Catch Me (The RLU #5)

Bonus scene

Theo

THE RLU CREW 10 years later, 2034

Sam, do not pull on your sister’s braids,” I chastise my youngest daughter, who’s attempting to pull out Sofia’s hair that my wife just did.

Sam looks at me from the living room carpet with the same eyes as her mom, her little lip in a pout. “I’m sorry Daddy.”

“It’s okay, Silly Sam, but all of your aunts, uncles, and cousins are almost here, so Mom will not want to redo your hair. You know Aunt Camille will have her camera out, snapping a bunch of photos,” I explain to her, as it was Christmas Eve and we were getting together to celebrate the holidays.

Our lives have been pulled in different ways, but we make it a point to get together as much as we can.

“I can’t wait to see everyone!” Sofia squeals in delight, always excited to see her cousins.

The girls had all gotten pregnant around the same time as each other, except for Jasmine who had the twins two years before any of us had kids.

“I bet they feel the same way, Sof,” I tell her just as the front door swings open with the entire group piling into the house.

“We’re here,” Jasmine calls out as she’s the first to walk through the door.

It’s going to be a loud and busy night, but I wouldn’t have it any other way. Our lives were meant to be filled with love and joy, which is exactly what our friends gave to us in the family we’ve created together.

Marcela emerges from the guest bathroom, greeting everyone as they come in while I ensure all the kids make it into the playroom safely. Once I see that the kids are all settled, I make my way back to the living room where everyone is sitting on our couch.

“Theo!” Aurora gleams, jumping out of her seat to hug me. “It’s so good to see you.”

“You too, retired superstar.”

“Hey, I’m not old!” she protests with a laugh. Aurora decided to retire this year so she could focus on her gym and her family.

“She may not be, but I sure feel like it,” Elio mutters, since he’s nearly forty.

“Eli Oldi, see the nickname now fits perfectly,” I tease him, earning me a lethal glare.

“After all of these years, you’d think I would like you,” he jokes, making all of us burst into laughter. He can pretend all he wants, I know he loves me.

“How’s life as an MLB legend?” I turn to Ryker, who just set a record for all-time home runs hit.

He tries to appear humble, but I see the smug smirk creeping in. “Meh, the same.”

“Whatever man, you’re crushing it out there and you know it,” Cameron chimes in, shaking his head at his brother-in-law.

“He really is. Whenever I post content about him, it blows up,” Camille confirms, looking at her husband with the same glow that she did the day I married them all those years ago.

“Speaking of blowing up,” Jasmine pipes up, resting a hand on her belly. “We’re pregnant again.”

The girls break out into squeals as they crowd her with hugs and questions, while the guys and I clap Elio on the shoulder and congratulate him.

“Baby number four. How do you do it?” Marcela asks, sounding tired at the idea of it.

We’d love to have more kids, but I’ll admit being a parent is fucking hard some days. Besides, right now we’re happy but busy. Marcela is a best-selling author, working on her newest book, while I handle the farm. Our days are go, go, go from start to finish, but I wouldn’t have it any other way.

My girls are my whole life, one that I love living every single day.

“I guess we’ll find out.” She shrugs, not at all worried because she knows that Elio will be by her side.

We spend the rest of the night reminiscing on our days at RLU, our weddings, and the struggles and joys of being parents.

From promises to learning how to trust one another, while keeping each other afloat and being there to catch us when we fall, we’ve been through it all.

And the best part is? Our story isn’t over yet.