I waited for a reply, but when a text didn’t come through, I tossed my things in my bag and picked up the vase. I needed to head out to beat traffic because there was a small window of opportunity and if I didn’t get on the road before three thirty, that window narrowed. It was as if all of Virginia were on the road at the same time.
When I made it back to my apartment, I set the flowers on the coffee table and kicked off my shoes before flopping onto the couch. My cell phone rang, and I snatched it eagerly from my bag. When I looked at the screen, I was oddly caught between disappointment and relief when Mason’s name appeared.
“Hi.”
“Don’t sound so excited.”
“Sorry.” I pretended to answer again with glee in my voice. “Hi, Mace!”
“You’re funny. I looked for you after school, but I must have missed you. I heard you got flowers today.”
“Yes, I left not long after the bell rang. Drake sent me flowers. How did you hear about them?”
“It was all the buzz in the office. I had a meeting with the athletic director, and the women were all chatting about you and the delivery.”
I let out a huff. “I need to tell Drake not to send anything to the school. People will talk and before you know it, my picture will be in the tabloids.”
Fear struck me to the core at that thought. Northern Ridge was a private high school, not to mention a very conservative one.
“Well, I think you should relax. Don’t get me wrong, I know what you’re worried about, but you’ve come a long way. Everything will be okay. Just be happy, kiddo.”
“I want to be happy, Mason, but I want Drake happy too.” My gaze rested on the flowers and I sighed.
“From what I can tell, it seems like you do make him happy. Look, you need to just go with what you’re feeling, Lucy. Really, your face lit up the other day when he came to your place. I’ve never seen that before, and I’ve known you for years.”
“But what if—” I couldn’t even finish my sentence, but with Mason, I didn’t need to.
“I’ll always have your back,” he promised, and the familiar sound of the train screeched in the background. “I need to hop on the Metro, and cell service sucks there. I’ll talk to you later.”
“Okay, thanks, Mace.”
What would happen if I gave us a try? Could Mason be right?
I rolled over onto my side and snuggled into a plush pillow while I stared at the flowers on my coffee table.
Drake really was a wonderful man. If only he were a regular person and not in the spotlight.
• • •
The rest of my week was relatively uneventful. Tests were given, students had spring fever, and I was bitten by the same impatient bug. Only seven weeks remained in the school year, and then I was off for the summer. Mason and I had planned a camping trip in July, but we still were in the planning stages. Other than that, I was free and clear.
Summer had always been my favorite time of year. No matter how much I loved teaching, I always looked forward to the end of the school year. It couldn’t come soon enough. But right now, I was concerned with starting my weekend.
As I was parking in front of my apartment, a black BMW with tinted windows pulled up behind me. When I saw it was Drake behind the wheel, a jackhammer took up residence in my chest. His car door swung open and my breath hitched at the sight of him. He’d been elegant and handsome in a suit, but dressed down in a pair of jeans and a T-shirt with a baseball cap, he was mouthwatering.
Walking toward me, he raised a hand in greeting. “Hi. I hope you don’t mind me dropping by unannounced, but I was hoping to catch you. I’m on my way to the Nationals game and wondered if you wanted to join me.”
His bright smile brought out his dimples, which I found hard to resist. Or maybe it was him I couldn’t resist.
My thoughts drifted to Mason and I realized he was right. I’d never felt this way about a man before. So I stowed my fears.
Giving him a disbelieving grin, I said, “You’re on your way to a Washington Nationals game via Virginia?”
“Okay, I took a detour, but what do you say? Join me?” He gave me a puppy-dog look, and all I could do was laugh.
“Come on in. I’ll need to change.”
When we walked into my place, I told him to make himself comfortable and offered him something to drink, but he declined and sat on my couch to wait.
I hurried into my bedroom and threw on a pair of jeans, a cute red top, and grabbed a jacket. I didn’t go to many baseball games, but at least I was wearing the team color. I quickly freshened my makeup, brushed my teeth, and ran a little gloss over my lips.
Looking at my reflection, I took a deep breath and whispered to myself, “Here we go.”
Drake gave me a big smile when I walked back into the living room. “Why, Ms. Washburn, you look adorable.”
My face heated as I grabbed my keys, and we left in his car.
Being in such close proximity to Drake still felt surreal. The man exuded such poise and confidence. I glanced over and noticed that even when he was relaxed, his posture was straight.
The car came to a stop on the interstate, and when I looked out the front windshield, a sigh escaped me. “What is with Virginia traffic?”
He chuckled. “Someone should really do something about it.”
“Yes, I agree. Maybe I’ll write my congressman. They seem to know how to get the job done.” I smiled while Drake just shook his head.
After a long forty-five minutes, we pulled into Nats Park. Drake produced a parking pass, and we were waved toward the front entrance where we parked. When we got out of the car, Drake walked over to me and grabbed my hand in his, lacing our fingers.
He lifted our joined hands. “Is this okay?”
“Yes, and thank you for bringing me here. I’ve never been to a Nationals game.” Truth be told, I’d never been to a professional sporting event, but I didn’t want to admit that.
“Well, I’m glad you’ll be enjoying your first time with me.”
That comment held such promise. Of course I wasn’t a virgin, but I had a feeling he could make me feel things I’d never felt before.
The sights and sounds of the stadium made me smile—the crack of bats against baseballs, the smell of popcorn, and the sea of red shirts in the stands. Drake slid on a pair of sunglasses that had been propped up on the brim of his hat as we made our way to our seats. As we descended the concrete steps toward the field, my excitement grew. We were so close, I could smell the freshly cut grass on the field, and inhaled deeply.
Drake stopped and checked our tickets, and then ushered me into a row. “You’re seat number three.” He sat in the seat next to me, leaving an empty seat next to him.
I was pleased to see our seats were cushioned, unlike some of the other seats above us, and they were red like almost everything else in the park.
Once I lowered the seat and sat down, Drake smiled. “Welcome to the Red Porch.”
From here we could see the entire park. We were sitting behind center field, which surprised me. Given the prestige of Drake’s position, I assumed he’d have box seats or a suite of some sort, but these definitely weren’t. Excited, I glanced around to see fans were beginning to file in, but we still had a good hour or so before the game began.
“There’s so much red here.” The comment had flown out of my mouth before I realized how ridiculous it sounded. In my defense, every fan was wearing some form of red or white. Didn’t the opponents have fans in this area?
Drake chuckled. “We’re playing Cincinnati tonight. So their fans will be wearing the same colors as we are.”
“Oh.” I glanced down at my shirt and shrugged.
“Hey, Prescott!”
A booming voice came from behind us, interrupting our conversation, and Drake stood.
When I looked to my left, a very handsome man who looked a bit like Drake but younger, was standing at the end of our row next to a gorgeous fair-haired woman. She l
ooked very familiar, but I couldn’t place her. Both were wearing—what else—red, and the woman’s hair was in a ponytail pulled through the back of a baseball cap with a W on it.
Drake stood and shook the man’s hand. “There you are.”
His voice was jubilant, and they seemed like close friends. Then he kissed the woman on the cheek and pulled her into an affectionate hug. Was she an ex? No. Why would he bring an ex here? My insides twisted, and an unwelcome wave of jealousy washed over me.
The woman’s eyes widened, and her face lit up when she saw me. “You must be Lucy. I’m Gretchen.”
My shoulders relaxed. She’s his sister. Thank God.
When I extended my hand to her, she surprised me by pulling me into an embrace much like she gave her brother. I looked over her shoulder to Drake, and the dimple that I loved appeared.
Gretchen stepped back and beamed at me. “You’re just as pretty, if not prettier, than my big brother described you.”
As I was trying to absorb the compliment, as well as the implication that Drake had told her about me, she took the seat on my right.
I was still at a loss as to who the man was. If he was with Gretchen, wouldn’t they want to sit together?
“Lucy.” Drake clapped the other man’s shoulder with his hand. “This is my younger brother, Josh.”
“Oh! You’re the chef.” I extended my hand, but he leaned in and kissed me on the cheek.
Drake had been telling the truth; the Prescotts really were easygoing and laid-back. I envied that. A kiss on the cheek as a greeting to someone you just met might seem forward to some, but to them it was natural.
Josh was adorable. He had a beard, more than scruff but not bushy, an earring in each ear, and colorful tattoos down his arms.
“Yes, I am.” We all took our seats and Josh leaned forward. “Make sure this guy brings you to our next Sunday dinner.”
I nodded, realizing Drake never told him he asked me to go with him, which made me feel even worse. He probably didn’t want his family to know I’d rejected him.
Drake leaned over to kiss my temple, and the brim of his cap grazed the side of my head as he told me, “We’ll be right back.”
Drake and Josh stood and walked up the steps, out of my sight.
“My brother tells me you’re a teacher.”
Gretchen was beautiful in that girl-next-door way. Her skin was flawless, and aside from mascara and light lipstick, she didn’t wear makeup.
“I am. That’s where I met Drake. He came to my class to speak.”
Pride shone in her eyes. “He’s such an amazing guy. To think he used to pull my pigtails when we were younger.” She laughed. “Now he’s everything I’d want in a man.”
Did I know what I wanted in a man? And for that matter, did I even want one?
All I could do was nod and say, “He’s very kind.”
Gretchen gave me a sympathetic look. “I know you don’t know him very well, and the senator title may be intimidating, but give him a chance.”
How much has he told her?
I grinned. “I am.”
And I was. My being here wasn’t actually giving him a chance; it was giving me one. I hadn’t allowed myself to care for anyone for a very long time.
Before anything else was said, Gretchen looked up and her eyes sparkled. She rapidly clapped her hands with glee. Drake and Josh were back, and they were loaded with ballpark treats.
“That better be for me!” Gretchen held out her hand and made the gimme sign with her fingers.
Drake handed her a large pink puff of cotton candy in a plastic bag. “Of course this is for you,” he said with a smile. The small cardboard tray in his other hand held four hotdogs and fries.
Josh sat a drink carrier in his seat with four beers in large cups. He plucked two out and handed them to me. One I passed to Gretchen, and we both tucked them in the cup holders near our seats.
“I hope you like beer and hot dogs.” Josh smiled as he situated his own drink and Drake’s before taking his seat.
“I do,” I said with a grin. “Thank you.”
Drake reached into a bag in his other hand and pulled out a red button-down jersey. “This is for you.”
He stood, careful not to step on the tray of food he had set down, and held the shirt out and turned it around to show me the back. HARPER was stitched in white lettering across the top, and the number thirty-four was under it. He held it out for me, and I slipped it on and fastened a couple of buttons on the front.
“Who’s Harper?”
Drake’s eyebrows shot up before he placed an arm around my shoulder, the weight of it warm and very welcome. With his other hand, he pointed to a player who was stretching on the grassy field.
“That’s him right there. He’s my favorite.”
He removed his arm, which I immediately missed, and pulled out a matching jersey for himself and put it on. Unlike me, he left his open in the front. All I could think of was the firm, rippled muscles I was sure were hidden under the soft cotton. To say it pleased me when he didn’t button his jersey would be an understatement.
He bent over to pick up our food from the cardboard tray, and handed me mine.
“Thanks.” I couldn’t help but take in the beautiful man sitting next to me. He was truly stunning from the inside out. His heart was as pure as his smile.
His dimple winked at me. “You’re welcome. Now, let’s eat and watch the Nats kick some ass.”
The crowd stood as the national anthem boomed through the half-filled stadium. Drake removed his cap and held it over his heart as his eyes fixed on the American flag waving in the stadium. As soon as the lyrics started, he began to sing with his back straight and his chin held high. There was no doubt this man loved our country, and a sense of pride filled me.
Before we knew it, the first inning was over. Drake and Josh cheered loudly, and Gretchen would chime in at times too. She turned toward me to say something, but then she looked past me with wide eyes and stayed silent. I turned in my seat, and an instant smile took over my face when I saw Mason standing there.
“Sorry I’m late,” he said with a grin. “Traffic to the Metro was horrible.”
Drake introduced him to Josh as we stood so he could make his way to the empty seat next to Gretchen.
Mason stopped in front of me and gave me a quick kiss on the cheek. “Hey, Luce.”
“Hi! I didn’t know you were coming.”
I was sure Drake could hear the joy in my voice, so I tried to take it down a notch. I was stunned to see Mason there, but thrilled that he was. When I looked at Drake, he winked at me.
“When did you invite Mason?”
“When you were getting ready. I wanted to give him more time, but I wasn’t sure if you were going to go with me.” Drake shrugged. “Are you happy he’s here?”
“Of course. Thanks for inviting him.”
Mason took his seat and looked at Gretchen. “I’m Mason.” He held out his hand, which she took in hers to give a quick shake.
“Oh, sorry.” I leaned forward and made the introductions.
By the time the seventh inning came, I’d consumed a hot dog, peanuts, and shared some of Gretchen’s cotton candy. Not the healthiest of dinners, but I quickly learned there was something especially tasty about ballpark food.
We also dodged a home run that was hit well over our heads, but the optical illusion made me duck my head into Drake’s chest. His strong hand covered the back of my head and held me close to him. The pounding of his heart under my ear was intense and fast, and I was sure mine was triple that.
When I peeked up at Drake, he grinned and released his hold on me. I looked back to see a man holding the baseball in the air and high-fiving the people around him.
“That seemed a lot closer,” I said sheepishly. “Thanks for protecting me anyway.”
“Never apologize for putting your body so close to mine,” he said in a low voice. “I’d protect you from anything.”
<
br /> When he said those words, it was as if he knew I’d need him one day.
It was now the middle of the seventh inning, and apparently it was called the seventh inning stretch. Everyone stood and did exactly that. Then the entire ballpark sang “Take Me Out to the Ballgame.”
Everyone in our group laughed when they found I didn’t know the words and needed to read the lyrics as they scrolled across the illuminated scoreboard. I felt a little silly not knowing something so basic, but the teasing was good-natured and fun. By the end of the song, I was belting out the words, which made them laugh even harder.
When we sat back down, Drake placed his hand on mine. I glanced up at him and smiled, and he smiled back as he asked, “Is this okay?”
Glancing at our joined hands, I nodded.
No one was paying attention to us, which shocked me. How could the people around us not recognize him? Sure, the young lady who sold us our peanuts had batted her eyelashes at him, but she did the same to Josh. And who could blame her? They were both handsome men, so they must get that a lot.
After the eighth inning had ended, we decided to leave to fight traffic, which was becoming a joke amongst us. The Nats were losing, but the game was still great, and I hoped to see many more. Growing up, I’d lost all interest in sports in high school, and hadn’t been to an organized game except for watching Mason play soccer in college.
As we made our way outside, Mason said something to Gretchen that made her laugh. She blushed prettily, and I wondered what that was all about. I had been so engrossed in the game and Drake, I’d almost forgotten they were sitting next to me.
Gretchen left with Josh, and Drake offered Mason a lift but he declined, saying he was all set with the Metro.
Turning to me, Mason pulled me into a hug and whispered, “He’s a great guy, Lucy.”
I said nothing, but squeezed him tightly in acknowledgment.
Before we parted ways, Mason thanked Drake. He gave him a firm handshake and said something to him, but I couldn’t hear what it was with all the noise around us. But as Mason spoke, Drake’s brows rose and he nodded.
When Mason waved good-bye and left, Drake and I walked out of the park alone. We made our way to his car slowly, chatting along the way, and I realized my hand was back in his.
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