Chapter 52
52
One month later
Saturday, September 13th
“ T hirty-five,” Claire says, watching me as I drive us to dinner at my parents’ house.
Squeezing Claire’s thigh with a permanent smile on my face, I echo, “Thirty-five.”
I always thought thirty-five would feel different.
The version of my life I imagined at twenty-five involved a house, a wife, and a couple of kids by now.
One out of three.
In baseball, that would still get me into the major leagues.
But this moment is better than I could have ever imagined.
I didn’t start this year thinking I’d find the one.
I’d hoped for it, but I was beginning to lose hope.
And there she was.
I used to want time to go by quicker, but now I want it to slow down.
Claire rests her hand over mine, her fingers tracing circles over my knuckles.
My girl.
It’s too bad my other girl is with her dad this weekend.
I look down at the bracelet she made me for my birthday.
Tuesday night dinners with Claire and Gabby, and Wednesday date nights with Claire have been the best additions to my week.
Every other weekend, Claire and I work on her stamina, and no matter what, I’m at her door each night once Gabby is down for a quick chat and a goodnight kiss.
I love my new schedule.
I love our life together.
I’m not rushing anything, but the thought of Claire as my wife and Gabby as my daughter already feels like a certainty.
No matter the drama, no matter what comes our way, Claire isn’t alone.
She has me, and she has the best damn lawyer I’ve ever met.
When we get married, everything will shift.
Our lives, our routines, our home—it won’t just be mine anymore.
It’ll be ours.
And I’m ready for that.
Ready for the responsibility, the commitment, the permanence.
But tonight?
Tonight isn’t about what’s coming.
It’s about this moment—introducing Claire to my parents for the first time.
“You ready?” I ask, squeezing her hand as I park in my parents’ driveway.
“I’ve never been more ready.”