Chapter 25 #2
Vivia took a few long strides away from Duke as he cupped the ball in both hands and coiled his body into position. His hands went behind his back, his front foot lifted in preparation, but suddenly, rather than pitching the ball, he moved slickly onto one knee and turned to face Viv.
Her brow furrowed for a blink as she leaned toward Duke to see if he was okay. Yet just as she moved closer in, he lifted one hand and presented a ring box.
Her heart skipped two solid beats.
The crowd went wild in response. Whistles and cheers. The stadium organ even picked back up as Duke kept his eyes trained on Viv, waiting for his moment.
At last the sounds died down, and Duke fiddled with a small gadget clipped to the neck of his jersey—a microphone, she realized.
“Vivia Tripoli,” he said, “no game’s complete without its key players.
Everyone does their part to achieve success.
I’ve watched my family find and marry key players of their own.
Their perfect teammate. I wasn’t sure if there was a key player out there for me, but then you stepped back into my life. ”
Oohs and ahhs carried over the crowd as a trail of goosebumps rippled up Viv’s arms.
Duke flicked open the ring box to reveal a gorgeous diamond ring that glistened beneath the lights.
“I love you, Vivi. Will you be my key player, my one and only, my woman now and forever by becoming my bride?”
The crowd grew even quieter in the short pause. The sincerity Viv saw in Duke’s blue eyes made her recall the moment in Costa Rica when she decided to take a chance on him. Thank heavens she had.
She nodded as a wide grin pulled at her lips. “Yes.”
“You better say it into his mic so everyone can hear,” the commentator suggested.
Viv leaned forward and hovered over the small mic clipped to his jersey. “Yes, of course!”
At once, Duke shot to a stand and hoisted her off the ground with a twirl. “Woo hoo!” he hollered. “She said yes!”
Once he set her feet back on the ground, Duke slipped the ring onto her finger. The crowd cheered and clapped to the song that picked up—Happy Days Are Here Again. Many in the crowd sang along.
“There you have it, folks,” the announcer said as the riff ended. “Let’s congratulate our newly engaged couple with another Dodger cheer.”
“Don’t worry,” Duke said into her ear as they brought him the actual baseball this time. “I asked your dad for your hand.”
Though Viv liked hearing that, she hadn’t been worried in the least; she knew her parents were crazy about him. And, since she and Duke had been talking about getting married over the last several weeks, Viv had spoken with the boys privately about the idea as well.
They agreed—with a whole lot of enthusiasm—that Duke would be a wonderful addition to their family.
She wondered where the twins had been sitting during the proposal. Had they watched it on the big screen inside the suite, or had they been sitting in the stadium seats among the spectators?
Viv set that thought aside as she watched Duke pitch an impressive ball before the crowd. He took a moment to give them a wave as they cheered in response, that knowing grin on his flawless face, and soon they were heading back up to the suite.
“Congratulations,” a large group cheered as they dashed up the steps. Another nearby group echoed the sentiment.
“Thank you,” she and Duke said in unison.
Viv giggled as more greetings came with each step. “Way to go,” a group of older men hollered. “She’s a real beauty.”
“Don’t I know it,” Duke agreed.
“You two make a gorgeous couple,” one lady said as they passed.
“Thank you,” Viv said with a grin.
As more cheers came, the camera settled back on her and Duke until they filled up the monitors. The words Kiss Her popped up on the screen.
Duke turned his gaze to her. “My pleasure,” he mumbled before leaning in and kissing her smack on the lips. Afterward, he raised an arm high in the air.
“I’m the luckiest guy in the world,” he declared with a triumphant grin, earning yet another round of approval.
Sure, Duke was standing right next to her, but Viv couldn’t take her eyes off the magnified view of that smile on the massive screen across the way.
This was that side she’d seen during the photo shoot, the side of Duke that loved giving his audience what they wanted. A side she’d fallen deeply in love with, which made it easier to play along. It’s what came with being a part of his life.
Even still, a wave of relief fell over Viv as they reached the covered entrance to their club suite. Stadium music echoed in the small space.
Duke turned to look at her, those telling eyes filled with emotion. “My future bride,” he said in a whisper.
Her heart seemed to slow, dragging out each beat as her love for him grew deeper still. “My future groom,” she said, coming in for a short kiss. “Cuore mio, my heart.”
“Mmm…” he mumbled. “To be continued.” With that, Duke cracked open the door.
“Woo, hoo,” came a collective cheer that rivaled the rush of the crowd. If the group had been watching from the stadium seats, they’d come back into the suite to greet them.
“Congratulations, guys,” Betzy was first to cheer.
“I’m so excited for you two,” Camila added.
“Another one bites the dust.” Sawyer’s comment was accompanied by a wry, inside joke-type of grin.
“Touché,” Duke said. “Isn’t it great?”
The twins rushed in, hugging Viv and Duke in turn. “We can’t wait,” Diego said.
“I can’t believe you’re finally going to marry my mom,” Dante added.
“I can’t either,” Duke said. “It still feels like a dream.”
“Congratulations, mia cara,” Mom said as she and Dad came in next.
Duke and the twins performed their choreographed handshake as the rest of the group moved in with words of excitement.
It took a while for the hum to die down, but eventually, minutes into the game, it did. The bulk of the group was just about to head out the exit leading to the stadium seats when a knock came at the suite’s entrance.
Brows furrowed as the group looked around the room. “Maybe it’s more food,” Michael said before chomping into a cheese-covered chip.
“Or drinks,” Duke’s mom, Claudia, guessed.
Dante piped up next. “Maybe it’s the snow cones!”
Grandma Lo, who stood closest to the door, lifted an expectant hand in the air. Her shoulders remained poised and proud.
“Not to take from the moment,” she said, “but due to some limitations on time, I was forced to combine this introduction with the joyous occasion of Duke and Vivi’s engagement.” She shot a warm grin at the couple.
Viv smiled at the way the woman had used Duke’s nickname for her.
“Introduction?” Claudia echoed in wonder.
Grandma Lo twisted the knob slowly, opened the door in a ceremonious manner, and stepped aside to reveal a handsome young man standing in the doorway.
“If this gentleman looks like a spitting image of your father back in the day,” Grandma started to say, “it’s because he’s—”
“His son,” Claudia finished as she shot to her feet.
The suite went quiet and still. Viv wanted to look to Duke for his reaction, but Claudia’s just-saw-a-ghost facial expression demanded her full attention.
“Hello, family,” their guest said, taking a step into the room. “It’s great to finally meet you. My name is Burke. Burke Benton.”