My eyes opened slowly and I rubbed at them, resisting the urge to close them and go right back to sleep. Today was the big day for Jack. I heard my cell phone beep its soft reminder tone and I reached for it. A text message.
Morning, Kitten. Are you up? Can’t wait to see you.
I noted the time. Six forty-three a.m. That was over an hour ago. I typed out a response letting him know I was awake and pressed Send. My phone immediately rang. “Hi,” I answered wearily.
“When can I come get you?” Jack’s voice sounded chipper.
“Good morning to you too,” I teased.
“I’m coming over in half an hour. Be ready.”
“What? No! I’m still in bed and I need to eat and shower and get ready.” It was still early and I couldn’t help the little whine that crept out in my voice.
“I didn’t say we had to leave in half an hour, just that I was coming over. Plus,” he paused, “I have something for you.”
My pulse skittered. “What is it?”
“A present. I’ll see you soon.” He laughed before hanging up.
I jumped out of bed and threw open my door in search of Melissa. “Thank God you’re already awake!” I shrieked at the sight of her eating cereal on the couch.
“I can’t sleep in. You know this.” She looked up from her cereal bowl and smiled.
“Um, Jack will be here in half an hour. And he said he’s bringing me a present.” I cocked my head to one side and raised my eyebrows as I plopped down across from her. Melissa’s lips parted as her smile spread all the way across her face.
“Oh my God, you know what it is! Tell me!” I shouted at my best friend.
“No way. I’m not ruining that surprise.” She shoveled another spoonful of cereal into her still grinning mouth.
“It’s not…” I paused. “He’s not…”
Her face crinkled as she read my mind. “Not what? Proposing?”
“He’s not, right? I mean, we’re not there yet.”
“Oh, this is fun.” Melissa was enjoying teasing me way too much, and I resisted the urge to reach across the table and strangle the truth out of her.
“You suck,” I grumbled. “I mean, it’s not like I think he’s going to, but it did pop into my head. Probably because he’s leaving soon, and I’m a girl and…”
“It’s not a ring,” she confessed begrudgingly. “But what if it was? Oooh, what would you say if Jack asked you to marry him?”
“I seriously hate you. This isn’t funny. I hate surprises.” I stood up, rubbing my suddenly anxious stomach.
“You will love this. I promise. Trust me. Trust Jack,” she said confidently. “He knows what he’s doing. He has your best interests at heart. And that’s all I’ll say about that.”
I released a deep breath. “Okay. Thank you. I’m gonna jump in the shower.”
“Don’t fall,” she shouted, mimicking her father’s usual tired joke.
“Ha ha!” I yelled from my room.
After my shower, I wrapped a towel around me and opened my bathroom door, spotting Jack lying with his eyes closed on my bed. If he really was sleeping, I didn’t want to wake him, so I quietly tiptoed past him toward my dresser. I shrieked when he jumped from the bed and grabbed me, forcing my towel to fall to the floor.
“Jack! You scared the crap out of me!” I shouted as I reached for the wet clump of terrycloth.
Jack reached it first and snatched it away. “I don’t think I’m giving this back. I like what I see too much.”
“Stop,” I whined, trying to cover my girly parts with my hands while he stared.
“Come here.” He extended his hand and when I grasped it, he pulled my dampened body on top of his. “I love you. You know that?” he asked, running his fingers through my wet and tangled hair.
I didn’t respond. I looked deep into his eyes and smiled. His fingers ran down my spine, forcing chills to course through my already chilled body. He arched his head up, meeting my mouth with his before pulling my head down. My lower lip felt the graze of his tongue as it entered my mouth slowly, methodically. His tongue darted against mine before leaving and then returning in a sensual exchange. Every touch awoke parts of me until soon, my entire body was screaming out for him.
“Jack.” I breathed his name against his mouth.
“Mm-hmm,” he responded as his tongue continued to titillate my senses.
“Do we have time?” I reached for the button of his shorts, hoping he’d take the hint.
“Mm-hmm.” He grabbed me firmly with one well-toned arm and propped us both up on the bed with the other.
When we were sitting up completely, he reached for the back of his shirt and pulled it over his head in one swift movement. I stared at the muscles in his chest and shoulders, fascinated by the way they flexed with any movement he made. I fumbled with the button on his shorts, trying desperately to get it open, but failing due to our position.
“Just one sec,” he said softly before sliding my body from his. I sat next to him as he kicked off his shorts and boxer briefs. “You can come back now.” He smirked before lying on his back.
I leaned down to kiss his dimples before climbing back over. I positioned my body on top of his, my legs straddling his hips as I lifted my lower half and placed him inside of me. I allowed my body to lower gently, taking all of him in one motion. “Oh God,” I moaned, feeling him reach places in me I’d never felt before. I looked up at my ceiling as I continued to lift and rock my body over and over, feeling him deeper inside each time.
Jack groaned with pleasure as his hands clutched my hips, moving with my body. Up and down. Up and down. His grip tightened as his excitement grew, willing me to speed up my motion, but I refused. I wanted to make it last. I rose and fell, sounds escaping my lips more often than not.
I looked down at him and noticed his eyes fixated on my face. Or more specifically, they were focused on my mouth. I moaned once more, my lips parting and moving with each labored breath I took as he squeezed his eyes shut.
“Why do you always feel so amazing?” he asked, his hips thrusting upward against mine each time I fell.
“You feel so good.” I breathed heavily as I bent over him, my body still rising and falling as I swept my tongue across his lips. This new angle caused him to reach different places inside of me and I unwittingly moaned once more, almost unable to take it.
“Oh God, Jack.” I breathed his name, my hips pumping faster. His hands moved me forcefully at a swift pace as he let out a throaty growl. I threw my mouth against his, longing for the feel of his lips and tongue against mine. I ravaged his mouth, unable to get enough, my tongue desperate for a dance with his. And when the hot taste of his tongue finally met with mine, I sighed audibly as I felt the beginning of that rush of tingling that I’d worked for.
As impossible as it seemed, I felt him grow larger inside of me as our movements hastened to their final pace. His eyes snapped shut and his face pinched together as he exploded inside of me with forceful thrusts. I shook with the joy it brought, my insides twitching and pulsing. Breathing rapidly, he opened his eyes and leaned shakily up to kiss me. “You’re fucking sexy as hell. You know that?”
I collapsed onto his sweaty chest, my thighs burning. I breathed heavily against him before removing our still attached parts from each other. I scurried into the bathroom and when I came back out, Jack was propped up on the bed with both elbows.
“Are you ever getting dressed?” I teased and he smiled.
“Come here.” He hooked his finger at me and I ambled toward him, slipping into a pair of underwear before sitting down in front of him.
He reached behind him and lifted a white box tied with a red bow. It was smaller than a shoebox, but bigger than a jewelry box. I had no clue what could possibly be inside.
“Open it,” he insisted as nerves exploded throughout my system.
I pulled at the bow, watching as it released its grip on the box wrapped in white paper beneath it. I tore at the taped corners, ripping the paper away as I glimpsed the familiar red font I’d grown to love. My breath caught in my throat.
“Jack.” My voice hitched.
“I know it’s not like the one you lost, but Melissa said it’s better,” he started to explain. “She said this is the one you dream about.” His proud smile lit up his whole face.
“It’s incredible. But…” I shook my head reluctantly. “I know how much this camera costs, Jack, and it’s too much.”
His smile wavered as he asked, “Do you remember the night your camera got stolen?” His jaw tensed as I nodded. “Do you remember what I said to you?” I shrugged. “I said I’d get you a new one. I promised. Besides, it could be months before the police release yours from evidence.”
“But, Jack…”
“But nothing. Kitten, I’m getting drafted today. By the end of the afternoon, I’m going to have more money than I’ve ever had in my life. I wanted to do something nice for you. And I made you a promise.” His voice pleaded, desperate for my acceptance.
“I’ll pay you back,” I offered, feeling the self-imposed weight subside.
“Consider it an investment in your future.” He reached for my face before tilting my chin toward him. “I believe in you. You have a gift. You are so talented. Now you can show the world.”
Little tingles pricked the backs of my eyes with his words. “Saying thank you doesn’t seem like enough, but thank you, Jack. I can’t believe you did this.”
“I’d do anything for you,” he said before pressing his lips against my cheek.
“I got the internship,” I told him softly.
His eyes lit up. “You did? I knew you’d get it! What’d they say? I mean, when they said you got it, what were their reasons?”
“They said I had real raw talent that impressed them. ‘A beautiful eye and a unique perspective,’” I quoted, my eyes burning with unshed tears.
“They have no idea how right they are. Congrats, babe!” He lifted me off the bed and swung me around the room in his arms.
“I was going to have to turn them down because I didn’t have a camera anymore,” I admitted as one tear escaped. “But now I can accept it.”
“You can just call me your hero if you want,” he taunted, placing my feet back on the ground.
“You’re so irritating.” I sniffed back the tears and pretended to snarl at him and he laughed heartily.
“I’m just playing. I’m proud of you. You deserve it.” He kissed the side of my head. “Hey, bring it with you today. Gramps said he wants to see it in action.”
“I love him,” I said with a laugh, imagining Gramps limping around with a giant-sized professional camera.
“And I love you. Now hurry up, ’cause we need to get to the house before the cameras do.” He pushed me and smacked my behind.
I tumbled forward before gaining my balance. I turned toward my handsome boyfriend and said, “I’m proud of you, you know? I’m excited for you today.”
His eyes brightened. “Thanks, Kitten.”
“Are you nervous?” I asked, realizing he never expressed any fear when it came to this subject.
“Not really. I’d be nervous if I wasn’t sure whether or not I was getting drafted, you know what I mean? If I had to sit there and wait to find out if they were going to crush my dreams or let me hold on to them a little bit longer. Those are the guys who have it rough. Not me.” His eyes held mine in a serious gaze.
“So you’re one of the lucky ones?”
“I’d like to think so.”
“You’re not worried about anything? The money, where you’ll be playing, or what team you’ll get on?”
“I’ll be getting paid to play baseball. Paid…to play…a sport I love. I don’t care about the team, how much they pay me, or where I have to go to play it. I just want to do this for as long as they let me,” he answered, flashing the dimples on his cheeks.
“Well, I think they’re the lucky ones,” I explained, “whatever team drafts you. They’re lucky to have you.”
He avoided my gaze as his cheeks flushed with color. “Thanks, Kitten.”
I slipped into some white dress shorts paired with an off-the-shoulder tan sweater. I brushed my hair, letting the golden strands fall down around my shoulders. When I stepped back from the mirror, Jack whistled. “Kitten, the whole world is going to be in love with you after this.”
“What are you talking about? I’m in shorts and a sweater,” I argued, looking down at my attire.
“You clearly don’t see the way yourself the way guys do. If I was watching ESPN today, I wouldn’t care at all about Jack Carter. I’d want to know everything about Jack Carter’s girlfriend.”
I felt my cheeks warm. “Shut up. You’re totally embarrassing me.”
“Maybe you should stay here. It’s one thing to have half the school in love with you, but I don’t think I can handle half the viewing population wanting my girl.” He sniffed, running his hand through his black hair.
“You’re ridiculous.”
He inhaled one long breath before shaking his head with his exhale. “I’m gonna have to put a huge rock on your finger before I leave so everyone knows you’re unavailable.”
My pulse quickened. “You’re crazy, you know that?”
“Crazy about you,” he said, waggling his eyebrows.
“No, I think you’re just crazy.” I laughed as I willed my heart to calm down.
*****
Jack led me through the screen door, his fingers intertwined tightly with mine. “Gran? Gramps? We’re here!” he shouted into the house.
I looked around as Gran walked from the entryway in the kitchen wearing a light blue floral dress, a short string of pearls resting at her throat. Gramps followed behind her, dressed in carefully pressed brown dress slacks and a tan button-down shirt.
“You two look so nice!” I squealed.
“So do you, dear. Come here and give me a hug.” Gramps shuffled toward me with a smile.
I hugged him and he whispered in my ear, “Did you like your present?”
“I did! It’s amazing. I can’t wait to show it to you later,” I said with a large smile.
Gramps clasped his hands together. “Oh good! I want to learn all about it.”
Gran reached for me and I leaned down toward her to give her a squeeze. “You look lovely, dear. I’m glad you’re here,” she said happily.
“Thank you. I’m happy to be here.” My heart squeezed with love as I watched Gran meander back into the kitchen, humming happily.
“Have you heard anything about that internship yet?” Gramps asked, his wrinkled face looking hopeful.
“I got it!” I shouted, then winced a little at how overexcited my voice sounded.
“That’s great, dear. Oh, that’s just great news.” Gramps beamed at me with a wide smile.
“You got the internship, sis?” Dean’s voice cut through the noise in the room as he appeared, rubbing his tired eyes.
“I just found out. I wasn’t going to take it, but now I can.” I shot a thankful glance toward Jack before finding myself wrapped in Dean’s arms.
“Congratulations. That’s awesome.” Dean caught me up in a tight bear hug, then released me with a proud smile.
A quick rap at the door reminded us all why we were gathered there in the first place. Jack pulled the curtain back and peered toward the porch. “It’s just Marc and Ryan.”
He opened the front door for his two well-dressed agents, who sauntered in with their hands filled with paperwork, a bottle of champagne, and a box of baseballs. “How you feeling, champ?” the taller of the two asked Jack.
“Good, thanks,” Jack responded confidently, reaching out his hand to help carry the load.
“Hey, Dean. How you doing?” Dean smiled at the men as they playfully boxed in the living room, almost dropping their things.
I resisted the urge to pull my brand new camera out of my bag and shoot the interaction. The taller man stopped as he noticed me and walked in my direction, his arm outstretched. “You must be Cassie,” he said before shaking my hand.
I smiled and nodded. “I’m Marc and this is my partner in crime, Ryan.” He gestured toward the other gentleman.
“It’s nice to meet you,” I responded politely.
“It’s nice to meet you too. Jack, you held back on how good-looking your girl is.” Ryan winked at Jack with a chuckle.
“Settle down. I haven’t signed any agreements with you two yet.” Jack smirked before wrapping his arm around my waist and pressing me against him.
“This is fun!” I wiggled my shoulders with excitement, then leaned into Jack’s hard chest.
“Oh, you like this, do you?” He dropped his arm and started to tickle my side.
I screamed and ran away, pretending to hide behind Dean for protection. “Save me, Dean,” I shouted, grabbing his arms and cowering as he moved his body to block me from Jack’s playful attack.
“What’s going on?” Gran’s voice echoed into the living room before she popped her head in. “Oh dear, stop it! Come sit at the table…that esspen will be here any minute now!”
I laughed at Gran’s pronunciation of ESPN. She said it like it was a word, instead of separate letters. No matter how many times everyone told her it was E, S, P, N, she still insisted on pronouncing it ESS-pen.
“Are you okay, Gran?” Jack dropped a kiss on the top of her head before enveloping her frail frame in his strong arms.
“I’m just a little anxious is all,” she admitted, her voice cracking.
“It’s going to be great, isn’t it, fellas?” Jack narrowed his eyes toward his soon-to-be agents.
“Of course it is,” Ryan reassured.
“This whole thing is nerve-wracking,” Gran declared. “Why aren’t you nervous?” she asked her grandson, and I watched the smile take over his face.
“Because there’s nothing more I can do. I’ve worked my ass off and I’ve left it all out on that field every day for years.” He shrugged one shoulder. “It’s out of my hands at this point.”
Her cheeks scrunched as she beamed with pride. “How’d you get so smart?” She cupped his face with both hands and planted a kiss on each cheek.
“I learned it from you. Now come sit with us and relax.” He led her by the hand toward the kitchen table when the chime of the doorbell stopped them. “You sit, Gran. I’ll let them in,” Jack told her sweetly.
The chatter of voices filtered from the open front door and into the kitchen where we all sat waiting. Jack walked in followed by two cameramen, a reporter, and a producer. They discussed how things would work—that we would basically be filmed waiting for the phone to ring and for Jack to get his offer. They would film the reaction when the call came, and then interview Jack and possibly us after. And they kept reminding us not to look at the cameras and to act natural.
I laughed and all eyes turned to me. “What? It’s not natural to have huge cameras following your every move and filming your private expressions. I’m a lot more comfortable behind the lens than I am in front of it.”
“I know it’s a little weird. Just do your best to pretend that the cameras aren’t here,” the director told me.
We sat around the kitchen table making small talk while the cameras filmed mere feet from us. Waiting for a phone call to come was nerve-wracking enough, but being filmed while you were waiting was a completely different experience entirely.
I jumped when the phone clanged to life, the sound startling me and waking up my dormant emotions. Fear suddenly ripped through my body, followed quickly by nerves, and then elation. My stomach twisted as Jack walked toward the old yellow rotary phone.
“Hello?” His eyes scanned each of our faces, but never the camera. “Speaking.” A huge grin spread across his face making the dimples I loved even deeper. “Thank you so much. Yes, sir. I’ll be in touch. Thank you.”
He slammed down the phone before turning toward us. “Arizona!” he shouted and everyone cheered, including me. I wasn’t sure why we were cheering, but I screamed and clapped along. “I’m a Diamondback!”
“Bonus amount?” Marc asked, leaning his elbows against the table.
“Hold on,” Jack said before walking over to his Gran and kissing her cheek. Then he squeezed Gramps and Dean before leaning down to kiss my mouth and I instantly forgot we were surrounded by cameras and strangers.
“Congratulations, babe. I’m so happy for you.” I looked into his soft brown eyes and noticed the peace there.
“Thank you,” he whispered into my ear before pressing his lips against my neck.
“Carter, come on. Do we have to call these guys back and negotiate or what?” Ryan interjected in a vain attempt to get Jack’s attention.
“They said five,” Jack answered with a smile, refusing to look away from my face.
“Yeah? Did they say five?” Ryan’s eyes lifted.
“That’s what they said.”
“Well, alright! How do you feel? Should we push?” Marc asked as he scribbled notes furiously onto his pad.
He turned. “I think five is more than fair. I’m happy with it,” Jack acknowledged.
“I know it sounds like a lot of money right now, Jack, but you’ll lose half in taxes, we take our cut, and you won’t be making much for the next few years in the minor leagues. We could probably get them to budge some,” Marc suggested, still writing.
“I’m happy with it. I just want to play ball.” Jack’s tone was firm.
“Alright then. We’ll accept the deal as is. Congrats!”
Jack pulled his chair next to me and tossed his arm low across my back. “Five million isn’t a bad signing bonus, right? Am I being naïve?”
I almost choked. “That’s what it is? Five million dollars?” I asked.
“What did you think?” He laughed, his eyebrows pulling in.
“I don’t know, but I didn’t think that. Holy shit, Jack, that’s incredible.” I was so stunned I had to remember to close my mouth since my jaw kept dropping open.
“I should sign, right?”
“Absolutely. I mean, have your lawyer look over the contracts, but of course you should sign! Why wouldn’t you?” I grabbed his face and pulled him to me before planting a loud kiss on his lips. “You’re awesome. My baby’s a Diamondback!”
The reporter tossed Jack a Diamondback jersey and hat and asked him to put them on while they interviewed him for a piece to air later that day. I watched as he tossed the jersey over his black shirt, buttoning the top button before placing the cap firmly on his head and tucking the stray hair underneath.
“How do I look?” he asked, modeling the crimson red jersey with D*Backs written on it.
“Like a ball player,” I responded with a smile.
“Like a million bucks.” Gramps punched the air.
Dean grinned. “More like five.”
“Can I get my camera? Are we allowed to take pictures?” I asked, longing to use my new camera for this special moment.
The producer turned to me. “As soon as we stop rolling. Otherwise the shutter sound of your camera will filter into the sound bytes.”
“Okay,” I responded with a huge smile, turning my camera on and exploring its new features so I’d be ready when it was time.
When the television crew cleared out, I grabbed Jack and his family and posed them in the backyard, under a giant oak tree. I took a few group family shots and then individual ones.
“Let me take one of you and Jack, dear. Do you trust me to use your camera?” Gramps asked with a laugh.
“Of course! Be careful, it’s a lot heavier than it looks,” I noted, handing him my weighty equipment.
“Oh, this is heavy.” He carefully placed the camera strap around his neck.
“Okay, now you have to look through it like a regular, old-fashioned camera.” I paused, realizing that Gramps had probably never used anything but an old-fashioned camera.
I placed his index finger on top of a round, smooth knob. “Then you press this button halfway down so that Jack and I come into focus. Once we’re focused, you press it all the way down and you’ll hear it click. And that’s it!”
“I can do that.” Gramps gave me a confident nod and I scurried over to Jack’s side.
I glanced sideways, taking in his new hat and jersey before wrapping my arm around his middle. He pulled me tight. “This is exciting, right?”
“Understatement of the year.” I shivered with excitement and grinned up at him.
We stood still for what felt like an eternity while Gramps maneuvered us and played with the camera. “Oh, Gramps, can we get one more with Dean?” I looked at Dean and waved him over. “I don’t have any pictures of the three of us. I really want one. Or twelve,” I said with a chuckle.
“This is fun! I see why you like doing this, Cassie. You can’t screw up because you can’t run out of film.”
“It’s pretty cool, huh?” I asked, removing the camera from around his neck.
“Pretty cool indeed,” he answered with a wink.
