Star-Crossed in the Outfield (All About the Diamond #4)

by Naomi Springthorp

Michelle rolls her eyes, “You need to get over it. He’s been nothing but nice to me. His hands feel amazing holding me and I like him. So, again, get over it. All of them aren’t bad. Remember? Mathematically improbable?” She talks to Kristina like nobody else is in the room or she doesn’t care if there is.

  “Michelle, get up and let’s go!”

  “No, I’m staying right here. If I’m wrong, then it’s my problem.” Mason whispers in her ear and her face lights up, it doesn’t look like she’s wrong.

  Mason looks to me for some help. I put my hand on Kristina’s back, “Let me give you a ride home. I’m happy to do it.” I want to tell her she’s always welcome to stay here with me, but I don’t want to push her and even if I promised that I’d just hold her—it would be pushing her. She looks at me questioning, “I didn’t drink tonight. I wouldn’t offer if I had.” I wonder if that’s what she’s questioning, or if it’s maybe something else. “You’re always welcome to stay.” I lean in to her ear and whisper, “That doesn’t mean you have to stay in my bed. I have plenty of blankets and pillows, you can sleep wherever you want.” I want her bad. I want her in my bed. I want her naked. I want to kiss her lips and feel her warm against my skin. What I would do to hold her like Mason is holding Michelle right now. That’s what I want. What the hell is wrong with me? I just want to be with her.

  Kristina goes back to Michelle, “When are you going to be ready to go home?”

  Mason whispers in her ear again before she speaks, “I’m not going home tonight. Just crash here or let Chase take you home.” Kristina’s frustrated, but I can’t help the smile on my face because both of those options work for me.

  “I’m never taking you anywhere again.” Kristina turns to me, “Please take me home.”

  I smile, “I’d be honored,” I realize this means I get to know where she lives and I still don’t know her phone number. I gesture to the door and follow her outside. I open the truck door for her and make sure she’s in before I close the door. I’m going to drive her home. I’m going to walk her to her door. I may get to give her a kiss goodnight. I’m not going in her place. “So, where am I taking you?” She punches her address into my navigation system and doesn’t say a word. “Is this going to be a silent trip? Are you mad at me or Michelle?”

  I know she rolled her eyes and I didn’t have to look, “Both. She ditched me to stay with a guy that she just met. You won’t leave me alone.”

  “And, I’m not going to leave you alone. Isn’t it kind of nice to be wanted?”

  “Find another girl. It’ll be better that way.”

  “First, I don’t have to find chicks. Chicks find me and it requires no effort from me at all. Second, I don’t want some chick. I’ve been turning away all the chicks. I want more and I only want you. I’m not going away.”

  “Whatever.” She looks out the window while I drive her home.

  This girl is driving me crazy. I know she kissed me back. “Will you go out to dinner and a movie or something with me tomorrow night? Or, I guess that’s later tonight now.”

  “No.”

  “Can I have your phone number? How do I find you on social media, so I can message you while I’m on away trips?” Either one will work. Just give me something. Please don’t leave me with nothing.

  She does something on her phone and I hear mine beep. “I just followed you. I’m @Kristeeeeeena.”

  “And your phone number?”

  “No. One thing at a time.”

  “How about breakfast in the morning before the game?”

  “I have to be at the stadium at 9am. I’m not getting up early enough to go to breakfast.”

  At least that wasn’t a no directed at me. “If you want to come by my place after the game, I’ll be there. If we win, the team will be there and you can bring a friend with you or whatever you want. Doesn’t have to be Michelle.”

  “I can’t believe my roommate did that! She said she’d be my designated driver. That bitch!” Kristina is laughing now and I love the sound.

  “Mason is a cool dude. Very chill. I haven’t seen him with a single woman since he joined the team. Not that it matters. Michelle is the only one I’ve seen him even get close to. That probably makes him better than me, but I know what I want now and I’m not doing that shit anymore.”

  I pull up in front of her building and she goes to jump out, but I grab her hand, “Hold on, let me park.” I find a spot quickly and hop out to go open her door.

  She smiles at me, “Thanks for the ride,” and turns to run into the building like she’s trying to get away from me.

  “Why are you running away?” I walk to her, “Let me walk you to your door.” She slows down and I take her hand as we walk through the door and up the three flights of stairs to her floor. We get to her door and she unlocks it, reaching in to flip the light switch on. I want to touch her and kiss her, I haven’t released her hand and she hasn’t pulled it away from me. I whisper, “Kristina,” sweetly in her ear as I pull her into me for a hug. She reaches her arms up around my neck and runs her fingers through my hair. I’m trying to be on good behavior and her mixed signals are confusing. I want to ask for permission to kiss her, but a kiss with permission isn’t the same. She’s gazing up at me and I can’t help myself when I see those eyes looking at me. I lean down to her and press my lips to hers repeatedly, sweetly giving her lower lip a suck and holding her head with both hands. I want to inhale her into me. I want to be closer to her. I want to taste her. I lick her lips and she separates them for me like an invitation. I touch the tip of my tongue to hers and wait for her reaction before going further. She opens further and sucks on my tongue. I move my hands to her back and splay them across her, while I hold her to me. I don’t want the kiss to end and my tongue dances with hers while I soak it all in. She’s not pulling away from me and shows no signs of running. I hear her little whimper as I feel her lean into me and I feel like I can die now. She tries to pull me with her into her apartment, but I stop myself at the door, “I’m not having sex with you until after we’ve been on at least a few dates. It needs to be more with you and I want you to know that I want you enough. I want you to know you’re special to me.” I close my eyes because it’s one of the hardest things I’ve done. I want to go in her apartment and fuck her senseless. I want her legs wrapped around me. I know she’d be tight and slick around my hard dick. My voice goes deep and raspy, “And, trust me, I want to. Very few things I want more than that right now.” My head is spinning and I want to go in her apartment and see what happens.

  “Tell me what you want more.” Now she decides to talk.

  I don’t even think, I just spill, “I want your phone number. I want you to go out with me. I want you to be my chick. I want to know why you don’t want me anymore. I want to hold you and maybe kiss you more.” She puts her finger to my lips, so I’ll quit talking.

  “I never said I don’t want you.” She goes up on her tiptoes and gives me a quick kiss. “Goodnight, Chase.” She slides into her apartment and closes the door, turning the lock behind her.

  My phone beeps as I’m walking down the stairs.

  From @Kristeeeeeena - Thank you for the ride home :)

  To @Kristeeeeeena - You’re welcome. Maybe you’ll have a thank you kiss for me next time I see you?

  From @Kristeeeeeena - It’s waiting for you now, if you want to come back and get it ;)

  I’m a fool, but I turn around and go back to her apartment. I find her changed into her tank top and boxers with the sunglasses on them, hanging out at her door. She smiles as soon as she sees me, like she wasn’t sure I’d come back. The sight of her in the tank top and boxers brings back memories of our night in Arizona. I see visions of her all over my body, kissing, licking, sucking, and I can almost feel it. When I’m in her reach, she grabs me and pulls me into her apartment, locking the door behind me. She takes me to her bedroom, climbs into bed and holds the blanket up, inviting me to join her. I have will power, but I don�
�t know if I have enough strength for this. Those short boxers with the easy access and her tits bouncing around all over.

  “I came back for the kiss.” I say as I take in the view of her lying in her bed and inviting me in.

  “The kiss is here, you should come and get it.”

  “You make me want more.” I walk over to the other side of the bed and lean over her, planting a kiss on her with passion and claiming her as mine. I’m crazy hot and my dick is hard, yelling at me to just fuck her. I suck on her lips and push my tongue into her mouth over and over as if it was my dick in her sex. I keep kissing her and dial it back to show her how much I want her. I kiss her tenderly with desire. I stand up. “Goodnight.” I turn around and leave. Ignoring the noises my phone is making until I get all the way to my truck.

  From @Kristeeeeeena - I can’t believe you left.

  From @Kristeeeeeena - I don’t get it.

  From @Kristeeeeeena - Just fuck me and get me out of your system.

  From @Kristeeeeeena - Then you can leave me alone.

  To @Kristeeeeeena - Not going to fuck you out of my system.

  To @Kristeeeeeena - That’s not possible.

  To @Kristeeeeeena - I want you and I want more.

  To @Kristeeeeeena - Goodnight, beautiful.

  I get home to find Mason and Michelle still sleeping on my couch, but everyone else is gone, the party has been cleaned up and the house is locked up. I go to bed and fall asleep happy.

  Chapter Eight

  Kristina

  I’m not a morning person and my phone is going off like crazy much too early. I’ve gotten at least three text messages, that I have chosen to at least attempt to sleep through and now my phone is ringing. I have to open my eyes and answer it, it might be work. I reach for my phone while I struggle to open my eyes and expose my relaxed sleep state to daylight. It wasn’t a good night for sleep. I don’t sleep well as a general rule, but it’s worse when I’m home alone. It’s only 7:00am and I’m ready to scream at whoever is calling me this early, but it’s the stadium.

  “Good morning!” I answer bright and cheery and not at all like I’m ready to strangle the person on the other end of the phone.

  “Hi, we’d like you to fill the PA Announcer position again today,” the human resources representative for the stadium states politely.

  “Absolutely, I’d love to!” It’s confirmation that I did a good job.

  “Can you come in early enough to get your regular tasks done before the game?”

  I pinch my eyes closed as tight as I can and suck it up, because I want to be the announcer, “I’m happy to do it. I’ll be there in time to get everything set for the broadcasters before the game starts. Thanks for giving me another shot in the booth.”

  “You deserve it. Keep showing us what you’ve got. Thank you,” he hangs up.

  I check my texts and Michelle has been texting me for the last hour.

  Text from GamerGirlM - Are you up yet?

  Text from GamerGirlM - Of course not. Too early for you.

  Text from GamerGirlM - Wake up!

  Text from GamerGirlM - Are you still mad at me?

  Text to GamerGirlM - What? You need me to pick you up?

  Text to GamerGirlM - Jerk ballplayer ditch you after he got his?

  Text from GamerGirlM - Get over yourself

  Text from GamerGirlM - We’re going to breakfast. Want to go?

  I stop and think to myself, I’m up anyway and I have to go to work early.

  Text to GamerGirlM - I’m PA Announcer again today.

  Text to GamerGirlM - I’ll be by if I have enough time

  Text from GamerGirlM - Can you hear my eyes rolling?

  Text from GamerGirlM - I’ll see you at breakfast. Jones is asking Chase to go, too.

  Text to GamerGirlM - Whatever

  Text from GamerGirlM - You know you want him

  Another text pops through with a string of emojis including a bunch of hearts and an eggplant. I respond with an eyeroll emoji and toss my phone to the side as I get ready for my day.

  I find myself paying more attention to my appearance than normal. Why? I don’t even know if Chase will be at breakfast. It must be for work. Dress to impress, though I don’t think the control booth crew will appreciate my perfect fitting jeans as much as the outfielder. I don’t want to date or do anything else with a baseball player. I guess there’s an exception to every rule. Michelle’s logic isn’t wrong, they can’t all be bad.

  Driving to breakfast the radio plays his walk-up song and I can’t help but think about him. Damn it! I want to see him.

  Chase

  Mason wakes me up early, “Cross, we’re going to get breakfast before stadium time. You want to go with us?”

  “No, I’m cool. Thanks.”

  “Kristina might be meeting us.”

  “No, dude, she said she had to be at the stadium early when I asked her last night.”

  “Schedule changed. She’s PA Announcer again today.”

  I’m torn because I don’t want to be the third wheel when she doesn’t show up and I want to take her on a real date, not just hang out. I’m hungry. “Okay, I’m hungry now that I’m awake.” I get ready quickly and we stop at the Yolk on the way to the stadium. We walk in to find Seno and Sherry, already sitting there eating their breakfast. This place is always good to us and makes sure to get us tables quick on early game days like today. Michelle is cool, doesn’t seem crazy at all and definitely not a player chaser. Mason with a chick is different, he’s always respectful and his midwest upbringing shows. But, with a girl, I don’t know, it’s like she deserves and gets all of his attention, almost like she’s on a pedestal for him to look up at and desire. I can see it’s working for him with Michelle. I wonder if Kristina will show up for breakfast and I go with the flow, ordering and talking with Mason. I really want to talk to Sherry and Seno for advice, but it’s not the place. This girl has me confused.

  I walk over to Seno’s table, “Dude, want a ride today? I’ll pick you up after breakfast. I need to talk.”

  “Sure. Come by and get me.”

  But, Sherry wants to run with it, “What’s up?”

  “I don’t know. This chick has me confused. She won’t give me her phone number. She won’t go on a date with me. But, when I kiss her she meets my kiss and kisses me back. When I drove her home last night she called me back to her apartment and dragged me into her bedroom, wanting me to get in bed with her. I left and she messaged me asking why I didn’t fuck her so I could get her out of my system. I told her I want her for more and it’s not possible to fuck her out of my system. I don’t get it.”

  Sherry looks at me and smiles, “And, she’s here.” She waves at her from across the restaurant. Kristina scowls at Michelle and walks right by her table without stopping, sliding in next to me at the Seno’s table. “Hey, Kristina. Did Chase give you my number?”

  “No.” Kristina trades numbers with Sherry.

  “So, Sherry can have your number and I can’t?” I protest.

  “That’s right.” Kristina smiles, looks at Sherry and laughs, “I don’t give my number to boys. I don’t travel with the team and I’m happy to help you while the team is away.”

  “I appreciate that. We’re not looking forward to that. I always travel with Rick and we never spend a night apart.” Sherry confesses her dread.

  “I know, I see you at the stadium early and for every game. It’ll be an adjustment, but well worth it.” Kristina states supportively.

  The waitress brings the food over to me and we leave Mason some private time with his chick. I like that Kristina and Sherry get along. That should help me.

  Sherry looks directly at Kristina, “So, what do you think about our boy here?” Gesturing to me as I pound my head into the tabletop.

  “Sherry, we don’t need to talk about this.” I look to her pleading.

  Kristina starts in, “He’s a great baseball player. He’s a good kisser. He doesn’t li
sten well and I think he has a seal fetish.”

  Sherry continues on, “I don’t know about the kissing, but the seal fetish is interesting. I think he associates the seal with you, so technically he can’t stop thinking about you. I haven’t experienced the not listening.”

  They keep talking like I’m not right there listening to everything they say. Seno is taking it all in and enjoying that it’s not him they’re talking about.

  “I keep telling him to leave me alone and he blatantly refuses. I ask him to spend the night with me and he leaves. I decline a date and tell him I’m not giving him my phone number, but he keeps asking for both. Do you think he’s mentally impaired?”

  “Well, he’s male.” They both laugh like this is simply a fact. “I think he hears you and he’s just persistent. Maybe you should try telling him yes to a date and see what happens.”

  “Maybe, but I don’t want to lead him on and it’s weird after Arizona. I know he’s thinking of me as that drunk girl in the mascot costume that left him covered in hickeys. I don’t want to be thought of like that. That’s the only time I’ve ever done anything like that. I never get drunk. I’m not that girl and I know that’s what he expects.”

  I look straight at her ready to tell her she’s wrong, but Sherry stops me. “I don’t think that’s true. He didn’t even remember the night, he was so hungover the next morning. You should’ve seen his face when he found the tail piece of the seal costume!” Kristina cocked her head to the side, like she was listening. “You should give him a chance. Don’t worry about leading him on. He’s a big boy and he can handle himself. I’ll tell you, spending time with a professional baseball player isn’t what you think and you won’t want it to be any different once you’ve done it.”

  Kristina turns toward me and examines me. She turns back to Sherry, “I’ll think about it.”

  The whole time they’re talking, Kristina is eating my breakfast like it’s her own. She gets up to leave and I walk her out to her car. My body humming just being near her. “I heard you’re PA Announcer again today.”