She made a fool of herself.

What the hell was she thinking calling a man and basically throwing herself at him? This was not like her. Or maybe it was. She never had to do that before. Men came to her. She could have her pick with any man out there. Never had a man turned her down like Rico.

Now she lay in bed horny and tired. She thought at least she would get some dick and let go of all her frustrations with missing her daughter.

He fucked it up for her.

She scooted out of the massive bed, wearing nothing but a white string thong and a peekaboo bra. She had it all ready for him. She grabbed her robe and put it on, tying it closed. She stomped out of the bedroom and into the living room. No one was there and it was too quiet for her. She was used to people all around her.

She went to the bar and grabbed a bottle of something, she didn't care what it was. She snatched up a glass and poured it half full. One taste of it and she did not like it. She was not much of a drinker, she didn't understand why people drank things straight up. Mix hers with some juice or some fruit and she was all in.

She needed something to relax her. She thought getting hot and sweaty would do the trick. The nerve of that man doing her like that. Getting her hot and bothered on the phone, then nothing.

She would have made him sign a nondisclosure agreement after. And if it was nice, she would have done him twice.

There was something about this Federico McGhee.

She'd been sexless for three months now. It felt awful. She needed something. The drink was not working. She sat her glass down and marched back into her room. In her dresser drawer that Sheila unpacked was her special black velvet box. In it, she kept Mr. Magic Mic. It looked like a microphone, but wasn't. It could sing a song, but had no voice. It also could make her sing, if she used it right.

Guess that would do for tonight. She had to rethink things.

Was all she interested in with Rico for was a roll in the bed? What he was saying sounded like a relationship, and she was done with those. What made him any special? All he would do was break her heart like everyone else.

Good riddance to him.

Then again, she didn't know this guy. She just met him a few days ago and did not get to talk to him on a personal level at all. He helped her throw a ball, that was it. But in those moments, she felt a connection with him she could not shake. What made her call him up in the middle of the night and ask for sex? She was bold.

She was glad he turned her down, now she could forget about him.

But she couldn't. The next day she had Sheila and Telly work hard to see if they could find seats for the game that day after they finished the appearance at the radio station there. It was an afternoon game. It was a good thing old boy turned her down because she would have kept him up all night and he would have been too sleepy to play any good.

"What is your sudden interest in baseball, girl?" Orlando asked as they rode in the limo on the way to the stadium.

She simply shrugged at him.

"Oh, my God! What player do you have the hots for?" he asked her.

"Nunya!"

"Damn! Ms. Thang you haven't dated an athlete, this could get interesting."

"I'm not dating anyone now. Can't I enjoy America's favorite pastime?"

"Whatever you say, Your Royal Highness."

Orlando didn't really have a job with her, he was more or less like a hanger on. He finished high school and came out to live with her while she was in L.A. all alone after she was signed. He never needed a job, he would go wherever she would go and have a room. She would give him an allowance and all he had to do was stay her friend. Everyone else she paid did something for her.

If Orlando ever wanted to leave to do his own thing, she didn't know what she would do.

Malaika decided not to come to the game. Sheila sat in the limo glued to her phone. Vincent sat in the back with them, while Alvin sat up front with the driver. That's all the entourage she needed today. She wanted to stay low-key. She dressed down in black leggings and a white tee, her hair back in a messy bun, minimal makeup, and big sunglasses to hide her face. As long as she was not glammed up, she could blend in.

Sheila was not able to get luxury boxes, but they did have a special VIP area where they could have some privacy. They did not have to enter with the common folk either, they came through a back entrance and were escorted to a golf cart to ride to their seats.

There were crowds of people they passed by, but none batted an eye at them. Even with Orlando and his bright red hair and her two big, beefy bodyguards looking like Secret Service. They were led to an area that was set up picnic style, table, and benches with an umbrella for shade. They were right along first base and she had a clear view of the field, even better than the luxury boxes.

"Oh hell, Hotlanta doing its thing today." Orlando whipped out a handheld fan and snapped it open with a dramatic twist of his wrist.

Sheila dug into her bag and grabbed a small portable fan that wrapped around her neck and put it around her.

She was willing to sit in the hot sun for this man. What the hell?

"Did you know they are playing the Cardinals, that's why we're here?" Sheila said to her. It was already the top of the second inning and she'd miss the Cardinals pitching.

"Duh!"

"Then it's someone on our team you're interested in."

"Maybe."

"Girl, which one, point him out when they show him," Orlando said on her other side.

"Guys, it's really nothing. He helped me when I pitched...and I think he's...nice."

"Nice?" Orlando snarled at her. "We don't do nice boys, honey, you know we like them bad boys."

"And don't you think that's where she's been going wrong," Sheila stated.

"Nice boys can't break your back right," Orlando said.

"And bad boys just break your heart, so what's your point?" Sheila said.

"Hey you two, stop!" She held out her hand at both of them. "There is nothing going on anyway. I tried to...get some last night and he turned me down."

"What? Oh, forget about him," Orlando said.

"A guy that didn't take advantage of you...yeah, because that's the type of guy she doesn't need huh?" Sheila with the sarcasm.

"Oh look, that's him up at bat next."

There was no walk-out music for the opposing team, so she would not get to hear her song. But she could clearly see Rico with the bat. They also showed his picture on the screen.

"Okay, okay, now that's what's up. A lil cutie," Orlando said.

"That's the pitcher, right?" Sheila said.

"Mm-hmm."

Sheila was looking at her phone, scrolling, and typing things in. "I pulled up his Wikipedia page."

She slapped her hand on her forehead. Leave it to her cousin to be nosy.

"Okay, he played in the minors a few years before he was called up last year."

"I know that."

"Tika, he's only twenty-two!"

So she was three years older than the pretty boy. This was a first for her. "Okay, so a few years younger. I like that."

"He's from Caruthersville. I didn't know Black people lived there. You know they don't like us much in that part of our red state."

"I think he's mixed with something."

"I don't see much about his family here. But his page is so new, let me dig around some more. I'll vet him for you and then we can maybe set something up with you two."

"Like what?" she asked.

"A date."

A date. A date? Is that what she wanted? That's not what she wanted last night. But why was she here?

"Oh, look at your man girl, he's pretty good," Orlando said.

Rico had just hit it out toward left field and it bounced on the ground before it was caught and he made it to second base.

She wanted to jump up and cheer for him, but they were in enemy territory and she needed to stay lowkey.

"So he is hot, young, and he can play," Orlando said. "I can work with that."

She looked to Vincent and gave him the cue she needed him. He came over to her and leaned in close to her.

"Get us drinks and something to eat."

"I'm not your gofer, ma'am."

"Do you want me to get up and go for myself and get swarmed by fans?"

"Ask either of these two," he said.

"Vincent, be nice."

She knew he would do it. He had been with her since the beginning. He was like another father to her. He walked off and he would be back with something he knew she would like. She went back to watching the game.

"So Sheila, did you look over his socials? He said he had no girlfriend, but athletes are worse than rappers and singers. Let me see what I am getting into before I take this thing any further."

She was kind of bored of the game. Besides watching Rico, she did not care about the rest. She busied herself scrolling on the phone when Rico was not up. Eating nachos that Vincent brought her and people-watching and talking about them.

"Ooo, yo man looks good on the mound," Orlando said.

"He is not my man!"

"Yet! If you have the googly eyes at him, it won't belong."

The Cardinals seemed to be playing good. They were winning 3-0 and it was the top of the fourth inning now. Rico was having a good game from atop the mound. It was so sexy watching him pitch. Every time she saw him throw, she wished she was all up under him.

Oh well, it would be another lonely night with Mr. Magic Mic.

"Oh my God! You look like Tika!" someone seemed to scream right into her ear.

Turning to her right, sure enough, some young teen with a group of her friends were glaring down at her. Where did they come from and why hadn't her two guards kept them at arms distance? She was ready to play it off until Vincent and Alvin now sprang into action, standing in front of the girls.

"Well, they clearly blew your cover," Orlando said.

"Tika!" one of the girls screamed.

"Can we get a picture!"

"I love you so much!"

"I want to be you one day."

"We can't stay here," Sheila whispered to her.

"No shit!"

"How are we going to get out without a mob, girl?" Orlondo asked.

"I need everyone to back away and give us room!" Alvin shouted out to the girls as others rubbernecked to see what was going on.

They needed security to escort them out, and they quickly came to the rescue. A golf cart came and they loaded on as more fans began to snap pictures at her. She couldn't even hide from them or else the pictures when they hit the internet would be horrible.

She smiled and waved and tried looking like she was unphased. She would never again try to blend in with the general population.