The Shortstop (29 page)

She clenches around me, bringing me dangerously close to coming way too soon. Bringing a fingertip to her clit, I stroke her repeatedly until she calls my name. Only then do I let go. Her fierce orgasm squeezes every drop I have to give.

The only word I manage to utter during my explosive release is her name.

Annie

“Quint, we literally spent the day in your bed.”

“Yeah, I know. I’m trying to figure out how to live in this bed for the rest of our lives.”

“You do that, while I pee.”

I peel away the comforter and he moans. “What?”

He flips his side of the comforter and points. “I’m hard again.”

With a heavy sigh, I shake my head. “Do you want me to put clothes on?”

“No. I want you to fuck me again.”

“After I pee and get food. I need fuel.”

This morning we made love, several times. He reminded me of his mad oral skills. I hadn’t realized how much I missed them until he lowered his mouth to devour me. With his tongue alone, he caused my entire body to become a trembling mess as my orgasm built. Once he added his lips and his fingers, it wasn’t long before I absolutely lost all control. After I calmed down, he did it all over again, reducing me to a pile of mush. My retaliation was sweet. I gifted him with one of my “stellar blow jobs” —his words. He admitted that he thought of them often while we were separated. He justified each orgasm for every week we spent apart. In between, we managed to make conversation until it took a turn that prompted more sex.

He listened as I called my parents. I listened as he called his. To use the word excited would be tame. He then insisted on calling Billy, Ava and Jeff…and they were happy for us as well. Seconds after he hung up with Jeff, he then began trailing kisses down my neck toward my breasts…until I called for an intermission, needing sustenance.

When I return to the bedroom with a glass of milk and a peanut butter sandwich to share, he asks, “Can I ask you something?”

“I said after we eat.”

He throws me a sarcastic smirk. “Something else.”

“Sure.”

I hand him half of the sandwich, waiting expectantly for him to ask his question. Based on the long pause, I’m left wondering if it has to do with our engagement. I’m not ready to go there yet. Voicing that out loud would disappoint him and that will crush me. My ring still hangs on a chain around his neck. It flashes brilliantly as it lies on his bare chest. I don’t want to upset him in any way. He’s been through enough. I also don’t want to lie. I’m confident we will get married. We just have differing opinions on when.

“Would you consider moving back in?” Nervously, I bite my lip to stall. “Too soon?”

“We’re back together a day.”

“I know. But it’s not like we don’t have history.”

“True. But I have a life that I started…school, an apartment, and a job.”

“Okay, I won’t push. I’ll just say that I want you back and will leave it up to you to decide when you’re ready.” He leans over to kiss me. “And I’ll miss you terribly.”

I nod quietly, lost in thought. Not wanting to spoil our great day, I ask, “Would you mind having Ava and Jeff over one night? They’ve been such great friends to me.”

“Of course not. Jeff’s been great to me too, even when I ignored his texts and calls. He understood what I was going through.” He finishes his sandwich and asks, “Can you get my ice wrap?”

“Absolutely.” I take the plate and glass into the kitchen and grab one of many ice wraps he has in his freezer.

When I return to the bedroom, he’s lifting his leg, grimacing from the discomfort he must feel.

“Quint?”

“Yeah, babe?” he responds while grunting through his exercise.

“Is it healing at all?”

“Some.” He looks down at his knee. His scars are still angry and puckered from surgery. He flexes the muscles of his right leg, which is so much thinner than his left from being in a brace for so many months. “Lance feels I’ll be off the arm braces soon. He even thinks eventually that I won’t even need a cane. I should be back to walking normally someday, maybe even exercising in some capacity. I guess that’s good news.”

I shift so I can pepper his knee with kisses before attaching the ice wrap. I then prop his leg on a few pillows to elevate it. “Thanks, baby.” He opens his arm so I can lie beside him. His body feels like it’s on fire compared to the ice on his knee. “Annie, you can ask me anything you want. I’m fine. I can talk about it now.”

“I don’t want to upset you.”

“You can’t upset me. My therapist believes locking it away will allow all the negative feelings to fester.”

“Do you like him?”

“Her. Yes. At first I gave Dr. Wallis a hard time, but I’m growing to trust her and open up more. She specializes in emotional and psychological trauma patients. She’s been doing this for years.”

“I’m glad she’s helping you. I wish I could.”

“Having you here is the best therapy. Trust me.” He kisses the top of my head and leans back into his pillow. After a few minutes, his measured breathing tells me he fell asleep.

We never, ever spoke of that day. The imagery of his leg twisting one way while his body twisted the other comes to mind. I remember my heart going still as I watched him writhe on the ground in pain. I felt so helpless. The seventh of August is now a new anniversary to add to our long list, although not a good one. Six long months since his world imploded, and at times it feels like yesterday.

The person he became in the days and weeks after his accident seems unfathomable compared to this Quint. I thank God for bringing him back to me.

“It’s so you,” he says as I open the door to my little Bug.

“Thanks. I love it. Spent many days driving to the beach in this baby.” I help him get comfortable before moving to the driver’s side.

“I wish I was there.”

I look over and smile. “Me too.”

One day had turned into three. Every time I’d tell him that I needed to go home, he persuaded me to stay another day. I agreed, insisting that he had to go back to therapy. He agreed, insisting I needed to go with him. When we walked through the door, Lance immediately understood why Quint canceled therapy. His electric smile looked genuine. Nothing ever happened between us, besides lots of phone calls and that one lunch. Quint feels he does like me, and if I had given a green light, he would have pursued me.

Lance was nothing but friendly while I sat in the corner watching Quint move through his exercises. Quint laughed as they busted each other’s chops. Seeing Quint in a relaxed state, the way he’d normally be, made it hard to remember the scowling, angry Quint that surfaced after his accident.

When he tried to convince me to stay yet another day, I put my foot down. I needed to get home, figure things out, and decide what was next for us.

On our ride to therapy, he tries yet again while looking at me hopefully. “It’s supposed to snow again. I wish you’d stay until it passes.”

I focus on the road and sigh. “Quint, it’s not supposed to snow for two days.”

“It could start early.” He looks out the window. “Looks like snow to me.”

“It’s February. Every day looks like snow.”

This banter goes on the entire ride. Even as I help him into the building and up into the PT wing, he keeps suggesting reasons I should stay. At the door to his therapy room, I take hold of his face and kiss him gently. “I need to go. I’ll call you when I get home.”

“When will you be back?” 

“I don’t know.”

Now he sighs, and his is much heavier than mine was. “I understand. Thank you for coming back to me.” His eyes search mine with uncertainty written all over his face.

“Q, I just needed to be sure you were at a better place, and I needed to forgive your mistakes.”

“I am in a better place, especially now. I was prepared to beg you to forgive me. But you did it on your own. You have a good heart, Annie. Thank you for giving it back to me.”

“You always owned my heart, Q.” He smiles and bends to kiss me softly.

“I love you so much.”

“I love you too.” After another kiss, I add, “I have to go. Listen to Lance and be a good boy.”

The door opens and Lance folds his arms. “So nice of you to join us.”

“It’s my fault.” I shrug.

“Oh. Then he’s forgiven.” Lance throws Quint a condescending smile and motions for him to enter the room.

“Prick.”

“Cupcake.”

“Annie, please drive carefully,” Quint calls out as he hobbles past Lance. “I love you,” he adds for good measure.

“I’ve told you, you’re not my type, cupcake,” Lance responds for me.

“Please be nice to him.”

Lance rolls his eyes and says, “That’s torture. You’re evil.”

He winks and follows Quint into the room.

I promised Ava lunch before heading home. Once in the car, I dial her cell and she responds immediately. “You are not canceling again.” Each day I was supposed to leave Quint, I had promised lunch. “No, today I’m definitely coming.”

“Good. Meet me at Bloomies.”

It feels like hours by the time I get into the city and park in a lot close to Bloomingdales. Ava waits in the vestibule, trying to keep warm.

“Sorry I’m late. Traffic was horrendous.”

She loops her arm through mine and leads me into the store. “I thought we were having lunch?”

“We are. Soon.”

Ava is very chatty, rambling on and on about the shelter, and her and Jeff wanting to try to have a baby soon. “That’s great. I’m so happy for you.”

“Thanks. I’m trying to plan it around the season and Jeff thinks I’m nuts. But I don’t want to be spread-eagled with my vajayjay hanging out while he’s in right field.”

“You’re unreal.”

“What?”

I take in our surroundings and realize we are back in the department I bought my dress. “Do you have another formal?”

“No.”

She waltzes right over to the saleswoman, they speak quietly, and Ava returns with a smile. “What’s going on?”

“Don’t be mad.”

“What did you do?”

She raises her hands in an innocent gesture. “I was here a few days ago. That beautiful dress was still in stock. There was only one size four left.”

“Ava.”

“What, Annie? You know you will be marrying him. It may not be tomorrow or next month, but—” she widens her big brown eyes and pouts “—that dress was made for you. It’s my engagement gift to you.”

Just as I’m about to scold that I’m not freakin’ engaged, the saleswoman comes out with the dress. Without asking for permission, Ava pays and brings it over to where I stand with a huge, toothy grin.

“Congratulations.”

“You’re exhausting.”

“Whatever.” She loops her arm through mine again and says, “Okay, now lunch.”

Quint

After our reunion, Annie and I had a very long heart-to-heart talk over the phone. She claimed without my gorgeous face, body, and lips influencing her that she was able to think clearly once she got home. She decided to finish the school year. With only three months to go, she argued it would go fast.

While we were apart, she worked very hard accruing the credits needed to receive her master’s degree. She rearranged her spring semester schedule, cramming as many classes as she could to leave her Fridays and Mondays free. Great news for me, because when she arrived on a Thursday night, she was mine for three whole days. Watching her leave me every Monday was agony. The weekends went fast, the weekdays not so much. Since February, my life has revolved around my weekends…in total, thirteen weekends of bliss. Today, she returns to me. Classes are over, her apartment is packed up, and she’s on her way home.

True to my word, I haven’t pushed her. Just as I had to heal, she needed to as well. Valentine’s day came a few weeks after we got back together. The itch to re-propose drove me insane. I didn’t. Instead I took her to dinner, a Broadway show, and made love to her. Week after week, I literally wined and dined her. Having been holed up in my condo or at the PT facility, it felt great to get out again.

The media caught wind of my rebirth. They haven’t harassed me like they did last summer, but if I happen to cross their path then I’m fair game. My negotiations with the team came through. The Yankees
announced my formal retirement from the game and my new position as host on
Post Game Plus
. My assignment covers their home games. Last year, I debuted on the field. I can still feel the adrenaline coursing through my blood when I think of that night. This year, my debut came from the press box. Feeling the game come alive around me is as close to actually playing as I can get.

On my first day on the job, I was welcomed rookie-style. My former teammates covered every inch of my new office with inflated condoms. They also gifted me with a custom-made pinstriped cane.

With one month under my belt, the passion I carry for the game comes through in my live broadcasts. My producer said I’m a natural on camera. I was nervous the first few times, but that has passed. Once I get into the zone, I come across as an avid baseball fan discussing his favorite team in someone’s living room. Fans are relating to me. Possibly because of my injury or my former statistics, either way, they like me. My viewership during my first broadcast broke records. Annie said when she flipped on the TV and saw me delivering my opening line—“
Yankees Nation, you are watching
Post Game Plus
with Quint Lawson. Thanks for joining me.
”—She squealed and kissed my face on her screen.

The press has nicknamed me Pretty Boy. Fuckers. The irony that my new career makes me a part of the so-called press is priceless. At least I’m still part of the Yankees organization. It may not be a life-altering career, but as long as I have Annie to come home to, I now believe it can be an acceptable substitute. All I care about is my home life. Annie is happily working toward her career as a teacher. I’ll be earning a living talking about the sport I love. Dad says we’re very fortunate, and I tend to agree. I’m really happy and the main reason—Annie.

I can’t wait to get that ring back on her finger. After staging the perfect proposal in Disney, this time around I feel much different. The gist of our relationship is us…no one else matters. So, I’ll propose in our home without any outside pomp or circumstance. Later today, I’ll take her to her favorite restaurant in Brooklyn overlooking the river. Afterward, we’ll make love in our home.

My girl should be arriving any minute, and when she does, she’ll be walking into our future. I’m not nervous, just anxious. I stand in our third bedroom, making sure everything is perfect. It smells of fresh paint and fresh-cut flowers. I had it converted into an office for her, complete with plenty of bookshelves to hold all her precious paperbacks. Her new laptop sits on an antique desk. Her biggest surprise, a local artist painted the picture of us running through the sprinkler when we were five. It was the first picture ever taken of us. The idea came to me after we got back together. This room revolved around that one painting. It now proudly sits on the wall facing her desk. A few candles flicker, our favorite music is playing. The only thing missing is my girl.

Finally, I hear her key opening the lock. “Q?” she calls out from the foyer. I hit the remote for the Bose stereo. Jack Lair’s smooth voice fills the room with her favorite song,
Reason I Am
.

“In here.” I sit patiently at the desk, waiting for her to come in. She opens the door and stops stunned in her tracks.

“Oh my God. This is amazing. When did you do this?”

“Pretty much the minute you left on Monday. I didn’t have much time.”

We walk toward each other and she throws her arms around my waist. “I love it. Thank you so much.”

“I thought you could grade your papers in here or maybe write that book you always wanted to.”

She releases me and walks toward the desk. “This is beautiful,” she says in awe, skimming her hand along the smooth, dark wood. She gently touches the baby blue brocade fabric on the chair. “You have good taste.”

“I can’t take credit for the chair. Dr. Wallis has one just like it and it always reminds me of your eyes. She helped me find a duplicate.”

“I love it.” From where she stands, she slowly turns in a full circle, taking everything in. Wordlessly, she touches the framed pictures and knickknacks on the bookcases. When she turns to face me, her eyes land on the oil painting of us as kids.

She gasps, putting a hand to her mouth. “Q, I can’t believe you did this.”

“That picture deserves a place of honor.” I walk up behind her as she stares at the colorful canvas. “I hope someday our kids will stare up at it and see just how much their parents love each other.”

She turns into my body and hugs me tightly, looking up at me with moist eyes. “I love you so much.”

“I love you too. I’ve been so anxious to have you back here.”

“I’m home for good.” She rolls up on her toes to kiss my mouth. I let the cane fall so I can hold her with both arms. When I break the kiss, she looks up at me questioningly.

“Baby, I always felt our bond was ironclad, until I compromised it.”

“That’s in the past. It’s over.”

“Thank you for believing in me again, for coming back to me.”

“I thank God every day for bringing you back to me.”

“Me too. I have so much to be thankful for, most of all you. You’ve been a gift since the day you stalked across my lawn to steal my Tonka truck.”

She laughs while shaking her head. “I was drawn by your big Tonka.”

“I’ve always been well-endowed.” She shoves me playfully. “Baby, you’re the only girl to have seen my big Tonka, the only girl to hold my heart, and the only girl I want to spend every waking moment with.” I bend to kiss her lips once before adding, “I can’t bend on one knee, so forgive me for doing this improperly. Annie, will you marry me?”

“Yes. Yes, yes, yes!”

When I slide her ring onto her finger, she looks down and notices the changes I made. “I had a stone added on each side to represent each of us as individuals.” She meets my gaze and smiles lovingly. “You are your own person, Annie. You’re strong and committed, loving and kind, but most importantly, you are my partner. You’re the only teammate I need in life.” I smile at her tears and gently wipe them away. “I love you, Annie. I promise to make you happy every day until we die.”

“The only way you can do that is to be right beside me every day until we die. I can’t be happy without you.”

I nod solemnly at her words. “I know. I promise.” I tighten my hold on her. “I’ll never let you go again.”

“Good. Now that that’s settled, make love to me.”

“Under one condition.”

She quirks up a corner of her smile. “What’s the condition?”

“We need to set a date now.”

“Deal.”

“I still can’t believe I’m doing this,” Billy grumbles.

“I can’t believe you agreed to do this.”

“Yeah, I must have been drunk when you asked.”

“Nice try, man. You were completely sober. And I didn’t ask, Annie did,” I remind him.

My mom gives us a dirty look from where she sits, putting a finger to her lips to shush us.

“Sorry,” I mouth.

It’s warm for May, but there is still a nip in the air from the ocean breeze. I proposed four days ago. Three days ago we told our parents and bribed Billy with a lobster dinner if he got ordained online. We frantically rented tuxes, applied for a marriage license, bought rings, hired a photographer, and made a reservation at our favorite restaurant back home. Today is the Tuesday after Mother’s Day. Our present to our moms is a wedding. At first, we were planning to elope. We knew they’d flip out, and I’ve put them through so much already.

So here we are, and it’s a perfect day for a wedding.

Fuck. My wedding.

My nerves kick in and feel like horses are trampling through my stomach.

Where the hell is she?

And then, like a vision, she’s there.

Standing across the beach on her father’s arm and looking more beautiful than I could ever have imagined. The air leaves my lungs as I stare at her walking toward me. Her smile is electric. I hope I’m smiling in return. I’m so overwhelmed at the moment, I can’t be sure. All eyes are on her, including my own. The closer she steps to being mine in every way, the more my heart pounds in my chest.

Our mothers cry softly from their seats while my dad sits beside them smiling. Ava and Jeff, Lance and his date all sit behind them in the second row. That’s it, our entire guest list. Including us, eleven in total…and we wouldn’t want it any other way.

“Hi,” she says after her father hands her over to me.

“Hi. You look so beautiful. That dress…”

She blushes and looks at Ava, who in turn says, “Told you so.”

Annie confessed the tale of the dress. From the way it was purchased, to it ending up in a landfill, to Ava repurchasing another when we got back together. Ava’s a smart woman. This dress was made for my girl. It molds over her breasts and hugs her like a second skin. I subtly take a half step to my right to hide the tent I’m pitching in my tux pants.

Billy starts his practiced speech and, to be honest, I’m not paying attention. I can’t stop staring at her. That is until he clears his throat to get my attention.

“What?”

“Annie is ready to recite her vows.”

“Oh, sorry, baby. Go ahead.”

“Q, I’ve seen you grow from a boy to a man. I’ve watched every day as you become more knowledgeable, more respectful, more loving, and more handsome. We’ve already been through more than most married couples double our age. Many happy times and some not so happy, but with each experience I somehow came out loving you more. I’m not sure how that’s possible. When a glass is filled to the top, how can you add more liquid? My heart has always been filled with so much love for you, but somehow you manage to get me to squeeze in more and more.” I chuckle at her adorable analogy. She shrugs and adds, “Q, I love you more with each day. You’re my best friend, my soul mate, and the love of my life…literally.”

Impulsively, I bend and kiss her long and hard.

Billy leans closer and says, “Ahem, it’s not time for that.”

Annie giggles against my lips. The sound makes my hard-on predicament worse.

“Christ. Okay, enough. Quint, you may now recite your vows to Annie.”

“Annie. Thank you. It pretty much sums up everything I need to say. Thank you for being born. Thank you for moving in next door. Thank you for being my best friend, for allowing me to experiment my kissing techniques on you behind your dad’s shed when we were twelve…” A masculine throat clearing pulls my attention away from my bride. I take a quick peek at my frowning father-in-law. “Um…thank you for taking my shit, putting me in my place more times than I can count, and sticking by me through thick and thin.” Tears shimmer in her eyes as she smiles warmly at me. I need to drag in a deep breath to continue because she’s overwhelming me. “Baby, but most of all, I want to thank you for loving me. I will do everything in my power to make you happy. I will love you fiercely every day for the rest of my life.”