Chapter 6

Last inning.

Two strikes.

Two bases loaded.

I look up at the scoreboard through my Oakleys and notice we're tied with the other team. I crack my neck and get back into my stance. Giving Ash, our catcher a curt nod, I shift my weight to my left foot so the right side is pressing against the mound. I lift my leg up to my waist and swing my arm, letting the ball fly like a torpedo and collide with the bat like an explosion.

Fucker's got a good swing.

The ball flies in the air like a nuclear bomb and lands into Titan's glove.

"Out!" the ump makes the call.

The crowd goes wild.

The cheerleaders scream and shake their pom poms.

The batter gives me a smirk and a nod.

I pull my sunglasses on top of my baseball cap. My house. My rules. Fucker.

"That's what I'm talking about!" Ash tosses his glove and mask to the ground and jogs toward me. Suddenly, the whole team is gathering around us as we jump in the air, bumping shoulders with one another.

"Yeah, boi!" Titan, our batter claps his hands and then throws a fist in the air.

"Dude, we're going to fucking kill it this season!" Ramsey, our first baseman, hollers.

I turn to the crowd and see my girls in the stands rooting for us.

"The best fucking first exhibition game boys," Coach Walen says proudly with a wide smile as he stands before us. "Go get washed up and celebrate. You deserve it," he says, scanning each of his players, and then hustles back to the locker room.

I stand in place, keeping my eyes on my girl as she slowly makes her way down the steps with Sophia in her arms.

I toss the ball in and out of my glove and jog toward her, but before I can reach her, Titan calls out for me.

"D! You coming out with us?"

I turn around to face him and shake my head. "Nah. Got my own plans." I smirk and toss the ball to him.

Titan catches the ball and nods several times with a wide grin. "I hear ya, brother." He winks and jogs off the field.

Ash is talking with some of the guys, and as if he can sense my eyes on him, he glances at me and gives a curt nod and leaves with the rest of the guys.

Right as I turn back around to get to Shorty, I stop short when a small body crashes into me, forcing my glove to drop to the ground.

What the hell?

The girl's legs are wrapped around me, and I quickly shoot that shit down and pull her off me.

"Eva? What the—" I start to say but she interrupts me.

"I'm so happy you guys won!" She jumps up and down.

"What are you doing?" I ask her, taking a step back.

"Oh." Her face falls. "I"m sorry. It was our thing before," she says quietly.

I sigh. Back in middle school, she would jump into my arms whenever we won a game. I didn"t think anything of it because she was only a friend and was almost like a sister to me.

"That was middle school, Eva. I got a girl, and I need you to respect that," I explain, keeping my tone firm.

"Oh, my God." She shakes her head back and forth and holds her hands closer to her chest. "I am so sorry. I didn't mean anything by it, really, I didn't."

She doesn't look sad, just mortified, like she's committed the greatest sin.

"It's alright, Eva."

She takes a step back and tugs her hair behind her ears. "Are you coming out to celebrate?" she asks.

"No, not tonight," I tell her. The only times I hang out with the guys are when Shorty can't make it to one of my games.

"Eva! Let's go!" Cassidy, the captain of the squad, hollers.

Eva turns to her and then back to me. "Sorry. I have to go. Congratulations again, Donnie. Bye!" she yells, jogging back to her friend.

"See ya," I tell her as Shorty makes her way to me. I quickly pick up my glove from the ground and head toward her. I can't help but take her in. She's wearing a sweatshirt with tight ass maternity jeans, her favorite pair of Converse, and her black hair flows in waves over her shoulders like a waterfall.

"Hey," I greet her with a quick kiss on her natural red lips. Then I take Sophia and wrap my arms around Shorty's shoulder, pulling her closer to me.

I look down at Shorty, who's looking up at me with a grin. The cool autumn breeze has left a rosy hue on her cheeks. "What?" I ask.

"She seemed really friendly. A little too friendly. Who is she?" She tips her chin toward Eva.

I feel my face turning hot. "I'll tell you about it at dinner." I lean down and place a kiss on her lips. Sophia smacks my head, trying to gain my attention.

I laugh.

"Sohpia! No hitting," Shorty scolds Sophia, but her daughter seems to be daring her mother with her defiant gaze. Then Sophia turns to me, takes my face in her tiny hands, and squeezes, planting a sloppy kiss on my jaw.

God, I love my girls.

Nothing gets better than this, not even a home run.

"Soooo...tell me about this Eva chick," Shorty says with a cocky smirk.

The waitress interrupts us as she drops our food off on the table and asks if we need anything else. I tell her we're good for now. The smell of freshly cooked burgers fills the air, making my mouth water. I haven"t eaten anything since my smoothie at breakfast.

I took Shorty and Sophia to a small burger joint near campus. I"ve only eaten here a handful of times, but the food is freaking good, and I know my girl loves a good burger. The place has a retro diner vibe. The Burgers and Shakes neon sign above the cashier immediately draws your attention. The ceiling is lined with Christmas lights that highlight the checkered tiles. Toward the back, you"ll find a classic jukebox in the corner by the bar.

As I lean back against the booth and take off my hat, I run my hands over my hair. "We went to middle school together," I explain, putting my hat back on.

Shorty looks confused and asks, "Really? How did you both end up in the same school?"

Great fucking question.

"I have no idea." I lean forward, resting my elbows on the Formica table. I turn my gaze to the right, then back to Shorty sitting across from me. "We never dated, and I never had romantic feelings for her."

Shorty pops a fry in her mouth and says, "Donnie, that wasn"t even on my mind."

As I stare into her deep brown eyes, I notice a tiny speck of gold glimmers when the light hits them just right. "I know," I reply. "I just want to make it clear that you are the only one for me."

Her head tilts to the side as she looks at me, a playful smirk on her lips. "I know," she says, her lips smacking together in a flirty manner as if sending me a kiss.

"And I"m the only guy for you," I remind her.

She laughs, and I can"t help but join in. "Not anymore," she teases, her hands resting on her belly. My eyes follow her movements, and my heart swells with love for her and my boys.

Just as I go to grab my burger, the door swings open. Loud female voices catch my attention. That"s when I notice Payton walking in with two other girls that I've seen around campus. When she turns her head, she notices me right away. There is an edge to her smile that sets me on edge. Payton saunters confidently toward our table, her gaze fixed on me with an intensity that makes my stomach tighten.

"Hey, Donnie! Funny running into you here," Payton purrs, her eyes flicking briefly toward Shorty and Sophia before turning back to me.

"Payton," I say, my voice devoid of any emotion. Shorty watches our exchange. I want to give Shorty some sign that she shouldn't let Payton get to her, but her eyes are solely focused on Payton.

Payton turns her attention to Sophia, cooing softly as she reaches to tickle the baby"s chubby cheeks. Like a lioness, Shorty subtly shifts in front of Sophia protectively. Payton's smile falters for a moment, but then she grins wide like the Cheshire cat. "And who is this little angel?" she asks, sounding sweet but overdoing it.

"My daughter." Shorty smiles, but it"s forced.

Payton's smile turns brittle as she shifts her gaze back to me. "You should come to the party tonight," she says wistfully, gazing at me suggestively.

I squirm in my chair, feeling uneasy while desperately wishing she would just fucking leave. "I already have plans," I firmly respond, hoping she will take the hint and walk away.

Payton places her hand on my arm, and an instinctive response takes over. I slowly start to retreat from her. I keep moving backward until my back touches the back of the booth seating. "Stop touching me," I warn her.

Payton's mask slips briefly, a flicker of disappointment crossing her features before she composes herself.

"Okay, well, maybe next time." She turns to Shorty, smiles, says a polite farewell, and then leaves our table.

My gaze shifts toward Shorty. She raises an eyebrow at me. "Who the hell was that? Is she going to be a problem?"

I shake my head. "No, she"s not and she won't be. I"ll make sure of it," I reassure her. Payton"s been flaunting her ass around me since the first day of school. I made the mistake of agreeing to help carry her boxes into her dorm room. Since then, she consistently finds ways to touch me and engage in meaningless conversation. It"s annoying as fuck.

Shorty shifts her focus toward where Payton is seated at the bar. Her expression conveys a strong feeling of disapproval. "I couldn"t help but notice how she looked at you and touched you," she says, her eyes still on Payton. Shorty then directs a warning glance at me. "And the bitch had the nerve to do it right in front of me," she continues, her voice tinged with anger.

Payton seems to sense the tension as she turns to look in our direction, only to quickly avert her gaze.

"How long has she been coming at you like that?" Shorty asks.

I lean back against the booth. "Since the first day I said hello to her," I confess. Shorty wasn't blind to other girls paying extra attention to me. But Payton's behavior is crossing every damn line.

"Baby." I reach for her hand. "You don"t have to worry about her," I say, hoping to defuse the fire I know is burning inside her.

Shorty"s eyes narrow as she turns her steely gaze toward me. "You"re right," she says, her voice low and menacing. She then quickly withdraws her hands and helps Sophia with her drink. "Because the next time she even thinks about touching what"s mine, she"s going to regret testing my crazy," she says with a fierce determination, making my dick twitch at her words.