Page 67 of Leave It On The Field (Grand Slam 3)
ChapterTwenty-One
SOPHIE
November 2, 2022
“Are you sure you want to do this?”
Maisie crawls up on a chair to peer out of the stadium window again. We’re in the L.A. baseball offices, getting ready to go to our seats for game three.
“Yeah, I mean, that’s where our seats are. We have to go out there if we want to watch the game.” I get on my tiptoes and look out with her. “I don’t think anyone will say anything to me.”
“Soph,” Maisie says, hopping down from the chair. “At least a dozen people yelled stuff at you on our way into the stadium.”
“She’s right,” Mason says from behind me. “I hate that we don’t have a suite here. You’ll be out in the open. Maybe we should go back to the hotel and watch from there.”
“No one’s tried to touch me yet, and I can take the verbal abuse.” I look back at him. “Besides, your adorable son is waiting for us, right? Millie said her dad was bringing him tonight.”
“Yeah, he’s here,” Mason says, smiling. “I saw them before we left the hotel. Millie has him wearing the Seb jersey you gave her. He looks so cute.”
“I will not be denied his cuteness because of some drunk, mouthy idiots.” I take a deep breath and point toward the door that goes into the stadium. “Let’s do this.”
“Alright,” Mason says, heading toward the door. “I’m on your back, but the first indication I get that it’s too hot, I’m pulling you out.”
The second we walk out onto the concourse, heads start turning, fingers start pointing, and phones start snapping pictures. Mason puts his arms around Maisie and me and starts pushing us toward our section. As we walk down the stairs to our seats, the smack talk starts.
“Hey, Sophie! Seb doesn’t look too happy tonight. What’s up? Doesn’t he have a private office here?”
“I’m available for a conjugal visit if Seb isn’t.”
“Holy crap,” I say as Maisie wraps her arm around my shoulders. “How do people think this is appropriate?”
“Just concentrate on our seats,” she says, nodding to where Jack and my dad are standing.
“Dottie put us in the middle of the team employees,” Jack says, motioning us into our row. “Five rows of buffer on both sides.”
I sink into my seat. “That’s not even close to being enough.”
Raine leans down from where she’s sitting in the row behind me and whispers, “Ignore them. They’ll settle in. Distract yourself with Mo.”
I look to where she’s pointing. Millie’s two rows up, holding her son.
“Eek!” I lean over Raine’s legs to get closer. “How did I miss the most handsome man in the stadium? Look how cute that little jersey is on him.”
“Mo,” Millie says, turning him around on her lap so he’s facing me. “This is your Aunt Sophie. Can you say, ‘Hi, Sophie’?”
“Hi, Pophie,” he says, his chubby little arm waving at me.
“Hi, sweet baby.” I wave back to him. “Millie, he looks just like you.”
“No,” she says, nudging the man next to her. “He looks just like Grandpa. Sophie, this is my dad, Mack.”
“Nice to meet you,” Mack says, reaching his hand out to me. “I’ve heard a lot about you.”
“Likewise,” I say, grabbing Raine’s leg. “Most of it from Raine’s adoring mouth.”
“Stop,” Raine says, shoving me. “Mack already knows I have a crush on him. But look at him, can you blame me?”
“I definitely cannot.” I look from Mack to Mo. “But I have a bigger crush on you.”
