“I’m gonna need another volunteer,” the snake handler announced, already surveying the crowd of players.
Clair lifted Addison’s hand. “My mom will!”
Addison’s hand recoiled fast enough, but the players, who were all likely relieved they hadn’t been picked, were already chanting and cheering her on. She glanced at her dad, who shrugged with a smile; then she glared playfully at Clair, who was giggling into her hands.
“You little stinker!” Addison said, kissing Clair’s forehead as she stood up then turned back to an uncharacteristically too giddy daughter. “But only because it’s your birthday.”
Unlike the lethal glares she’d initially gotten from AJ, he smiled at her as she approached him. Breathing in deeply, she smiled back, trying not to gawk too obviously at his big arms and shoulders holding up the snake. She’d always known that seeing him in person would wreak havoc on her will to resist giving into so much as a crush. Meeting him finally had confirmed it. Seeing him in his uniform and catcher’s gear had been impressive enough. But with him in jeans and snug T-shirt now, AJ’s tanned muscled arms and shoulders did strange things to Addison’s body. Things she hadn’t felt in years.
As she reached the handler, who got out from under the other end of the snake, which she was apparently going to place on Addison’s shoulders, she had to think quickly. Did she want this slimy-looking thing on her bare shoulders or her brand new white jersey? She quickly took her jersey off and placed it on the chair nearby. “It’s brand new,” she explained to the handler, who nodded.
When she turned to AJ for just a fleeting moment, she felt his eyes devour her, closing in on her chest, but he glanced away quickly enough. It was the only part of her she didn’t have to transform. She’d spent her entire middle and high-school years hiding how annoyingly top heavy she’d become almost overnight. For years, she’d hid her ample breasts behind baggy sweatshirts and T-shirts. The only thing she’d had to transform about them was her mentality and to learn to embrace them, which she had. And she’d since realized just how much attention she got from men because of them. She just hoped now AJ didn’t think she was flaunting them for his sake.
The roomful of people laughed when she let out a screech as the heavy boa was placed on her bare shoulders and neck. “Clair, you’re gonna pay for this.”
Clair giggled louder this time. Addison loved seeing her so happy. Watching her smiling little face not just then but throughout the day, had only confirmed that at least for Clair’s sake, she’d made the right decision moving back to California. All of Clair’s Chicago birthdays had consisted of just the two of them. Even though Clair seemed to have had a blast at the different amusement parks and museums Addison had taken her to each time, nothing compared to a party with all her friends in attendance, even if most were adult baseball players. But some had brought their kids along, so it wasn’t all adults.
Once the show was over, it was time for the gifts. First, the team presented Clair with a framed bat and ball both signed by the entire team and a certificate officially adding her to the team. The certificate was something many of the players and coach’s kids and grandkids were often presented with, usually the ones who were really into the team. Not all were. Of course, Addison had more than one.
Then AJ gave her his gift. Addison watched curiously as Clair ripped the small box open anxiously. It was jewelry, not expensive-looking jewelry that might be considered inappropriate, but cute little-girl stuff: a bracelet with what looked like little dog bones and circles and a cute little beagle that hung off the end, along with a matching necklace and earrings.
“Oh my goodness,” Addison said as Clair handed her each one by one so she could inspect them close up. She glanced up at AJ and his breathtaking smile. “This is the cutest thing.”
“I won’t take all the credit,” he admitted with a playful smirk. “I asked my sisters for advice on what to give Clair for her birthday, and one of them called from the mall a few days later to tell me what she’d found.”
Addison was still gazing at him when Clair nudged her. “Look!”
Clair was holding what appeared to be matching dog tags that were engraved. One said “Snickers” with all his information, something she gathered AJ must’ve gotten from her dad, and the other said “Clair Bear—Baseball Princess.”
“You can put his on his collar and yours on your backpack or something,” AJ suggested.
But there was more. Clair pulled out what appeared to be some kind of written receipt and read it. “Oh, look, Mom. I can take Snickers to get groomed for free.”
Addison glanced back at AJ, smiling curiously. “My sister’s a groomer,” he explained. “She owns a couple of those grooming vans. I’ve been telling Clair one of these days I’ll take her to check it out.”
Ignoring her thudding heart, Addison thanked him and watched as Clair hugged his neck when he knelt down and thanked him too. Slightly ashamed that her eyes would roam and take in his arms again as he hugged Clair, she cleared her throat.
“Okay, now mine,” Addison said, reaching into her purse and pulling out an envelope she handed to Clair.
Clair opened it quickly, her little eyes sparkling behind her thick lenses. Addison watched as her daughter’s already excited eyes grew even bigger. “Season passes to the zoo, Lego Land, and Sea World?”
Clair had been thrilled about going to the parks when Addison had told her about moving to San Diego. Well, second only to being able to hang out with Papa and the team. Addison squished her daughter right back when she thanked her profusely.
Addison’s dad stepped up. “My turn.”
Addison turned to him immediately. “Dad, no. You said this party was your gift to her. This is more than enough.”
“She’s my only granddaughter, and I’m entitled to spoil her,” he said, motioning to someone by the entrance of the birthday area. “Bring it around.”
They all stood there and watched as two guys wheeled around a trailer that held a Jet Ski. “No, you didn’t.” Addison turned to stare at her dad, mouth open, as her daughter squealed.
“I did. If she’s gonna be a California girl, she’s doing it the right way.”
With the gift-giving part of the party ending on such a high note, it took a while waiting for Clair as she jumped on her Jet Ski and touched every single gadget on it. Some of the players began to say their good-byes. They all had early flights to catch the next morning. So it was understandable that most of the single ones said they couldn’t hang around for the tram tour of the zoo.
Addison watched AJ talking to Clair, who was still sitting on the Jet Ski. Nick’s mouth so close to her ear so suddenly made her yelp like an idiot; then they both laughed. She felt stupid, but Nick apologized, laughing, as he leaned into her ear again.
“I was just gonna say,” he whispered, “that if you ever need private lessons, I own Jet Skis and go out all the time. I’d be happy to give you a few pointers.”
Why he was whispering or standing so close to her for that matter was beyond her. But she’d since established he was an insatiable flirt. Her father had also warned her about the outfielder. Only her embarrassing reaction to his startling her made her refrain from pulling away or making a big deal out of it.
“Thanks for the offer,” she said with a polite smile. “I’ll keep it in mind.”
Keith, one of the relief pitchers, nudged Nick, smiling politely at Addison. “You ready to go, man?”
“Yeah,” Nick said, turning back to the guy.
Addison thanked them both for coming and for their gifts. They began to walk away, but Nick turned around one last time. “I’m serious, Addi.” He lifted to fingers to his ear. “Call me.”
She nodded, feeling her face warm, wondering if AJ or anyone else had noticed the exchange. Most of the guys were saying good-bye to her dad and even stopping by to say good-bye to Clair.