Play Along(79)

But are you thankful that now you’re married to me?

The question is on the tip of my tongue when my phone dings in my pocket, breaking our moment.



Kai: As much as you don’t want this to happen, we’ve got to start before Max passes out. You two coming?



I exhale an unsteady breath. “You ready?”

Kennedy folds her clothes and leaves them on the sink for her to grab after. Seeing as she and I are the only ones who use this bathroom, it’s safe to assume they’ll be safe for the night.

Holding the door open, I let her exit first.

I follow her to the dugout, up the stairs, and out onto the grass. My palm finds her lower back when we pass patches of dirt, silently reminding her to pick up her dress so the edges don’t drag. Regardless of her heels, Kennedy still only meets my chest, and it takes everything in me not to just pick her up and carry her to keep her from getting that pretty gown dirty.

Since our game ended earlier this afternoon, a small stage has been constructed just off the third base line with round tables and chairs acting as the audience. The entire team is here. Upper management. Coaching staff. Even a handful of season ticket holders I recognize that I assume the Remingtons invited as a thank you for all the years they’ve followed the team.

Everyone is dressed to impress. Floor-length gowns, tuxedos, and suits. You’d think this was a wedding for royalty, not my brother’s career milestone ceremony.

But the Remingtons wanted this to be an event, seeing as Kai is the first ever Warrior to earn 3,000 strikeouts in their career, so here we are. Dinner, dancing, the whole thing.

A hand slips into mine, small and cautious. I look down to watch as Kennedy laces her fingers with mine, her pale skin contrasted against my tan.

I don’t let hope spark for a second. Instead, I look around and quickly find Reese and Arthur Remington approaching. My heart doesn’t even have to sink with disappointment. I already knew that if Kennedy was holding my hand, it wasn’t simply because she wanted to.

“How are the newlyweds?” Arthur asks.

“Well, now that Kennedy isn’t being forced to work instead of attending her brother-in-law’s ceremony . . .” Reese mutters under her breath.

Arthur’s white brows cinch. “What do you mean?”

“We can chat about it later.”

The stern look on Reese’s face tells me they will, without a doubt, be chatting about Dr. Fredrick later.

Good. That guy needs to be put in his place, and the past three years I’ve had to sit and watch the way he’s treated the only woman on staff tell me Arthur isn’t the owner to do something about it. But maybe Reese could be.

“Thank you for saving me,” Kennedy says from my side. “I didn’t want to miss this, and Reese, you look beautiful.”

“As do you, Mrs. Rhodes.”

I give Kennedy’s hand a teasing squeeze.

“Isaiah, you look beautiful too,” Arthur chimes in.

I chuckle. “Thank you both for hosting this for my brother. It means a lot to our family.”

Without thought, I look down at my wife as I say those words, but whatever. It helps sell this whole thing, I guess.

“As you know, it’s always been just the two of us, so seeing all these people here to celebrate him . . .” I nod. “He deserves it.”

This time, it’s Kennedy squeezing my hand.

“He does,” Arthur agrees. “We’re proud to have you both playing for this organization. It’s always felt like family around here, and lately, a lot of you have become actual family. You two, your brother and Monty’s daughter. It’s a legacy I’m proud to leave behind.” He puts a hand on Reese’s shoulder. “Now we just got to get you married off and I can die a happy man.”

“Jesus, Granddad.” Reese shakes her head. “Morbid.”

“You’re single?” Kennedy asks.

“So freaking single.”

“That’s only because those boys she brings home are intimidated by her,” Arthur chimes in.

“Don’t let him fool you,” Reese quietly says to Kennedy. “I haven’t brought a boy home in quite some time. Dating is the last thing on my mind when I’m training to take over an entire MLB franchise. I’m about to be the first female team owner in the league. People are already going to assume there’s a man running the show behind the scenes. You know what I mean?”

Kennedy is looking at her, nodding in agreement, as if she can relate to every word she has to say. “I know exactly what you mean.”

There’s a heavy pit in my gut because I know she’s referring to me. When she goes to this interview on Monday, they’ll know she’s married to me. Will that contribute to her getting the job? No, absolutely not. She’ll get it because she’s qualified and real fucking good at what she does. But when she does get that offer, is there a part of her that’s going to assume it’s because of me?

Arthur waves his granddaughter off because he’s old school and doesn’t understand how difficult it is for either of them to work or thrive in a male-dominated sport.

“You’ll be great,” he says casually, before someone leans down to say something in his ear. “We should find our seats. Your brother wants to get started.”