Chapter 39 #2
“Can I get a picture with you?” I sniffle. “You’re my favorite softball player. You’re the reason why I wanted to be a shortstop.”
“Well now I’m going to cry,” she says, pouting slightly. “Yes. I’ll be here for a while. Go see your family, celebrate with your team, and find me after so we can get that picture.”
Even though I’ve watched her on social media and the television for years, I swear she’s even sweeter in person, and I didn’t think that was possible.
“Thanks, Sis,” I say, smiling before she strolls away.
Once she’s gone, my team is quick to all rush in around me.
Some lift me up, others just jump up and down.
What I don’t see, and what I’ve never seen on this team, is someone upset because it wasn’t her name called up.
This is the most supportive group of girls I’ve ever played with.
And they truly all are happy when their teammates succeed.
Once everyone backs away from me after a long celebration, I whirl around to look at where Dallas was standing, but he’s gone.
And when I look at where my parents were, it’s the same thing—no one.
Only then, out of the corner of my eye, I see movement, and when Dallas is walking Boston onto the field with our families closely behind, I run toward them, instantly making Boston’s tail wag and his body wiggle.
We may have taught him not to jump on others, but when he leaps up, putting his paws on my abdomen almost as if he’s giving me a hug, I welcome it with tears rolling down my cheeks.
“Congratulations, Short,” Dallas says, throwing his arm around me once Boston drops down, wagging his way to my dad because he knows he’ll give him a treat.
“I’m so fucking proud of you, Haven.” He kisses me, lifting me into the air and twirling me around.
“You’ve worked so hard for this. You deserve for all your dreams to come true. ”
My chest warms. “Right now, it feels like they really are all coming true.” My voice squeaks. “I love you.”
“Love you more,” he murmurs, kissing me again. “Now, go on and see your dad. And just so you know, I’m pretty sure he’s crying his eyes out under his sunglasses.”
“Well, obviously,” I deadpan before giggling. Dallas has been around my family long enough to know that my dad is an emotional man. I swear he’s cried more than my mom at any special moments of mine or Noah’s. Mom tears up, sure. Dad? He full-on balls his eyes out.
Stepping away from Dallas, I turn toward my parents. My mom is talking with Coach—both wearing the biggest smiles, but my dad’s lip quivers, and even though he’s wearing sunglasses, it’s more than obvious that he’s crying.
“Come here, you big goon,” I say, holding my arms out. “Because none of this would even be happening if it wasn’t for you and Mom driving my ass around to practices, tournaments, and training.”
Throwing his arms around me, he squeezes me to the point of suffocation, but when his shoulders shake, I don’t tell him that I can’t breathe. He knows how much this day means to me, and because of that, I know how much it means to him too.
“You did good, kid,” he says, barely able to choke the words out through his emotion. “You did real good.”
Here come the tears, and I can’t stop them from falling from my own eyes because this man has been my biggest supporter from the day I picked up a softball. He may have been playing professional football, but that didn’t matter because my mom, my brother, and I … we always came first.
He built me a batting cage when I was twelve, just so I could practice hitting anytime I wanted without leaving the house. All my homerun balls, the trophies I’ve saved in my bedroom … I owe them to him.
“Good thing you don’t cry, right?” I say, half laughing, half balling. “Especially since this is being televised.”
“I’m not crying,” he mutters. “Damn pollen is out this week. It’s bothering my allergies.”
“Didn’t know you had allergies, babe,” my mom coos from behind us, nudging for my dad to release me because now, it’s her turn.
Cupping my cheeks, she rests her forehead to mine.
Just when I thought I was done crying, more tears erupt.
“You did the damn thing, baby,” she whispers, sniffling.
“And I never doubted you would, because when you set your mind to something … well, there’s nothing that will stop you from getting it.
” She sighs. “Watching you make a name for yourself has been everything to me, Have. I could watch you play ball forever, and I’d never get tired of it. ”
“Thank you, Mama,” I croak. “Thank you for helping me get here. Thank you for giving up so much of your own time so I could follow my dreams.” I wipe my eyes to help clear my vision.
“You put Dad, Noah, and me above yourself, and you always have. You are the best mom, and I hope you know how much I love and appreciate you.”
“You can tell me anytime you want just how much you love me, my dear,” she says, inhaling.
“Enjoy every minute of this next chapter of your life. It all goes by too fast.” Now it’s her who’s crying, for once, even more than my dad.
“I swear you were just out in the yard, your daddy setting your tee up and teaching you how to hit.” She stops, laughing through the tears.
“Though it didn’t take long for you to be a better player than him when it comes to baseball or softball. ”
“Did not,” my dad says suddenly, clearly sobbing after hearing my mom reminisce about the past years. When my mom releases me and looks at him, he sniffles. “Told you, pollen’s reeeal bad out here today.”
As more family and friends make their way to congratulate me, I can’t stop myself from looking at Dallas as Boston sits by him on his leash. They both watch me, and Dallas’s smile tells me just how proud he is.
If I could bottle this moment up and keep it forever, I would.
And the craziest part of this day? In a few hours, we’re all gathering at Lane and Memphis’s house for the NFL draft, and while I’m nervous that I’m going to end up on a team far away from Dallas, he deserves to have his dreams come true more than anyone I know.
Our lives are going to change massively today, but I don’t want a relationship built on compromises. Not when we are both supportive of each other. I’ll be his biggest cheerleader forever, and I know he’ll be mine too.