‍ ‍t͟h͟e ‍𝗕𝕺𝗟𝗧𝗘𝗥.

⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀@catchingdenial,⠀⠀𝖉amn⠀⠀your⠀⠀𝘄͟𝗶͟𝗳͟𝗲͟,⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀i'd⠀⠀be⠀⠀your⠀⠀⠀𝐦𝖎𝐬𝐭𝐫𝐞𝐬𝐬⠀⠀just⠀⠀to⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀have⠀⠀𝙮𝙤𝙪⠀⠀around. ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀

[‍ ‍t͟h͟e ‍𝗕𝕺𝗟𝗧𝗘𝗥. @amberambition]

͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ 𝓲 don't believe in 𝐥𝐮𝐜𝐤.
͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏𝓲 believe in 𝒖͟𝒔͟.

[‍ ‍t͟h͟e ‍𝗕𝕺𝗟𝗧𝗘𝗥. @amberambition]

... going to be ? 〞

[‍ ‍t͟h͟e ‍𝗕𝕺𝗟𝗧𝗘𝗥. @amberambition]

lover's joy is infectious, inflicting a shine in the baseman's honey - like gaze. palms lift upward to cradle the sweetest face between them, pressing affection to the tip of her nose.

〝 now the question is, what is your first victim ...

[𝙘𝙖𝙧𝙨𝙤𝙣‍ @catchingdenial]

calloused hands gently move paper aside, reaching into the bag, and grabbing out the items.

“watercolors?” she asks, brows lifting, carefully opening the case to gaze at colors. “they’re so beautiful…” smile is a permanent fixture now, nodding slowly.

—

[‍ ‍t͟h͟e ‍𝗕𝕺𝗟𝗧𝗘𝗥. @amberambition]

... picked rather meticulously from the art supply in town, ﹠. the second being a palette of watercolors.

〝 i know this isn't your usual medium, but the little old man at the store said everyone loves them, so .. 〞

[‍ ‍t͟h͟e ‍𝗕𝕺𝗟𝗧𝗘𝗥. @amberambition]

lips, no longer painted with their usual crimson, curl into a grin as the gift is accepted. 〝 open it ﹠. find out. 〞 she says, fingertips tapping against her thighs.

nestled beneath tissue paper lay two items: the first is a book, ...

[𝙘𝙖𝙧𝙨𝙤𝙣‍ @catchingdenial]

“what are you up to?”

she calls down the hall, a small laugh following, but patiently waiting for the first baseman’s return.

eyes widen at the bag, a gentle sigh passing through lips.

“you didn’t need to get me anything…”

smile is still affixed on dimpled

—

[‍ ‍t͟h͟e ‍𝗕𝕺𝗟𝗧𝗘𝗥. @amberambition]

... moments later, dangling the bag before the catcher's face.

〝 happy birthday, coach. 〞

[‍ ‍t͟h͟e ‍𝗕𝕺𝗟𝗧𝗘𝗥. @amberambition]

〝 just stay there ! 〞

greta calls from the hall to @catchingdenial, her grin audible in her tone. a little gift is plucked from it's spot in the closet, tucked behind greta's dresses where carson will not find it.

she returns ...

[‍ ‍t͟h͟e ‍𝗕𝕺𝗟𝗧𝗘𝗥. @amberambition]

... away in order to reach for a gift bag to place in carson's hands.

〝 i got'cha something. 〞

[‍ ‍t͟h͟e ‍𝗕𝕺𝗟𝗧𝗘𝗥. @amberambition]

weary bones find their haven perched upon shoulders, content to stay in this place for the rest of time⎯ .. ﹠. yet, greta doesn't stay, she never does.

with a crimson kiss pressed to the catcher's hairline, lithe limbs are peeled ...

[𝙘𝙖𝙧𝙨𝙤𝙣‍ @catchingdenial]

“i know … you’re just that good at your job..” a small shrug as eyes close then, humming softly. “there’s no way you did.”

[‍ ‍t͟h͟e ‍𝗕𝕺𝗟𝗧𝗘𝗥. @amberambition]

〝 you know how madame hughes can be; she kept me a little later than usual. 〞 her tone sweet, her slight smile nearly audible in her words. a breath is tugged into lungs, 〝 i missed you more. 〞

[𝙘𝙖𝙧𝙨𝙤𝙣‍ @catchingdenial]

“hi.”

small hum in response, chin resting on shoulders. “missed you today.”

[‍ ‍t͟h͟e ‍𝗕𝕺𝗟𝗧𝗘𝗥. @amberambition]

a kiss pressed to lover's crown, swaying slow in her arms. 〝 hi, chickadee. 〞

[𝙘𝙖𝙧𝙨𝙤𝙣‍ @catchingdenial]

arms wrapping around @amberambition.

[‍ ‍t͟h͟e ‍𝗕𝕺𝗟𝗧𝗘𝗥. @amberambition]

.@catchingdenial

[ً @aslovewept]

sweet love of mine,

[‍ ‍t͟h͟e ‍𝗕𝕺𝗟𝗧𝗘𝗥. @amberambition]

mind you; it's thirty degrees on her way home. *please fix the fireplace.

[‍ ‍t͟h͟e ‍𝗕𝕺𝗟𝗧𝗘𝗥. @amberambition]

meet me upstairs ?? * 😉

[‍ ‍t͟h͟e ‍𝗕𝕺𝗟𝗧𝗘𝗥. @amberambition]

mhm. *that one.

[𝙘𝙖𝙧𝙨𝙤𝙣‍ @catchingdenial]

is it —

[‍ ‍t͟h͟e ‍𝗕𝕺𝗟𝗧𝗘𝗥. @amberambition]

you'll figure it out. come on.

[𝙘𝙖𝙧𝙨𝙤𝙣‍ @catchingdenial]

oh? which one?

[‍ ‍t͟h͟e ‍𝗕𝕺𝗟𝗧𝗘𝗥. @amberambition]

jess is out with lupe tonight, ﹠. i think i could use your help with that one play⎯ ..

[‍ ‍t͟h͟e ‍𝗕𝕺𝗟𝗧𝗘𝗥. @amberambition]

uh huh. come on.

[𝙘𝙖𝙧𝙨𝙤𝙣‍ @catchingdenial]

kenosha … um. there’s … lucy jones … then …

[‍ ‍t͟h͟e ‍𝗕𝕺𝗟𝗧𝗘𝗥. @amberambition]

that's worse. if you can name three kenosha girls right now, i'll leave. otherwise, you're going to bed.

[𝙘𝙖𝙧𝙨𝙤𝙣‍ @catchingdenial]

i haven’t even started …

[‍ ‍t͟h͟e ‍𝗕𝕺𝗟𝗧𝗘𝗥. @amberambition]

it's almost one o'clock ﹠. you're still here with your little cards. that's pretty bad, shaw.

[𝙘𝙖𝙧𝙨𝙤𝙣‍ @catchingdenial]

‘s not awful.

[‍ ‍t͟h͟e ‍𝗕𝕺𝗟𝗧𝗘𝗥. @amberambition]

kind of a late night, isn't it, coach ?

[𝙘𝙖𝙧𝙨𝙤𝙣‍ @catchingdenial]

laying out blank cards … time to prep for the season.