focus enough to remember why. He strides over to me and stands right in front, feet spread, arms crossed, and a thumb under his chin, pointer finger tapping his lips. Contemplating me. “Hmmm. Just one thing to make it perfect.” Before I can react, he’s pulled all of the pins from my hair and is gently running his fingers through it, combing out the tangles. He resumes his former stance, then nods with a look of satisfaction. “Perfect.” He grabs my hand. “Let’s hit the road. First pitch is at eight and I want to feed you first.”
I stop, unmoving. His comment ringing in my ears. Did he say what I think he said? “We’re—we’re going to a Cubs’ game?” I stammer. Shards of excitement are slicing their way through the wall I thought was impenetrable. Chase grins, his eyes dancing at my reaction.
“Yep. A home game against the Cardinals.” I can’t stand still anymore, I can’t stop the delight making me fidget. I want to bounce on my toes like a kid, and scream with joy. I haven’t been to a Cubs’ game since the last time I went with my dad, when I was a kid.
I have no control over my body anymore and I launch myself at Chase, jumping up on his body, my legs and arms surrounding him. I plant a huge kiss on his mouth and then yell, “We’re going to a Cubs’ game!”
Chase starts laughing and he looks as though he’s lit up from the inside, truly reveling in my excitement.
“As much as I’m enjoying having you wrapped around me, I don’t want to miss watching you experience this date.” He slides me slowly down his body, feeling every inch. Every hard inch. Everywhere we connect, there is a spark of electricity. “Let’s get going, babe.”
I run to the closet and grab my jacket, since it gets windy and quite chilly at night games, even in the hottest months of the summer. Keys in hand, credit card and ID in my pocket, and I’m ready to roll.
He takes me to Gino’s East, an iconic pizza place in the city, where we gorge on deep dish and color all over our table cloth, laughing and enjoying each other’s company. It’s so easy to let my guard down with him, to be a small part of the girl I once was.
After we eat, we head to Wrigley Field, one of the most marvelous places on earth. It should be christened the eighth world wonder. As we walk, I realize Chase is heading through the first level and out into the infield boxes. Holy fucking shit. I could practically talk to the players in the batter’s box. Wrigley isn’t a very expensive stadium, but still. These seats are over a hundred dollars apiece, and while that probably doesn’t make much of a dent in either of our checking accounts, my dad and I would never have considered paying that when I was a kid. So, I’ve never watched a game from these seats, and I can barely contain my excitement!
I get out my program and set up my score sheet. But then, feeling eyes on me, I look up and see Chase watching me, his eyes soft and happy. “What?” I laugh. The sound is so foreign to me, it gives me a startle, but Chase’s face lights up and a huge smile graces his face.
“Nothing. Although, I got the impression before that you’d been to games.”
“I have, but not since I was maybe, sixteen or seventeen. My last game was just me and my dad, right before I had my daughter I think.” I’m musing on the time frame so I’m not paying attention to the fact that Chase has gone silent, and still. “I was excited to have the time to go with them, as a family, after graduation. I wanted to build memories with her, like I had with my dad.”
I return to setting up my scorecard, still thinking about the past. “She’d be old enough now to be keeping her own scorecard, know the players, the rules of the game, and everything. I’d make sure of it.” I giggle. “I was born a Cubs fan, and so was she.”
“Your husband, he was a fan as well?” Chase asks quietly.
“Yeah, though he was never as die hard as I am. But he
I stop, unmoving. His comment ringing in my ears. Did he say what I think he said? “We’re—we’re going to a Cubs’ game?” I stammer. Shards of excitement are slicing their way through the wall I thought was impenetrable. Chase grins, his eyes dancing at my reaction.
“Yep. A home game against the Cardinals.” I can’t stand still anymore, I can’t stop the delight making me fidget. I want to bounce on my toes like a kid, and scream with joy. I haven’t been to a Cubs’ game since the last time I went with my dad, when I was a kid.
I have no control over my body anymore and I launch myself at Chase, jumping up on his body, my legs and arms surrounding him. I plant a huge kiss on his mouth and then yell, “We’re going to a Cubs’ game!”
Chase starts laughing and he looks as though he’s lit up from the inside, truly reveling in my excitement.
“As much as I’m enjoying having you wrapped around me, I don’t want to miss watching you experience this date.” He slides me slowly down his body, feeling every inch. Every hard inch. Everywhere we connect, there is a spark of electricity. “Let’s get going, babe.”
I run to the closet and grab my jacket, since it gets windy and quite chilly at night games, even in the hottest months of the summer. Keys in hand, credit card and ID in my pocket, and I’m ready to roll.
He takes me to Gino’s East, an iconic pizza place in the city, where we gorge on deep dish and color all over our table cloth, laughing and enjoying each other’s company. It’s so easy to let my guard down with him, to be a small part of the girl I once was.
After we eat, we head to Wrigley Field, one of the most marvelous places on earth. It should be christened the eighth world wonder. As we walk, I realize Chase is heading through the first level and out into the infield boxes. Holy fucking shit. I could practically talk to the players in the batter’s box. Wrigley isn’t a very expensive stadium, but still. These seats are over a hundred dollars apiece, and while that probably doesn’t make much of a dent in either of our checking accounts, my dad and I would never have considered paying that when I was a kid. So, I’ve never watched a game from these seats, and I can barely contain my excitement!
I get out my program and set up my score sheet. But then, feeling eyes on me, I look up and see Chase watching me, his eyes soft and happy. “What?” I laugh. The sound is so foreign to me, it gives me a startle, but Chase’s face lights up and a huge smile graces his face.
“Nothing. Although, I got the impression before that you’d been to games.”
“I have, but not since I was maybe, sixteen or seventeen. My last game was just me and my dad, right before I had my daughter I think.” I’m musing on the time frame so I’m not paying attention to the fact that Chase has gone silent, and still. “I was excited to have the time to go with them, as a family, after graduation. I wanted to build memories with her, like I had with my dad.”
I return to setting up my scorecard, still thinking about the past. “She’d be old enough now to be keeping her own scorecard, know the players, the rules of the game, and everything. I’d make sure of it.” I giggle. “I was born a Cubs fan, and so was she.”
“Your husband, he was a fan as well?” Chase asks quietly.
“Yeah, though he was never as die hard as I am. But he
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