Page 50 of The Werewolf's Deputy
He didn’t break the whole way home, nor did he let Emmett distract him while they were changing, and he was still tight lipped even when they pulled up to a community center in the middle of the city an hour later.
Emmett cocked his head curiously. “The community center?”
Putting the truck into park, Jonah sighed, his cheeks bright red as he explained, “I can’t really afford anything fancy right now. I gave most of my first paycheck to my parents for rent, and spent the rest on necessities like gas and food.”
That didn’t surprise him. If Jonah had enough, he probably would’ve gone to stay at a hotel instead of trying to sleep in the back of his car. “I can always–”
“No,” Jonah cut him off, putting his hand up to stop him. “You’ve done the majority of the date planning, and I want to treat you. It might not be a fancy dinner or anything, but Taron suggested it and it sounded like fun. I can afford this. Besides, it’ll help sell the fake dating thing, since the team we’re going to watch is Spellbound’s team.”
Emmett masked his initial response to that comment, he didn’t want it to be a fake date, but he still wasn’t sure if it was the right time to bring that up to Jonah. He needed more time to figure things out first before throwing a new relationship on top of it all. It was better to just keep things how they were.
Not wanting Jonah to feel bad about the money thing, he put his hand on the smaller man’s shoulder, smiling brightly at him.“I’m sure whatever it is, it’ll be a good time. Taron’s a fun person. I’m sure he wouldn’t steer us wrong.”
Jonah relaxed, and when they exited the truck and met around the front, he extended a hand immediately. Emmett took it, his heart full and his stomach twisting with excitement. Jonah planned a date for them. Whatever it was, he was sure it would be awesome.
CHAPTER TWENTY-EIGHT
Jonah felt like he needed to reconsider asking Taron for ideas for dates. When the shapeshifter had mentioned the company's recreational baseball team having a game, Jonah had figured it’d be similar to any normal baseball game. Cheap food, quality entertainment, and a relaxed atmosphere he desperately needed after the night prior. And while the food was cheap and surprisingly delicious, the atmosphere wasn’t what he considered relaxed in the slightest.
The minotaur up to bat looked like he was carrying a club instead of a regulation sized bat. Jonah leaned closer to Emmett, eyes glued to the massive thing as the minotaur made a few practice swings to warm up.
“Is that regulation?”
“Beats me,” Emmett replied quietly. He looked just as fascinated as Jonah. “I’ve never been to a baseball game before.”
The only games Jonah had ever been to were human-only. He wasn’t sure what he’d been expecting with a bunch of supes playing the game, but somehow, it wasn’t this.
The crack of the bat hitting the ball was nearly earsplitting, making both Jonah and Emmett jump, and to everyone’s shock, instead of sending the ball flying, it exploded right there overhome plate in a flurry of yarn, plastic, and leather. The small crowd watching all went silent, and the minotaur looked down at the mess in confusion before turning to glance at his coach with a questioning expression. Jonah couldn’t see the coach in the dugout, but he must not have been happy because the minotaur gave him a sheepish grin in response.
After some whispering between the umpire, the pitcher, and the catcher, they seemed to come to a mutual decision and the umpire called out, “Strike one!” as the pitcher jogged back to the pitcher’s mound. The minotaur’s next attempt was significantly softer. Too soft. He barely moved his bat, and sent the ball skittering along the ground instead of actually trying to send it to the outfield. The shortstop, a werewolf from another pack, went chasing after it with the eagerness of an excited puppy, ending up on all fours as he chased the ball. He caught it in his mouth, then ran when the rest of his team tried to get him to throw it to someone else. The minotaur ended up crossing home plate at a light jog because no one could get the ball back.
“Do all werewolves do that?” Jonah asked between chuckles.
Emmett mock scowled at him. “No! Just… some of us…”
That made Jonah laugh harder because he could tell just from Emmett’s expression that he was one of the werewolves who would chase a ball like the shortstop had.
“It’s instinct!” Emmett insisted, fighting a grin.
“Damn it, Dylan! Drop it!” the coach shouted from the dugout as the werewolf ran from the griffin umpire at top speeds. He was too busy cackling to hear, his gaze locked over his shoulder on the griffin.
“He’s gonna get tackled,” Jonah whispered, watching in fascinated amusement as a gargoyle from outfield darted for them, knocking the werewolf off his feet so hard, they flew a couple of feet through the air before landing hard in the grass.
The crowd collectively winced in sympathy as the ball was snatched away from the werewolf, and he was sent to the dugout with a slight limp and his head hanging low.
“Aww… poor guy,” Jonah cooed, fighting back a laugh.
Next up to bat was a supernatural Jonah didn’t recognize. He leaned closer to Emmett to ask, “What kind of supe is that?” low enough that he wouldn’t be overheard by nearby supes in the small crowd.
“Loquit,” Emmett explained. “Otherwise known as treefolk. One of the only species I’m aware of that gets their nutrients from the sun and not food.”
“They’re photosynthetic?” Jonah exclaimed, surprised. He’d never heard of that before.
The supe that looked like a giant tree with arms, legs, and a face, picked up a bat that looked more regulation than the one the minotaur had, but the minute he picked it up, it expanded and vines and leaves started sprouting off it, making it more plant than bat. The loquit looked down at the bat with a frown, and seemed uncertain about what to do next. Someone had to switch it out with a metal one in order for him to take his turn. He managed to get to third base, but he totally cheated by growing his legs to make them longer and literally stepping over the other team. Jonah heard a groan from the dugout, and he and Emmett both laughed out loud at the obvious exasperation coming from the coach.
“Oh, crap. This’ll be good,” Emmett grinned as the next player came up to bat. This one was a demon and looked almost taller than Emmett.
“Why? What do you think will happen?” Jonah asked, snagging a handful of the popcorn Emmett had in his lap. They’d picked up some concessions that were thankfully within Jonah’s budget and had been snacking throughout the game. Not necessarily a hearty meal, but Emmett wasn’t complaining,and Jonah was just happy he could return the favor and take Emmett out for once.
