“I am. That’s where I met Drake. He came to my class to speak.”
Pride shone in her eyes. “He’s such an amazing guy. To think he used to pull my pigtails when we were younger.” She laughed. “Now he’s everything I’d want in a man.”
Did I know what I wanted in a man? And for that matter, did I even want one?
All I could do was nod and say, “He’s very kind.”
Gretchen gave me a sympathetic look. “I know you don’t know him very well, and the senator title may be intimidating, but give him a chance.”
How much has he told her?
I grinned. “I am.”
And I was. My being here wasn’t actually giving him a chance; it was giving me one. I hadn’t allowed myself to care for anyone for a very long time.
Before anything else was said, Gretchen looked up and her eyes sparkled. She rapidly clapped her hands with glee. Drake and Josh were back, and they were loaded with ballpark treats.
“That better be for me!” Gretchen held out her hand and made the gimme sign with her fingers.
Drake handed her a large pink puff of cotton candy in a plastic bag. “Of course this is for you,” he said with a smile. The small cardboard tray in his other hand held four hotdogs and fries.
Josh sat a drink carrier in his seat with four beers in large cups. He plucked two out and handed them to me. One I passed to Gretchen, and we both tucked them in the cup holders near our seats.
“I hope you like beer and hot dogs.” Josh smiled as he situated his own drink and Drake’s before taking his seat.
“I do,” I said with a grin. “Thank you.”
Drake reached into a bag in his other hand and pulled out a red button-down jersey. “This is for you.”
He stood, careful not to step on the tray of food he had set down, and held the shirt out and turned it around to show me the back. HARPER was stitched in white lettering across the top, and the number thirty-four was under it. He held it out for me, and I slipped it on and fastened a couple of buttons on the front.
“Who’s Harper?”
Drake’s eyebrows shot up before he placed an arm around my shoulder, the weight of it warm and very welcome. With his other hand, he pointed to a player who was stretching on the grassy field.
“That’s him right there. He’s my favorite.”
He removed his arm, which I immediately missed, and pulled out a matching jersey for himself and put it on. Unlike me, he left his open in the front. All I could think of was the firm, rippled muscles I was sure were hidden under the soft cotton. To say it pleased me when he didn’t button his jersey would be an understatement.
He bent over to pick up our food from the cardboard tray, and handed me mine.
“Thanks.” I couldn’t help but take in the beautiful man sitting next to me. He was truly stunning from the inside out. His heart was as pure as his smile.
His dimple winked at me. “You’re welcome. Now, let’s eat and watch the Nats kick some ass.”
The crowd stood as the national anthem boomed through the half-filled stadium. Drake removed his cap and held it over his heart as his eyes fixed on the American flag waving in the stadium. As soon as the lyrics started, he began to sing with his back straight and his chin held high. There was no doubt this man loved our country, and a sense of pride filled me.
Before we knew it, the first inning was over. Drake and Josh cheered loudly, and Gretchen would chime in at times too. She turned toward me to say something, but then she looked past me with wide eyes and stayed silent. I turned in my seat, and an instant smile took over my face when I saw Mason standing there.
“Sorry I’m late,” he said with a grin. “Traffic to the Metro was horrible.”
Drake introduced him to Josh as we stood so he could make his way to the empty seat next to Gretchen.
Mason stopped in front of me and gave me a quick kiss on the cheek. “Hey, Luce.”