He knew it was time to get Tika back when she started to yawn cuddled in his arms. He wanted to sit there in the back of the car holding her in his arms forever. Yes, she was this super famous, celebrity, hot girl, that dated some of the biggest in the industry. But she was just a normal, sweet girl to him right now.

This moment was special. Holding his dream girl in his arms. He was upset it was for only a short time, he did not want the night to end. Oh well, that was not how it worked. Back to the real world.

"We better call it a night." The night was magical, even though all they did was sit in the car. Sharing space with her, touching her, made it all seem real. Tika Foster was his girlfriend. He softly caressed the smooth skin of her back, visioning her warm body cuddled next to him in bed. "You need your sleep, all of your rest. I don't want to be the reason you can't perform at the highest Tika level."

"Nor do I want to be the reason you throw ground balls."

"Ground balls? You don't throw ground balls, you hit one." He laughed at how cute she was with her knowledge of the sport he loved so much. "Ok, I need to teach you some more baseball."

"Like how you taught me to pitch? Okay, I might like that."

They pulled in front of his building and stopped and he did not want to get out. Spending time in person with Tika was a hundred percent better than the phone. He knew with his very rigid regime, and her busy schedule, he would not see her again for a few more days, even weeks. They had to play it day by day.

"Do you want to walk me to the door?"

"Oh, this is like role reversal type shit, but I like it."

He helped her out of the car and her two big bodyguards exited out of the car as well. She already told him that their names were Vincent and Alvin, but he would rather they kept their distance. He knew their job was to keep Tika safe, but she would always be safe with him. He would not let anything happen to her.

He held her delicate little hand while they walked to his door.

"Even though it was only an hour with you, it was the best hour of my day."

"Keep talking," she said with a smile and a tilt of her head.

"Can I get one last hug from you?"

"You can get more than that." She leaned in and planted her lips on his and for a moment he felt swept away. In disbelief. He stood there immobile, and could not even kiss her back.

This was happening. Tika Foster was kissing him. Right there, outside, in front of his place. He snapped to it, let his arms wrap around her small waist, and pulled her in for a deeper kiss. She tasted good. Her lips were so soft. He wanted to savor every moment. Their first kiss was as magical as he thought it would be.

If someone had told his teenage self that his wish to be with Tika would come true, he would have laughed them out of the room. Little nothing special in the looks department boy, who only had baseball going for him. He did not think he was a ten to girls, like his friend Anthony. There was nothing special about him, Federico McGhee. She could be with any guy, better looking than him. More talented than him. More famous than him. But here she was.

He gently pushed her against the wall, just so he could brace himself and lean in better to her. Their height difference, while it was hot could be a disadvantage. He was not going to let a little thing like a few inches hold him back from having the best first kiss ever.

"Rico! You're a great kisser," she said, in between kissing him. "Now I don't want to go."

"Come on Tika, we can't be out here all night." He nibbled on her bottom lip. "Even though I can spend another hour kissing you like this."

"Then we can. Who needs sleep."

"I do!" He gave her one last kiss and then pried her away from him. "Okay, block out more hours for me next time, I want to plan a real date for us. Okay? Can you work on that for me?"

"You bet I will."

He stayed outside and made sure she was in the car and took off before he went inside and up to his condo. There he quickly changed into his pajamas and got into bed. He was sleepy as hell, but he had sweet dreams about Tika lying in bed with him.

Too bad he had to get his head back into the game and focus on that and nothing else. He had to get a workout in, then throw a couple of practice pitches with the team and then they had a meeting with the coaches, and then a pre-game press meeting. Everything about his game day was a planned regime. He was never deterred from it because it was bad luck.

All before each game. The whole time he had to keep his mind clear of Tika or else he would be distracted. He kept to his game day ritual, ate the same cereal, listened to Tika's "Bring the Pain" song in his earbuds, and drank the same flavor of Gatorade. If they won the previous game, he stayed with the same socks until they lost. Only then would he change them.

They played a heck of a game and etched out a win, 4-3. He was not the starting pitcher, but he was called up as the relief pitcher. He had not talked to Tika all day and when he checked his phone he did not see any messages from her.

That was fine. She was busy and he needed to get used to this. It still felt weird calling Tika his girlfriend. He was on top of the world and he could not tell anyone. It was his business and not anyone else's. All of Tika's business was always all over the media, but he wanted to keep this just between them for as long as he could.

He texted Tika because now that his day was over, he wanted to know about hers.

Rico: We won our game

Tika: Oh I know, I was listening to some of it.

Rico: Look at you getting into my sport. How was your day?

Tika: First day of auditions. Allll day. Ugh! Tired. Home now, read my daughter a bedtime story, and fell asleep in bed with her

Rico: I know you like getting to see her more

So he would be selfish if he asked to see her again tonight, and since he promised her a real date next time, he said nothing more. This was going to take a lot of time to get accustomed to her lifestyle.