and drove him around town like it was his first time visiting the Cactus League, and had spent hours last night bonding with him about pitch selection and arm workouts. It made me smile that Rafael desperately wanted my dad’s approval.
It made all of this feel more real.
“Morning, Coach Betts,” the security guard said warmly. “Good to see you back this year.”
“Good to be back.”
I walked into the tunnel, and the guard put out a hand behind me. “Identification, sir?”
“Coach Betts,” Dad mused. “It’s funny, I’m used to people calling me Coach Betts. Hearing Natalie called that… Ah, it warms my heart.”
“Sir? Identification?”
“He’s with me,” I said. “He taught me everything I know.”
“I wouldn’t go that far,” dad said, but the guard let him pass.
We walked down the tunnel and then the stadium opened up. The sun was shining in the blue sky, and the grass was mowed to perfection. The air was filled with the sound of baseballs smacking into leather gloves and the crack of bats.
Rafael and Joel were throwing the ball down in front of us. Rafael immediately turned and waved. He missed Joel’s next throw, which struck him in the thigh. He grunted and doubled over while Joel held out his arms in confusion.
“Rafa’s such a goofball,” I said.
“He’s trying awfully hard to be my friend.” Dad looked sideways at me. “Almost like a boy courting a girl’s father…”
I almost choked on my own tongue. Dad was giving me one of those looks like he knew about some mischief I had gotten into and was waiting to see if I would confess to it myself.
Fortunately, I was saved by Theo’s approach. The Rangers’ General Manager had his arm around a young man who couldn’t have been older than me, and was likely a few years younger. Seeing that I had business to attend to, my dad walked down the bleachers to the field to chat with Rafael and Joel.
“Natalie!” Theo said warmly. “I wanted to introduce you to Mark. He’s the new assistant pitching coach. Your new assistant pitching coach.”
“Welcome to the team, Mark,” I said while shaking his hand. I leered at Theo. “I don’t remember you introducing me around on my first day.”
“You turned out just fine. Mark’s an analytics guy. A real wiz when it comes to baseball statistics. I know he’ll be a valuable asset to you this season.” Theo patted him on the back and walked away.
“Wow,” Mark said while looking around the ballpark.
“It’s something, isn’t it?”
His eyes locked onto Rafael and he suddenly spoke in a rush. “Is that Rivera? I almost don’t recognize him without a jersey. Oh man, I can’t believe I’m this close to the Rafael Rivera!”
“Get used to it, because you’re going to be working with him quite a bit.”
“That’s Rogers next to him! I sat in Mister Rogers’ Neighborhood once last year, in a day game against the Astros. Oh! That’s Darryl Dingers!”
Darryl had finished taking batting practice and had come over to join the other two. Dad said something to him, and Darryl mimicked a baseball swing. They were talking about his form, it looked like.
“What are they like?” Mark asked in awe.
I gazed down at my lovers. Rafael was beaming at my father and nodding along with whatever dad had just said. Then Joel must have made a joke because Darryl and dad both started laughing. It must have been a joke about Rafael because he gave Joel a blistering glare. That only made them laugh harder, until Rafael finally reached back with his baseball and threatened to throw it at his friend. Joel backed away while covering his face with one hand and his crotch with the other.
“They’re amazing,” I said softly. “They’re everything in the world.”
Mark blinked. “Huh?”
I shook my head. “Nothing. They’re incredible. Let’s go introduce you. It’s going to be a long season, and we have a World Series title to defend.”
I led the new assistant pitching coach down to meet the three men who I was fiercely in love with.
Bonus Scene
Not ready for Natalie’s story to be over? Want some extra innings to find out what happens to Rafael, Darryl, and Joel in the rest of their careers? Click the link below (or manually type it into a browser) to read a special chapter that was cut from the book!
If you enjoyed Triple Play, you’re going to love this other Reverse Harem Romance from Cassie Cole: Tiger Queen. You can click here to buy it, or keep reading