Since the fans behind us go wild when they realize Mateo is making his way straight to us.
Hats, jerseys, and baseballs enter my periphery as they try to reach closer to see if they can get anything signed. I wrap my arms around Anna to make sure she doesn’t get knocked over. The gate guard notices and waves for us to stand as he opens the gate slightly.
Now would be a great time for me to stand and unclench my ass cheeks, but Mateo’s penetrating gaze leaves my knees feeling a little weak.
Eventually, Charlie moves in and gives me a hand, probably assuming I missed the other security guard’s prompt rather than realizing I’m trying to calm down my nervous lady bits.
We make it to the gate, and once Charlie and the other guard cover our backs, it’s fully opened for us.
For a second, I forget about it all.
Mateo, the curious stares, the maddening, intrusive thoughts in my head.
All of it.
Once my scuffed-up shoes touch the field, all I see is the impressive stadium in all its glory.
For all the games I’ve watched in person or on TV, I’ve never had the vantage point from down on the field.
Seeing the crowd from this angle, the dugout and the thousands of bright lights that are primed, ready, and pointed our way for when the sun set is simply a magical experience.
One I’ll never forget.
I’m pulled from my thoughts when Mateo steps up to me, Anna already in his arms. He searches my face intently, something I’m starting to notice he does when he’s concerned. He brings up a gloved hand and speaks into it. “You doing okay?”
I smile awkwardly and nod. “Yep. Just another day at the office, right?” His eyes continue their perusal for signs of distress. He’s about to say something else when I interrupt him. “I’m fine. I promise. Things will probably feel a little morenormal when the mob behind me calms down after you walk away,Martinez.” I aim for levity.
He looks behind me, and as if it’s only now registered that there’s an entire section of fans there, he takes a sizable step back.
“I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to bring attention to you. I’ll be more conscious next time.” He puts Anna down softly. “You want to go back up to the family suite? I can have Daisy called down here to get you.”
I’m about to tell him it’s fine and he’s overreacting, when all of a sudden, my feet leave the ground, and the air is sucked out of my chest.
The noise level behind me reaches another level of insanity, and I firmly believe that I should have invested in earplugs.
“Isabella!”
My initial panic and confusion morph into muffled laughter when I realize who has fully bulldozed into me. “Put me down, you goofball.”
“Torres, really, man?” Mateo yells as he stands next to us, hands on his hips.
“What? It’s been forever since I’ve seen her. You’ve been hogging her too much. Give the girl a day off or something so she can hang out with cool people like my wife and me.” He sets me down softly, throwing a wink Mateo’s way.
It feels like they’re having a whole conversation with their eyes, and if I didn’t sense some simmering tension, I might have found it super impressive.
Anna gets all of our attention by spinning and showing off her bejeweled jersey. “Papi, look. Isabella helped me add all the Monarch colors. I have navy, white, and maroon.”
“Dang, girl. You’re looking fly. Give Tío Torres a spin. Let me see it again.”
Without pause, Anna twirls until she gets dizzy, causing the slight scowl to leave Mateo’s face.
“I love it, mija. It’s my new favorite jersey of yours.” He smiles as his daughter preens under the compliment. Then his eyes find mine, and he nods my way. “Go on, your turn.”
My brows furrow. “For what?”
His lips twitch as he tries to maintain an unreadable face. “C’mon, Anna showed off her jersey, so it’s your turn now. Go ahead and give us a little twirl.”
My eyes widen as Torres belly laughs.
