“But they have kids,” I say, feeling horrified for his wife.

“Apparently that didn’t matter.” Natalie sighs. “I still feel sad about it. Marcus had a hand in getting Cory and me back together. And who knows, maybe there are two sides to every story, but all we know is the boys avoid him. Which by the way”—Natalie holds up her drink and Dottie’s holds hers up too. So I join—“to a new friendship.”

We all cheers and take a sip. “Not that I’m angry you guys are here, but . . . why are you here?”

They both laugh and Dottie takes the lead. “Ready for some gossip?”

“As if we haven’t already opened with that,” Natalie says.

“True.” Dottie turns toward me and says, “Jason told me that Maddox was talking to him about you the other day, how he worries when he’s gone because you don’t really have anyone in Chicago other than the people you work with. Maddox wondered if Natalie and I would make friends with you.”

I feel my cheeks flush and Natalie catches it because she quickly says, “Don’t be embarrassed. It’s really sweet. Maddox wants to make sure you’re taken care of. Trust me, it’s good to make some friends who know what you’re going through. Being a baseball spouse is not easy.”

“How long have you two been together?” Dottie asks. “When Jason told me Maddox had a girl, I was a little stunned to be honest. He’s always been a little darker, a little more closed off.”

“Yeah, the dark horse of the group.”

“Always a different girl—” Natalie knocks Dottie in the leg.

“Don’t say things like that to her.”

“Oh shit, I’m sorry.” Dottie clasps her hands over her mouth. “I swear, I’m not that mean girl who makes you worry about your man. Jason said Maddox is so lost in you. You have nothing to worry about.”

I feel like a pinball, being shoved around every which way. These two seem like a lot of fun, but also exhausting. Then again, this is how Maddox must feel around me, being tossed back and forth from topic to topic.

“Maddox and I are not technically together.”

The color in both their faces drain and Natalie is the first to speak. “Oh shit. Did we just expose Maddox?”

“Jason made it seem like you guys were together. He didn’t say that Maddox’s feelings were a secret. I am going to kill him.”

I chuckle and shake my head. “Please don’t kill Jason, he’s such a sweet man. And I do know about Maddox’s feelings. We’ve known each other since we were five. Best friends, neighbors, we grew up together. We know everything about one another. I got a job opportunity that I was going to turn down because I couldn’t afford the housing here, and he offered to let me stay with him. From there, things got intense quickly. Before they left for their away trip, he kissed me.” My heart sighs from remembering the moment. “He kissed me and left.”

“Oh, that devil of a man,” Natalie says, but both girls lean in to my story.

“Tell me about it. We talked that night once they got to the hotel and he basically laid it all out on the table.” I clasp my hands together, trying to contain the excitement I have over the prospect of Maddox coming back tomorrow and wanting to take things another step further.

“You guys are so going to have sex tomorrow, aren’t you?” Dottie asks, a giant smirk on her face.

I shake my head. “No, he’s a sexual creature—”

“Ah, so he told you about all the women.” Natalie nods. “Yeah, Cory said he was a bit of a player.”

I swallow hard, knowing this is true. But he also had a long-term girlfriend . . . that broke his heart. He hasn’t had a relationship since then. Should I be concerned?

“Yes, we’re both sexual creatures actually,” I say, not wanting to show any insecurity. Dottie and Natalie are here on the best of intentions, I know this. They might be quite open, which in the long run is what I’m looking for in a friendship, but it’s also a lot at first, especially since I haven’t seen Maddox since he left the shelter. “I didn’t want the start of us to be all about sex, so he gave me control.”

“As in . . . he’s not going to try to fuck you until you give him the go ahead?” Dottie asks. I nod and she clasps her hand over her heart. “That’s really hot actually.”

“It is.” Natalie leans back and says, “Cory held out on me.”

“Jason did the same.” Dottie sips her drink. “It was really annoying, being the one tortured.”

“Yeah, it got ridiculous.” Natalie points at me. “Make sure you make him wait for a while. If not for you, for us.” We all laugh. “These boys love to tease us and now we have a little power in our hands to tease back, if not our own guy, one of their own.”

“You could still tease them now.”

Dottie shakes her head. “Oh, the threats are there, but it’s all talk. Trust me when I say the day you get thoroughly fucked by a Rebel, is the day sex will never be the same.”

“She is so right,” Natalie says, sighing and looking to the ceiling. “I thought I knew what sex was until Cory came around.”

Leaning in, Dottie says, “She’s also soon to be married to the biggest penis on the team.”

Natalie smirks, still staring at the ceiling. “It’s so big.”

I flush, my mind going to Maddox, wondering how big he is. I’d be shocked if he wasn’t at least the biggest I’ve ever had. He’s tall, has large hands and feet, and is broad. He has all the signs for a big member.

Coming back to the group, Natalie says, “I heard Maddox is big though.” She winks at me.

“Cory told you that?”

“No, Jason,” Dottie cuts in. She rolls her eyes. “He is a man-child. Has mentioned many penises, especially Cory’s.”

Natalie nods. “My brother has an obsession with my fiancé. I’m okay with it.”

“He also mentioned Maddox has some . . . jewelry, if you know what I mean.”

“What?” I say, sitting taller. “Like . . . he has a piercing on his penis?”

Dottie quickly holds her hands up. “I’m not one hundred percent sure, but Jason mumbled something about it and how it’s badass and fits Maddox perfectly. Jason could never pull it off. He’s too sensitive.”

“Is it a Prince Albert?” I ask, getting far too excited. My legs clench together from the mere thought that Maddox is pierced.

Dottie and Natalie exchange glances and then look back at me. “Natalie, I think our new friend here is a freak in the sheets.”

Natalie motions her finger over me. “Oh yeah, total freak. Which will come in handy, because she can teach us some new things to surprise our men with.”

“Easily,” I say on a laugh. “Stick with me, ladies. I’ll teach you all the things.”

Maddox: On our way home tomorrow. Because of storms, we’re not flying out tonight.

Kinsley: Ugh, why does Mother Nature hate me? I’m so kind to Her.

Maddox: Missing me?

Kinsley: Like crazy. I was willing to get no sleep just so I could welcome you home.

Maddox: I’m disappointed too, babe.

Kinsley: Dottie and Natalie came over tonight. Heard you were worried about me.

Maddox: I don’t want you to be lonely.

Kinsley: I have Joan.

Maddox: I don’t want you to navigate this baseball world alone. Natalie and Dottie are great.

Kinsley: They are.

Maddox: What did you talk about?

Kinsley: We can talk about it tomorrow. I’m working from home, volunteers are managing the shelter tomorrow, so I don’t have to go in.

Maddox: So I don’t have to wait until you get off work to see you?

Kinsley: Nope. Kind of wish you came home after a day game, but I get it.

Maddox: Jason practically wept into Cory’s arms when he realized we weren’t headed out tonight. Are the storms bad?

I glance out the window where rain is pelting the glass, lightning flaring in the distance with a constant rumble of thunder. Yeah, they’re bad. Dottie and Natalie left just at the right time when it started to rain.

Kinsley: Let’s just say Herman is hiding under the table, not happy with what’s happening outside.

Maddox: Hell, that makes me feel for him.

Kinsley: Just admit it, you love him.

Maddox: Not so much, but I did find out there’s a dog pee area off the parking garage.

Kinsley: Oh, we use it. Don’t you worry.

Maddox: Good, didn’t want you having to go out in the storm.

Kinsley: So concerned all the time. You know I’m a big girl and can handle myself, right?

Maddox: And you know that I care about you more than anything in my life, and I’ll always try to protect you, right?

Kinsley: Don’t make me sigh over you. You’re giving me heart eyes.

Maddox: Good.

“What is taking him so damn long?” I ask Herman who is resting on the couch, wearing a Rebels shirt that I got for him, in the hopes of winning Maddox over even more. If I do say so myself, he looks adorable in it.