Isaiah

Watching Kennedy scarf down the sandwich I made her gave me an instant hard-on.

So did the little moan that came from her throat mid-bite when she didn’t think anyone was watching her eat in the corner of the training room.

Kennedy has always worked hard—it’s one of the things I admire most about her—but this week she’s been moving at a different pace. Maybe it’s because she’s excited to be back to work, but in my gut, I just know that Kennedy’s increased hours are due to Dr. Fredrick making her job harder than usual.

Of course I don’t want her to leave, but I could see her work life being a whole lot easier if and when she lands that job in San Francisco. She’d be her own boss, with staffers reporting to her.

The sun beats down on me as soon as I’m out of the clubhouse, and I can’t describe how incredible it feels to be back in this uniform and on this field. Springtime screams baseball to me and I’m lucky enough to spend my life playing a game I love. Even better, I get to do it on the same field as my brother and my two best friends. How could someone in my position not be absolutely stoked to go to work?

It doesn’t hurt that I get to see the stunning redhead I married while I’m here either.

I’m in the dugout, checking on my box for my batting gloves and helmet, when I hear her name.

“Kennedy, you’re on hydration today.”

My attention snaps to Dr. Fredrick because there’s no way in hell he just told Kennedy, a woman who’s as educated as him and in the running for his exact position with a different team, that she’s essentially the water girl for today’s game.

Not to mention we have an eighteen-year-old intern here for that exact purpose. He’d probably piss himself at the opportunity to fill our water bottles.

“Got it,” Kennedy says without showing her disappointment. “Sanderson—”He turns to our other athletic trainer. Our male athletic

trainer. “You and I will be working on the bench and Will”—the second doctor he hired the season after he didn’t give Kennedy the job—“you’ll work both the clubhouse and bullpen.”

“Why?” The question comes out of my mouth before I can stop it. Fredrick turns in my direction, confused. “What?”

“Why is Kennedy on hydration?” “Isaiah,” she quietly scolds.

I don’t listen to her. “You have Will working two sections that are on completely opposite sides of the field and you have Kennedy filling up water bottles. Why?”

“Isaiah, stop.” Kennedy’s voice is pleading.

Fredrick crosses his arms over his chest. “Because that’s where I assigned her. Do you have an issue with the work your wife has to do today?”

He says the word wife in the most demeaning way, as if she’s my property and not a human being.

I take a step towards him. “Yeah, I do. Or would you like me to enlighten everyone here why I think it’s ludicrous that you have her, of all people, filling our fucking water bottles.”

“Isaiah, stop. Please.”

Realization dawns on the Head of Health and Wellness. He knows that I know Kennedy is overqualified for the position he’s kept her in.

“Actually, I’d love to know why.” Reese Remington joins the conversation. I hadn’t realized she was even in the dugout. “If you have four positions needing coverage and four medical staffers, why aren’t they evenly distributed?”

Kennedy is fuming, I guess because I’m drawing attention from the soon- to-be owner of the team, but it’s hard to remain professional at work after watching her being treated differently for years. And it’s clear this season is going to be worse for her than it’s ever been before.

All because she married me—a player. Dr. Fredrick is punishing her for it. I know it.

“That’s a great point, Mrs . . .” “Reese,” she corrects.

“Reese,” he repeats, and I can’t explain the satisfaction I have in knowing that starting next year, Fredrick’s boss is going to be a woman. “So, Kennedy, you’ll cover the bullpen and, Will, you take the clubhouse. I’ll get that new intern on hydration.”

“Well, that sounds evenly balanced now, doesn’t it?” Reese’s smile is forced.

“It was a great idea, Mrs . . . Reese.”

Good to know that Dr. Fredrick’s ass-kissing extends to not only the players, but upper management too.

Reese takes a long look at me, then Kennedy, before leaving the dugout

—to the owner’s suite if I had to guess.

Fredrick’s jaw hardens once she’s out of earshot. He’s pissed, but he wouldn’t dare chew out a player, especially right before a game. No, instead he focuses his attention once again on Kennedy.

“We’ll discuss keeping your personal life at home, later.”

Fuck that. She didn’t do or say anything wrong. I was the one who called him out on his bullshit.

The group disperses at that.

Kennedy stays next to me but refuses to make eye contact. “Don’t ever do that again.”

“Ken—”

“It’s bad enough that I’m the only woman he’s ever hired, and, in his mind, I hooked up with one of the players. I’m not some pathetic girl that needs my husband to fight my battles. Just . . . let me do my job, Isaiah.”

She leaves the dugout, heading to cover the bullpen where I won’t see her for the rest of the day.

I hear her, I do, but she’s been busting her ass all day, all week in fact, and I couldn’t help myself from stepping in like a fucking caveman.

I also heard her call me her husband. “Nineteen,” Monty calls my number.

I assume he’s silently telling me to get out there for warmups, so I grab my glove, passing by him on the steps up to the field, but he puts his hand around my arm to stop me.

“I’m going to let you in on something.” He looks around, keeping his voice low. “Fredrick is a prick, we all know this, and he’s pissed that Remington kept Kennedy on staff after you two fucked around in Vegas. He wanted her fired.”

“Well, that explains why he’s been making her put in extra hours this week.”

“I know it might not seem like it to you, but you two getting hitched just made her life a whole lot harder. She’s trying to make a name for herself, but instead of being one of the athletic trainers, now her peers are only going to view her as one of the player’s wives. It’s not fair, but that’s reality. The best thing you can do for her is to let her handle her own business while here at the field. You trying to save her is only going to make things worse for her.”

Goddammit. Monty’s right. I hate that he’s right.

“She’s a big girl. She can handle it, but if it ever gets to a point where someone needs to step in, you come to me, okay? I don’t need one of my guys starting a fight with the team doctor.”

Nodding, I agree. “She’s pissed at me now. I thought I was helping her.”

A small smile plays on his lips. “Married life is fun, isn’t it?” He cups the back of my head.

“Now get out there and score some runs and maybe she’ll forgive you.” “She doesn’t give a shit about that.”

“Well, score some runs and maybe I’ll forgive you for getting so fucked up you got married. I swear to God that you, Kai, and Miller better be housing me in my old age for all the stress you three have put me through over the years.”

“Aw, Monty,” I coo, throwing an arm over his shoulders. “You want to grow old with me?”

“Get your ass on the field, Rhodes.”