MVP

by Laramie Briscoe

  “Sure am. How are you feeling?”

  JD rubs his hands on his pants and gives me a smile. “Ready to make some magic happen.”

  Out of all our players, he does make the magic happen more often than not. He’s busy as the shortstop, and as such he takes on a role of leader, along with me. This being my eighth year in the league with the same team, and a lot of the guys come to me for advice. “Me and you both buddy.”

  Coach is standing in front of us, giving one of his speeches that typically put me to sleep. I don’t need anyone to hype me up; I know my job, I know what I want when I go out on the field, and I know the goals I want before I retire. Money, security, the ring. Those are my main goals as far as baseball, and I fully intend to have them.

  Before I know it, we’re standing on the field, listening to the National Anthem, and getting ready to play. Once the pomp and circumstance is out of the way, I turn my gaze to the family section of the stands and immediately I make out Malone. She’s standing there with a few of the other wives, smiling and clapping along with the rest of them. I notice she’s changed shirts and is now wearing my face across her tits. Not like I’m ever going to complain about that. I give her a wave and a thumbs up, which she returns to me as I make my way to the dugout.

  “How’s married life treating you?” one of my teammates asks as we prepare to take the field.

  “Better than I ever could have imagined.”

  It’s a peace I’ve never had before, and one that I never want to lose.

  Playing Center Field is sometimes the equivalent of watching paint dry if your pitcher is on point, and ours is through the first half of the inning. No hits are given up as we go back into the dugout. It’s hot as fuck out there and I immediately reach for a cup of water.

  “So.” One of the guys walks up to me. “What are your odds? Homer in your first at-bat of the season? You’ve done it the past seven years.”

  This has been the talk of the town for the last week. I do seem to have a lucky streak when it comes to my first at-bat. I don’t know why, but it’s become a bit of a thing over the past few years. “I’m not planning on it,” I admit. “It’s not something I can will to happen, it just does.”

  “You gonna disappoint us, my man?”

  “What if the pitcher walks me?”

  “That pitcher walks you and he won’t make it out of here without people throwing shit at his head. He’s gonna pitch to you, it’s up to you to take it out of the park.” JD claps me on the back. “No pressure.”

  I tilt my head back, chuckling. This is the type of pressure I thrive on, the kind that I love to be challenged with. As the first batter strikes out and then the second one takes his place in the box, I move out to the circle to warm up. As soon as I make my way out, I hear the cheers start. It’s been this way since my rookie year. They labeled me a franchise player, and that’s what I’ve become. I relish and cherish that role. Turning around, I see Malone clapping for me, and it gives me a feeling of pride I’ve never had. None of my other girlfriends have sat with the family section, and to see her there having fun? It makes me glad we skipped the formalities and got married on our own terms.

  The second batter gets walked, and then it’s my turn. I take a deep breath as I hear them announce me, my music starts playing, and I focus hardcore on the job at hand. I’m good at blacking out most anything I don’t really want to hear, including the catcher who likes to talk shit.

  “Nice looking wife you’ve got now, Savage. Where’d you pick her up from?”

  “My hometown, dick face. We dated in high school.” I step in, plant my feet and get my stance ready.

  “Sloppy seconds from the first time around, huh?”

  The umpire calls a strike as I step back and practice my swing again.

  “Just couldn’t get it together the first time. Now? Fuckin’ perfect. She cooks me dinner, is waiting in my bed naked at night, and I have a best friend for life. All you got is an illegitimate son and an alimony payment.” I reference his scandal from the previous season as the ball comes across the plate and I smash it over the left-field wall.

  “Nice talking to ya.” I flip the bat to the side and start my stroll along the bases.

  After touching home plate and getting our two runs counted, I look up at Malone, kiss two fingers and point at her.

  This season is going to be the best of my life.

  Four

  Savage

  “How did it feel out there, your first official game back?”

  I’m sitting in my locker, looking out over the media that have gathered around me, all clamoring for a soundbite, when all I really want is to take a shower and find my wife.

  My wife.

  A smile plays on my lips, and I’m sure everyone reads it as how much I’m enjoying being out on the field, but in all honesty, I’m enjoying life as a whole right now.

  “It felt great,” I answer the question asked, knowing the sooner I can get this over, the sooner I can meet her in the family area. Leaving her alone today had been hard, but JD assured me Felicity took care of her.

  “No lingering pain?” Another phone shoved in my face. “What about that homerun? You do realize you have a streak going, right?”

  “Not at all. My rehab was perfect, the time away was perfect. The homerun was luck, always has been, always will be. I’m stronger and better than ever and ready to kill this season.”

  There’s a lull while people write down what I’ve said or make notes to go along with the soundbites.

  “Does that include being married? Obviously the time away did you some good on that front.”

  The reporter asking this question isn’t one I’ve ever seen before, but he’s wearing a media badge. Because of the paparazzi photos last year, Malone and I have been careful with what I’ve said in the media and what she’s posted. I know she’s going to have people who are interested in her, but I don’t want them to be creepers about it.

  “Getting married was the best thing to happen to me,” I answer honestly. “It’s honed in my focus, given me purpose I didn’t have before, and it’s nice to come home to your best friend.”

  “Whooped!” I hear one of the guys in the locker room start to heckle me. They’ve been doing it since Spring Training. I recognize it as the rite of passage it is. I shake my head, grinning. “He’s only saying that because he’s not married.”

  Glancing over at Coach Turner, I cock an eyebrow at him, slightly tilting my head to the clock. They’ve been here for more than thirty minutes, and more than anything, I want to go find Malone and grab something to eat.

  “Alright.” He claps his hands, starting to show the media out. “These guys have families to get to and dinner to eat. They played a hard game today.”

  When the last one leaves, I breathe a sigh of relief, thankful that my first game of the season is under my belt. Things will be easier from here on out, and with my teammates and Malone at my side; nothing is going to stop me.

  “I never thought you were going to get here,” she greets me as I finally make my way over to where the families are waiting for us.

  “I know, the media was absolutely insane. They had a ton of questions, and it’s not like I can ignore them.”

  She grabs my hand, waving to the people she made friends with today, as I lead her toward the BMW SUV she now drives. Living so close to the stadium is nice. I can just Uber, and then drive home with my wife when the game is over.

  “They asked about you,” I tell her as I store my gear in the back and then walk over to the driver’s side. There’s something I like about driving Malone around. Takes me back to our teenage years when we used to ride in my truck all the time.

  “And what did you say?”

  “You’re the best thing that’s ever happened to me, of course.” I reach over grabbing her hand in mine.

  “Of course,” she laughs.

  We’re quiet as I navigate my way out of the parking area and onto the main
street. Luckily for us, the traffic behind the stadium isn’t bad, and because I know my way around, we don’t get stuck in the mass exodus.

  “You hungry?” I ask, before turning the SUV to home. “We don’t really have any food right now.”

  “I am, but I don’t want to get a burger or anything. You okay to do some early evening grocery shopping?”

  “One thing you’ll learn about me, is after a game, I’m tired but wired. It takes me a long time to come down. We can do whatever you want.”

  “Will people recognize you?”

  We’ve been in town together for only a little while, and when we’ve gone out, it’s been on our own schedule. I have to remind myself, she’s not used to this, it’s all brand new, and with it will be some growing pains. “It’s a possibility, although when I wear a non-descript hat and regular clothes, I’m not recognized nearly as much. Most people around here are used to seeing us and give us our space. If anything happens that makes you uncomfortable, we can leave.”

  She nods. “Okay, but I want us to live as normal a life as possible. What did you do before me?”

  “Honestly? I had groceries delivered or went shopping during off times, when most people were asleep. As the season goes on and games get later, you’ll realize the off times are actually more normal for us, and work around our schedule better.”

  Entwining our fingers, she gives me a squeeze. “I’ll get used to this, I promise.”

  As we come to a stop light, I lean over, giving her a soft kiss. “You’re doing a great job so far. It’s a lot to take in, and you’re doing it with flying colors.”

  Malone

  Flying colors? I feel like I’ve been picked up by the tornado in Oz and dropped in the middle of Alabama. To say the last few months have been a whirlwind is like saying Jax Teller is just another hot biker. I mean, come on, we all know he’s the biker.

  For someone who was on her way to making something of herself in LA in the PR world to getting knocked down to where I was struggling and back living with my parents, it’s surreal to be living the life that Slade always planned for us.

  Changes have been constant since I showed up at his penthouse. Within the week we were in Birmingham, I’d signed a prenup (on my insistence), which had almost been a shit show, but turned into our first compromise as an almost married couple.

  “I have something I want to talk to you about,” I tell Slade as I have a seat next to him on the bed. He’s propped up against the headboard watching some late-night sports show, and I’m wringing my hands, wondering how in the hell to approach this subject.

  “You know you can talk to me about anything,” he turns the TV off, giving me his full attention.

  Fuck why’s he gotta be so attentive? Back and forth I go on how I want to approach this. I don’t want to piss him off, I’m trying to be respectful, but I’m truly unsure of how this will go.

  “I think we should meet with your attorney and sign a prenup.”

  “No,” he answers quickly, his voice flat, a shake to his head. “Not interested.”

  “Slade, listen to reason…”

  “Not interested,” he crosses those massive arms of his over his chest. “In no way, shape, or form, do I want to lay any bad juju on us. Making a contract on what to do if we divorce? Fuck that. I’m not interested,” he says the words like they’re final.

  “But I am,” I throw some of my own firmness in those words. “I’m not marrying you without one,” I cross my own arms over my chest in a show of stubbornness.

  “The fuck?” He uncovers his legs and stands up. “This is the stupidest argument we’ve ever had, Mal.”

  “It’s a point of pride with me, Slater,” I use his given name to prove my point. “I don’t want anyone to think I’m marrying you for your money and what you can give me physically.”

  His eyebrows raise and a smirk spreads across his face. “Physically I can give it to you all night, however you want it, as good as you need it, sweetness. Don’t ever doubt that.”

  A smile spreads across my face too, and I can’t help but giggle. “You know what I mean, possessions. Physical possessions. They don’t mean shit to me if I’m not with you. That’s the number one lesson I’ve learned. I don’t want anything about our lives together to be tainted.”

  “And I want you taken care of,” he argues. “If we ever were to split up, you can take it all because it wouldn’t matter to me. There’d be no point in me trying to go on.”

  “Same here, Slade, so we’re at an impasse,” I level him with a glare.

  He stares at me, unblinking, probably thinking I’m going to give in. But I don’t, I hold his gaze with such directness that he actually shuffles his feet and sighs.

  “Fine, twenty-five percent. You get twenty-five percent of everything.”

  “That’s too much.”

  “It’s not enough, and that’s as low as I’m going,” he straightens, standing to his full height.

  I walk over, holding my hand out. “We’ve got a deal, call your lawyer tomorrow.”

  “Oh sweetness, we don’t shake hands on business deals in this family,” he wraps his arm around my waist, his face bending closer to mine, his nose slightly brushing mine as he tilts his head, licking his lips. “We seal those with a kiss.”

  I’d also gotten a new car, moved my stuff into his penthouse, purchased a whole new wardrobe, and was given an office at his foundation. It’s still weird to open my checkbook and see both of our names there, to know there are actually millions in a bank account with my name on it. I’m honestly not sure if I’ll ever get used to it.

  “You okay?” he asks as he parks in Whole Foods. “You got quiet.”

  “Just thinking about how my life has changed over the past few months.”

  “Any regrets?” He comes around the side of the SUV, holding the door open as I take out my Louis Vuitton bag. Something else I’d had to get used to - carrying a purse worth more than my previous car.

  “Nothing yet.” I give him a wink.

  “Good, let’s keep it that way.”

  As we walk in, he gives me a slight smack on the ass. “Behave.”

  “You love it, you know you do.”

  I can’t wipe the smile off my face as we grab a cart and start in the produce section. Back when we were both on our own, I never thought we’d be here, and there’s nothing better I love now, than doing life with him.

  “You got some sun today.”

  I make the observation as we’re looking at the organic frozen pizzas. He’d leaned up to grab something out of one of the doors, and I saw a slight tan line from where his uniform had stopped.

  “Yeah, it was hot and be prepared, I’m gonna look like a farmer real soon.”

  Taking him in, the shorts he wears, the comfortable shirt, and a pair of flip flops, I realize how lucky I am. He’s everything I’ve ever wanted, and he’s mine.

  “I’ll still think you’re hot, even when you have a shitty tan line.”

  “Well I’m glad, thank you for that,” he laughs as we go get the last of what we need.

  “This is amazing.”

  I’m not sure why I whisper the words, but we’re up on the open-air patio above the penthouse, and the sounds of the city are so far down, we can’t really hear it. It’s like we’re in our own little world. This is the first time we’ve been able to come up here. It’s been cold or rainy, but today the weather had been perfect.

  I’m eating the last of the veggies I roasted downstairs, having already eaten the steak Slade made us on our outdoor grill. A glass of red wine sits to my side, and the only thing lighting our way is a decorative light on the table between us as the stars begin to pop out in the inky sky.

  “This is one of my favorite parts of living here.” He takes a drink from his beer bottle. “This was actually the selling point for me. I can’t wait until we can open the pool. It’ll be a few more weeks, but there’s nothing better than coming home from a game, hot as hell
, and swimming in that pool. Everything about this place was made for comfort.”

  “You deserve it, you work hard.” I grab his hand in mine, playing with his fingertips as I take another drink from my wine glass.

  “You work hard too.” He puts his elbow on the table, leaning so that he can cup my chin in his palm.

  I laugh, giving him a look. “Not nearly as hard as you do. There’s no reason you shouldn’t enjoy the fruits of your labors.”

  He moves his thumb to my bottom lip, smearing the little bit of wine I have there. Enticed by the look in his dark eyes, I use my tongue to capture his flesh, sucking it into my mouth.

  “Don’t play with fire, Mal.”

  I like to get burned with him. Since we’ve gotten married, the sex has been amazing; we’ve been like two high school kids, getting it on almost every day. “You’re not gonna hurt me,” I tell him as I let his thumb go with a pop.

  Standing up, I walk around to his side of the table, emboldened by the wine I’ve had tonight. “I think that because you played such a good game, homered and everything, maybe, just maybe we should start a rewards system.”

  “Rewards system?” His eyebrows are up to his hairline, a sexy ass smirk spread across his face.

  “Like for every homer you make during a game you get something. For one homer, you get a blowjob. For two you get a blowjob and a lap dance.” I throw those two out there.

  “What if I get more than two, or a grand slam? All of those things have happened, sweetness.”

  “Let’s start with one homerun and see where we go from there.”

  “Does this system start tonight?” he asks, as I come to a stop in front of him.

  “What do you think?” I spread his thighs and cup his erection with the palm of my hand. “Sit back and relax, Savage. Let me do the work.”