Free Igniting the Wild Sparks by Ren Alexander Page B

announcement. He heatedly whispers to me, “Oh my God! Is that a fucking joke? I’m not gay!” I cover my mouth and bow my head as I laugh. Rod punches my arm and I whimper. He swiftly rubs the spot he hit and mumbles an apology. He’s definitely been lifting weights, or Dumpsters.
    Morgan tosses at Rod, “Maybe you’re the last to know.” Rod reaches in front of me and offers his middle finger to Morgan, which again earns him a stern glare from Val, and a hissed curse from Rod in response.
    Finn continues, “First base is Grant and Betsy. Second is Val. Third is Shasta and Rhonda. Shortstop is Brandon. Hadley is left field. Gloria, center. Sylvie is right field. Morgan, scorekeeper and water girl.”
    I’ve been relegated to actually being out in left field? What the hell?
    “If we need to make any adjustments or need to pull someone to fill another position, we’ll do that . Nothing is written in stone.”
    He’d better believe it isn’t.
     

     
    After Finn dismisses us, I go home and take a shower. I had wanted to talk to him after practice, but he was too busy talking to Ricky. I didn’t want to interrupt because Ricky looked rather grim and not in a joking mood. I also didn’t want to get into an argument with him before he had to go to work. His viewers don’t need to see him like that. Once was enough.
    I pick out my long-sleeved dress with a drawstring around the waist. The dress is gray on top, but morphs into black at the skirt. I twist my hair up and pile it on top of my head because I can’t get it to look right any other way. As I’m putting on a pair of strappy black heels, Finn calls and tells me to meet him at Chimborazo before we go eat, given that he had to do some more last-minute Wild Side work from there.
    Parking next to his car in the lot and being careful not to fall, I smooth out my dress’ skirt and pick pieces of lint off. When I look up, Finn is right next to me.
    I jump. “Whoa ! You’re fast!”
    His tie is gone and his light green shirt is unbuttoned at the collar. I see the chain for his key peeking out from underneath. “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to scare you.” He bends and gives me a kiss. His lips make me forget where I am for the second time today. Even so, before I can become too carried away, he pulls back. “You look breathtaking as usual.” He nods to his car. “I brought something with me.”
    “Thanks. You did? What?”
    He opens the passenger door of his car and pulls out a big paper bag with handles and a cardboard tray holding drinks. “Dinner. I thought we could eat here, since the weather’s nice. Is that okay with you?”
    I smile and tuck loose hair, already falling from the top, behind my ear. “That sounds great.” I take the drinks from him. He locks his car and holds out his empty hand for me.
    We start walking and I diffidently ask, “So, did you really have work to do here?”
    He bites his lip and looks at me, chagrined. “Uh, no. We wrapped early and I thought of this. I had to think of some way to get you here.” He smiles and lifts the bag higher. “I ordered your usual lasagna. I hope you don’t mind.”
    I smile in return at his thoughtfulness and calculated strategy. “I don’t mind. How was work?”
    Finn chuckles. “It was okay. Reed kept ragging on me about you. He said my girlfriend is going to be pissed when she sees me kissing another woman on my show.”
    I laugh . “I imagine she will be pissed if you were kissing someone else.”
    He turns to look at me as we walk. “ Just so you know, that’s not a dare I would ever take. You’re the only woman I plan on kissing from here on out, baby.” To prove his point, he stops walking and as I falter to a stop, he leans down to kiss me.
    I gri n against his lips. “You’re so cute.”
    He mumbles against mine, “I know.”
    Pulling away, I teasingly scoff, “And self-possessed.”
    “Sometimes.” He laughs. “ Are you calling me cocky?”
    I nod as he gently