“Andie just said to ignore them and play my game.”
“She’s absolutely fucking right, Mac. You can’t let these bitches get in your head. They’re either jealous of you, or they’re just pissed that the team is getting negative attention. Trust me, I’ve dealt with this before. The media will get bored with it. They’ll move on. It’ll all blow over.”
He leans in and gives me a kiss.
I just sigh. Being in his arms feels so good. This is what I was missing these last few days.
“When did all this happen?”
“Team dinner.” I pull out of his arms and sit cross-legged across from him so that I can see his face in the dimly lit backyard as I recount everything Marci said to me. It makes me wantto sob all over again, but I do my best to keep it in so that I can get through it.
“What a fucking bitch. That woman is supposed to be your teammate. She shouldn’t be tearing you down like that.”
“I know, but she has a point. I am the captain, and then I’m in the article so much more than the rest of them. I fucked you and got into the paper for that now too. Everything is just a mess.” I can feel myself about to let out another round of sobs, and this time, I don’t hold back. It all just comes out and I can’t stop it.
I’m not sure how long we sit there, but I cry for what feels like hours. Danny just holds me, rubs my back, and says sweet things in my ear. When I’m finally all cried out, I look up at him and say, “I’m sorry. I’m sorry for the circus. I saw that it was a bit of a mess today when you were at the stadium, and then August wouldn’t let you sit with him. I’m sorry. I’m just so sorry.”
“Hold on a second. You have nothing to apologize for. This was you and me. We did this together.Weshare the same amount of blame for it, so stop blaming yourself. I didn’t mind sitting down there. Actually, it was so nice to get a good view of you from the field. I could actually see your facial expressions and the joy on your face while you were playing. I loved every minute of watching you play. So, you don’t owe me any more apologies. Do you hear me? No more.”
His brown eyes look so full of love and concern that all I want to do is pull him into me, but I don’t want to break the moment and make this about sex. Even though I fully plan on doing that later with him.
“How did I get so lucky?” I reach up and place a chaste kiss on his forehead.
“What do you mean?” he asks, confused.
“How did I get so lucky that I managed to piss off the hottest and most considerate reporter who was in the room that night? I mean, it could have been any of them talking to me like that, butit was you. And honestly, you might have been one of the best things that has happened to me in a long time.”
He’s looking at me in awe. He swallows big, his Adam’s apple bobbing up and down, then he finally speaks. “I love you too, Mackenzie Dixon. I’m not sure how I got so lucky to be here with you like this, but I do love you. So very, very much.”
I beam at him. “I love you so much too, Danny. I guess that’s what I was trying to say earlier, and I was doing such a poor job of it.”
He pulls me into him and kisses me passionately. When we break apart, we’re both panting.
“That’s the kind of kiss I was hoping to give you when I saw you up on that railing, but I knew it wouldn’t have been fair to you.” He leans in and kisses my nose.
I laugh. “Why do you say that?”
“Because it would have made it an even bigger story if something like that had happened.”
“This is true.”
His phone rings in his pocket. “Sorry,” he says, pulling it out. “Hey, Nick, what’s going on?” Danny pauses to listen, then speaks again. “Yeah, I found her and I’m with her now.”
“Okay, good. Later,” he says before hanging up. “He was worried. Wanted to make sure I found you okay.”
“That was sweet of him,” I say, leaning into him. “I’m sorry that I left. I just had to get out of there.”
“I get it, but next time, please tell me. I’m happy to get you as far away from there as I possibly can. Got it?”
I nod. “Got it. Do you wanna come inside? I have some ice cream, and I think I’ve earned it.”
Danny stands and holds out his hand to me. “Let’s do it.”
Inside, I dish out two bowls of strawberry ice cream. “Let’s eat this in my bed,” I tell him.
I don’t miss the naughty look in his eyes when we’re taking the short walk down the hallway to my bedroom. I lie back on thebed and take a bite of ice cream. Danny sits beside me, taking a bite of ice cream into his mouth. He doesn’t swallow, though. Instead, he leans forward and pulls my shirt up, looking up at me for permission. I nod slowly, then I watch as he pulls my bra down and encloses his mouth around my nipple. The cold of the ice cream and the warmth of his mouth and my skin is turning me on. I moan as he keeps on swirling his tongue around my nipple.
Leaning back, he swallows any excess ice cream in his mouth. After taking another bite, he goes for the other nipple and repeats the same action. I’m turning into putty in his hands. I place the ice cream bowl on my bedside table and pull him closer to me.
