?” she mumbles quietly.

  “Hey baby. I have to get ready to head to practice. Go back to sleep.” She’s out before I finish talking. I brush her hair out of her face and still can’t get over the fact that she’s mine.

  If I w
ould’ve pulled my head outta my ass a long time ago, we could’ve started all of this a long time ago—we’re here now and I’m just going to be thankful for that. I don’t know where all of this deep shit is coming from, but I’m just going to go with the flow.

  I grab my clothes and carry them into the bathroom. After I take a piss, I wash my hands and then brush my teeth. I throw on basketball short and a sleeveless t-shirt. I have extra toiletries in my locker there, so I don’t need to bring anything but myself.

  I order my Uber and step back into the room. I check on Henry—he’s sleeping peacefully, bending down I kiss the top of his head. When I turn to kiss MeMe goodbye, I see she’s lying there watching me. I sit next to her hip, stroking her cheek with my thumb. “I don’t want to go.” I say quietly.

  MeMe smiles softly at me. I love how sweet and sexy she looks right now. If she’ll have me, I think I want to marry her and definitely plant more babies in her belly. “We’ll be there later to watch. I brought matching jerseys for Henry and me.”

  “You’re fucking incredible.” I lean down and kiss her. “I love you. I’ll see you later.”

  “I love you.” MeMe leans up for one more kiss.

  I can’t wait for her to see me practice and see how much I’ve improved since playing college ball.

  19

  MeMe

  I check myself in the mirror one more time. I’m going to Sawyer’s practice for the first time as his girlfriend, and I wanted to make sure I made a good impression.

  My light brown hair hangs down in waves and prior to coming, I went to the tanning bed to get a little bit of a nice base going. I don’t bother with makeup because sitting out in the sun, it’s going to melt off.

  I slip on my black Nikes and check my backpack to make sure we’ve got everything we’ll need. “Henry, are you ready to go see Daddy?”