49. Smile and Wave

FORTY-NINE

Del was hesitant to leave Lily with Noah's mom, but with some reassurance after getting to meet her, she was excited for one more night out while we were in Seattle. I'd put on her favorite playlist and connected to the apartment's sound system and she bopped around while getting ready.

Holding her hand as our car slowed to a stop, I turned to prepare her better this time.

"There's going to be paparazzi again, but they should all be professionals within the gated area. It should be a lot better than the last time."

"You can't guarantee it, I know. I can handle it." Del squeezed my hand reassuringly.

I knew she could, but it was instinct to shield her from what I could. No one needed to be reminded of their insecurities and have it printed for millions to read.

I held her eyes to make sure she was with me. "Okay, they want us to walk the carpet, so we won't just be doing a mad dash for the entrance this time."

"Wow, I must be a big celebrity. Hopefully they get a few good pictures of you too." She winked.

I rolled my eyes. "Brat."

Pulling her lips to mine, I kissed her thoroughly until the tiniest of moans fell from her pretty mouth. Her eyes were still closed, and her lips parted slightly when I drew back. I couldn't help but chuckle when she smacked my arm.

"Tease." She glared at me. "There goes my lipstick, asshole." The last part was mumbled, but she wanted me to hear it.

"You like my ass? Is that what you meant to say?"

"Irrelevant to the point." She waved me off. "You heard what I said."

I shook my head with a smile. "Ready, peachy girl?"

She placed her hand in mine, and I opened the door.

The sound of clicking lenses was immediate, and deja vu hit me like a truck. The last time I was at this building was my first fake date with Kerrie. It was also the last time I'd spoken with Delilah before everything came to a halt. That night, I'd stepped out of the car with a stranger on my arm. I felt like a stranger to myself then, too.

When I helped Del to her feet, and she stood beside me, I knew this was different. She was my equal in every way—if not more than. I was turning my life around and making it reflect everything I'd always wanted. Delilah, baseball, a family of my own. The world had been privy to my life for a while, but they could only see what I let them. This was me putting everything out in the open. I was in love with Del, and I wanted to tell the whole world.

Just not these people. She'd be more likely to smack me than say it back.

I led her in front of the backdrop and fixed the skirt of her light pink gown before letting my hand rest low on her back. I wanted everyone to know she was mine and that we were no longer just friends. There was nothing friendly about the way I fucked her last night. I tapped her hip twice, checking in.

"Delilah, look here!" A photographer yelled to be heard over the crowd.

"Beautiful gown, Delilah. Who did your hair?"

"I did." She smiled up at me and I couldn't help but bend down and kiss her pretty pink lips. She kissed me back. Two kisses. She was okay.

"You are stunning, my love."

"Are wedding bells on the horizon for you two?" another asked.

Del flushed beet red and it only made her cuter.

"Or another baby?"

Del laughed. "Please don't put me on baby watch. We have no plans for that right now."

I whispered in her ear, "Speak for yourself. I'd love nothing more than to see you pregnant with my child."

I knew she wanted to smack my chest, but she caught herself mid-wack and let her hand rest there like she was cozying up for the cameras.

"That's inappropriate," she said so no one else could hear.

"There's nothing inappropriate about growing our family." She didn't hide the emotion or lust in her eyes, but said nothing in response.

We posed for a few more photos before I led her inside where we were immediately greeted by the general manager for the Seattle Tempests. He was dressed in finery from head to toe. It was a stark contrast from the basketball shorts and t-shirt he wore when he visited us on the field.

"Parker, I saw you were back in town. Nice to see you." Greg shook my hand.

"Keeping tabs on me, sir?"

"Well you've made the news a few times lately, son. It'd be wise to know what our star pitcher is up to in his free time."

"I'm afraid that might have been my fault." Del squeezed my arm where it was looped through hers.

"Mr. Matthews, this is my girlfriend, Delilah Howard." It was the first time I was introducing her as that, and the weight of it wasn't lost on me.

She placed her hand in his and smiled confidently. "You can call me Del," she amended.

Greg hooked a thumb in my direction. "He calls me ‘sir', but you can just call me Greg. I've heard you two have your hands full with?—"

"Lily," I supplied. "Our baby girl is eight months old."

"And she is beautiful." Rachel, Greg's wife, walked up from behind him and joined our small circle. "Like her mother."

"Agreed. How are you Rachel? This is Del."

She bypassed my formal greeting of a handshake and kissed my cheek instead before opening her arms to hug Del. The two embraced, and Rachel held onto Del's hands like a proud mother.

"It's very nice to meet you, Del. It'll be nice to have another woman here. These things can be a bit of a sausage fest. Welcome to the family." Rachel was in her forties. I knew Greg just turned 60 last year because we celebrated at practice. They complemented each other well, and it seemed she was the only one he had a soft spot for. Or maybe his issue was only with me.

"Thank you, I'm glad to be here."

"Seems like it's where you were supposed to be the whole time." Rachel had a tendency to say anything that was on her mind. Greg didn't even bother telling her to tone it down, he just watched with an entertained smile on his face.

"Well, the more we dance, the more they donate. Shall we Del?" He extended a hand in her direction and she quickly accepted. My girl loved to dance.

"Don't miss me too much, big guy." She pecked my lips once before letting him lead her to the dance floor.

I watched them move to the center of the grand ballroom. One of Greg's hands found a respectful place on her upper back, and the other grasped hers up in a more formal position than I'd ever held her in.

Satisfied that she looked happy and I could see her laughing, I invited Rachel for a dance.

"Quite the last few months you've had." Her head tilted toward Del and her husband.

"You could say that."

"Oh, I'm definitely saying that. You went home single and childless and came back with a girlfriend and a baby. Must have been a successful trip." It wasn't said in a condescending way. It was more observant than anything.

"I'm really lucky. Do you have any sway with the big man to get me back on the roster for spring ball?"

"I'm sure a lot of it depends on tonight."

"Great," I muttered. Getting people to like me was usually pretty easy. I knew what they wanted out of me and could change myself to fit that image. I had no clue how to act around Greg.

"Just be yourself. From what I've seen, you're more yourself with that lovely Delilah than you have been for the last two years you've been with us. I remember Greg coming home so excited when they called you up. He said the team would finally have a leader who cared more about people than money."

"I was going through a lot at that time."

"I'm sure you were. It's a huge adjustment that every person on your team has gone through."

I sighed. "You're right."

"I"m not discounting the pressure put on you versus everyone else, but my husband was hoping to make a captain out of you. The player he saw in New York impressed him beyond measure. The man he got in Seattle was different."

Captain. I'd held the title for three of out of four years in high school and most of the time I was in Buffalo. It wasn't all that common to have captains in the MLB, though. It was a huge honor—one that I apparently tossed out the window.

"I didn't know that."

"Now you do." She nodded, dismissing the topic. "Enough work talk. I want to know more about Delilah. You must be very proud of her success. It's not every day a young indie author gets picked up by a publishing company."

"Oh, Aurora? I didn't know she got a book deal." It felt like there was a rock stuck in my throat when I tried to swallow down the fact that Delilah didn't tell me. "How did you know Del works for Aurora? That was one of the only things that didn't get leaked about her."

"Right, Aurora…" She winked. "It's been in the news online. I think it was in July actually. I am a huge fan of Aurora."

Why did she wink at me? What hadn't Del told me? Something like this was great news for an author. Not so much for their indie editor and agent. Aurora was the highest performing author that she edited for.

Rachel noticed my confusion. "I'm sure Delilah would have told you about her success eventually. Maybe she's just waiting for the ink to dry on the contract. I don't know anything about the publishing business, but I know talent when I see it. Your girl is an amazing writer."

My jaw tightened as I pieced the puzzle together. "She is."

We spent the rest of the song dancing in silence. Rachel took in the surroundings, and I tried not to chip a tooth while grinding my teeth.

I'd read all of Aurora's books and enjoyed them. I supported her to support Delilah, and now I felt like an idiot.

A particular podcast interview came to mind, and the pit in my stomach grew acidic. I'd read the highlights instead of listening to the whole thing, but I knew what I'd be doing when we got home. Was everything between us all for the book?

I excused myself when the song ended, and emptied my stomach in the men's bathroom.