by Adams, S. C.
“Text me when you get home so that I know you made it,” Kane orders, holding the door open for me.
“Thank you for tonight,” I kiss him and get into the car.
“See you tomorrow,” Kane says, before closing the door for me.
The entire ride home, I’m reeling from my date with Kane. Am I really dating a one-night stand? Am I really dating Jason’s doppelganger? How the hell is this going to work?
14
Kane
My softball team is warming up on the baseball diamond at Central Park. As I toss the ball with Joey, the first baseman, I’m keeping an eye out for Lexi, hoping she’ll show up. She was less than confident about us actually spending time together outside of the bedroom.
I understand her qualms about dating since I have similar doubts. But I sense she’s been burned recently and badly. The thought that someone broke Lexi’s heart makes me angry.
“Amy and Michelle are here,” Joey says, nodding at the two girls walking toward the dugout.
“Great,” I sigh.
Joey laughs, “You had fun with Amy once upon a time.”
I toss the ball to Joey and laugh.
“Who hasn’t had fun with Amy? Besides, I didn’t even sleep with her. We had a drunken kiss that she initiated, and she’s been trying to get more out of me ever since.”
My softball team isn’t exactly in a beer league. We’re a corporate league made up of teams owned by big businesses. The groupies who hang around our games are after more than a man who looks good in a uniform.
I catch Joey’s throw just as I notice Lexi walking onto the field. The sun shines through her curly hair as it frames her face. Sunglasses cover her eyes, and she’s wearing a casual navy t-shirt dress with sneakers. I wave to her before tossing the ball back to Joey.
“Be right back,” I tell him before I jog over to Lexi. “You’re here.”
She smiles. “Did you think I’d stand you up?”
“I hoped you wouldn’t.”
“And miss seeing you in a baseball uniform?” she murmurs as her eyes look me over.
I tug the bottom of her dress, pulling her toward me and pecking her on the lips. As we pull apart, I see Lexi’s eyes wander behind me. I look over my shoulder to see Amy and Michelle staring.
“Who’s your friend?” Amy asks, strutting over with her belly button piercing exposed and her daisy dukes riding up her thighs.
“This is Lexi,” I reluctantly introduce her. “Lexi, this is Amy and her sister Michelle.”
“Kane and I go way back,” Amy smirks.
Lexi folds her arms under her chest and nods as if she’s interested in what Amy has to say.
“Kane!” Mike calls out to me. “Come on!”
I look back at Lexi.
“Are you going to be okay?” I whisper.
Lexi nods, but she doesn’t look too happy about Amy and Michelle. They keep staring at us, but when I turn around, they pretend to be cheering on the team.
After greeting the other team, we’re up first. I head for the dugout and see Lexi sitting alone in the bleachers. I suddenly feel bad for asking her here. It isn’t exactly the kind of quality time I want to spend with her. And I’m sure it’s boring for her to sit by herself.
Normally, some of the other team members’ girlfriends or wives are here. With the game being on a weekday, though, I guess it was too hectic for them to come. I’ve always wanted to have someone cheering me on in the stands, but looking at Lexi, I can tell she feels out of place.
“So, is that who you were with Friday night?” Mike asks as he swings his bat to warm up.
I laugh. “Maybe.”
“She’s definitely not the type you meet at Marquee,” he comments understandingly. “I’m happy for you, buddy,” he says as he pats my back.
“It’s still new,” I brush it off. “She’s fun.”
Mike smirks, “Right. If you like her enough to bring her here, I know it’s more than just fun for you.”
I wave him off, knowing he’s right. Mike has known me a long time. We’re not super close, but we’re friends on top of being business partners. He knows me well enough to know that I never bring my sex anywhere outside the bedroom.
My name is called, and it’s my tun at bat. I can hear Amy and Michelle cheering me on as usual. I look back at Lexi; she’s clapping for me quietly.
I step up to the plate. The pitcher throws a perfect fast ball down the middle. I whack the ball out of the park, and the entire crowd cheers. I run the bases, looking out at Lexi who is on her feet cheering. As I cross home plate, I slap my teammates’ hands. But I don’t go back to the dugout right away. Instead, I hook my finger at Lexi and motion her toward me.
She hops down from the bleachers, and I kiss her passionately. My teammates all whistle and make embarrassing noises.
“Good job,” Lexi smiles.
“On the homerun or the kiss?” I ask.
She laughs. “Both.”
“Sit with me in the dugout,” I beg as I take her hand.
“You don’t have to babysit me, Kane.”
“I want you with me, that’s all,” I explain, winking as we step into the dugout. “Guys, this is Lexi. Lexi, these are the guys.”
They all greet Lexi, and she waves to them before we sit down.
“Were the girls messing with you?” Joey asks her.
“I don’t think I’ve ever gotten so many dirty looks before,” Lexi sighs.
“They’re trash. Pay no attention to them,” I tell her.
“So you and Amy don’t go way back?” Lexi asks.
I chuckle and put my arm around her.
“Those girls hang around the games and sometimes come to the after parties. But it’s not like we make plans to hang out or anything,” I explain.
“Not for lack of trying on Amy and Michelle’s part,” Joey chimes in with a laugh. “They’d love to sink their claws into Kane. I’d think they’d be willing to share even…”
“Joe, enough,” I warn him, not wanting to talk about those skanks anymore.
“Sorry,” he says before he’s called to bat.
“They are pretty,” Lexi shrugs.
I look at her and shake my head.
“The only pretty girl I see around here is you,” I tell her as I squeeze her knee.
Joey gets our third out, and it’s our turn to hit the outfield. I pat Lexi’s leg before jogging out to my position at short-stop. The first pitch is a grounder that comes straight to me. I toss the ball to Joey to get the runner out at first base.
“Woo, go Kane!”
I look over at the dugout. Lexi is on her feet clapping her hands. The next few innings are smooth sailing with the other team not able to score any runs.
“I want a hot dog,” Lexi says as I sit next to her in the dugout.
I raise my eyebrows at her and give her a wink. She laughs and pushes me playfully.
“Do you want one?”
“Sure,” I say, reaching into my pocket.
“I’ve got it,” Lexi assures me before she walks out of the dugout.
I watch her beautiful hips and ass sway back and forth as she goes.
“You’re hitting that?” Joey asks.
He’s the youngest on the team at 24, and he might as well still be in high school with the way he acts. He’s crass, pompous, and cocky. He’s just another trust fund baby who works for his father’s multi-million-dollar conglomerate. I’ve been around his type for most of my career.
“Joe, get some class,” I smack his chest.
“I’m just surprised. I’ve seen the girls that come onto you at Marquee… and they’re thin blonde bombshells…”
“And?” I ask, waiting for him to say something out of line.
“Come on, back on the field, boys,” Mike claps his hands at us, trying to diffuse whatever tension might be brewing.
Joey and I trot out to the field with his mouth still flapping.
“Look, I’m just sa
ying this girl has a cute face and all, but why go with a chubby chick when you can date models?”
I shove Joey in the chest.
“Watch it, asshole. Lexi isn’t chubby. She’s gorgeous,” I warn, getting angrier by the second.
“Don’t push me, man,” Joey shoves me back. I start to walk to my position.
Joey’s voice gets louder as he continues to talk.
“I will admit she’s got a great ass… she must be some fuck for you to bring her around us. Maybe we should all get a piece, just like with the other groupies…” Joey smirks.
I fucking lose my shit on him. I charge at him, shoving my shoulder into his ribs as I pick him up and throw him to the ground. The entire team is trying to break us apart as I punch Joey in the face.
Mike is trying his best to lift me off of the trash-mouth asshole, but I’m the biggest guy on the team.
“Kane,” Mike yells, grabbing me. “Calm down.”
I finally back away from the crowd. My chest heaves up and down in rage. Joey stands up with a bloody nose, and I’m sure I’ll hear from his father tomorrow.
“You’re off the team,” I tell him.
“Fuck you. I paid my dues already. You can’t cut me mid-season.”
“I own the team. I can do what I want!” I yell, well-aware of the scene that’s being made.
“Look, I’m sorry about what I said. I didn’t know you were so sensitive about this girl.”
“Whatever. Look, just finish the game without me. We’re up by five. You’ll be fine,” I say, storming toward the dugout to grab my stuff.
Lexi is standing just outside of the dugout with our hot dogs in her hands. Her sunglasses are sitting on top of her head, allowing me to see the expression in her eyes. She looks frightened.
“Let’s go,” I tell her. She nods.
I lug my softball bag onto my back and guide her out of the ball park. As we walk through the park, an awkward silence fills the air.
“I’m sorry I asked you to come today,” I sigh. “This is definitely my worst idea for a date.”
Lexi hands me a hot dog, and I smile at her. She reaches over and wipes the dirt off my face with a napkin.
“What was the fight about?”
I look down at my cleats, not wanting to tell her.
“Joey was being disrespectful.”
“Oh,” Lexi pauses and then turns me toward her. “I don’t want to cause fights between you and your friends.”
“Lexi, Joey is hardly a friend. He’s a stereotypical rich kid who needs to learn when to shut his mouth.”
“Well, thank you,” she smiles.
“For what?”
“In case you happened to be defending me in some way,” she smirks knowingly.
I pull her chin up so that she’s looking up at me.
“I’m sorry about Amy and Michelle, too.”
“According to Amy, you’re a lot of fun after you win a game,” she taunts.
I narrow my eyes. “Oh yeah? Is that what she said?”
“She was having a private conversation very loudly for my benefit,” Lexi laughs.
I shake my head. “I’m too old for this drama. For the record, I’ve never slept with either of them.”
“I didn’t think you had,” she laughs. “They’re pretty and all, but their behavior is a little over the top.”
I laugh at that and take a bite of my hot dog, realizing how starving I am.
“A little?”
Lexi laughs and starts eating her hot dog as well.
“I don’t think they’re all that pretty either…” I explain.
Lexi punches my shoulder. “You don’t have to lie to me. It’s okay if you think they’re pretty.”
I wrap an arm around her waist and stop her from walking.
“Lexi, you do know you’re absolutely gorgeous, right?”
She laughs and tries to squirm away from me, but I hold her firmly.
“To me, you’re perfect.”
Lexi stretches up and kisses me, managing to wrap both of her arms around my neck while holding a hot dog.
“Sorry for the hot dog breath, but I couldn’t resist,” she laughs.
“I’m not complaining.” I smile as I take her hand, and we continue walking in the park.
We spend the rest of the early evening walking around before Lexi comes back to my place. Tonight is different somehow. Being with Lexi is just as fantastic as the previous times, but there is something more to it tonight. It’s not just sex for me anymore, and even though Lexi still refuses to stay the night, I don’t think it’s purely physical for her either.
After she leaves, I lie in bed missing her warmth. I miss the way she looks at me with her innocent but sultry brown eyes. And the sound of her wonderful laugh. I love how she runs her fingers through my hair or over my face whenever I give her a compliment, like she is too bashful to speak. Instead of a thank you, she responds with a sweet kiss.
God, I’m infatuated with this woman. A little while later, I get a text from her.
I’m home. Thank you for another perfect date.
Perfect? I promise, the next date will be better. I’m sorry for the fight and those mean girls.
I’m not sorry I saw you in those tight softball pants… haha
I smile at her comment.
Thanks for helping me take them off and for massaging ALL of my tense muscles.
My pleasure
