24. Cameron
twenty-four
Cameron
“Uncle Cam!” Rhys comes barreling through the gates, between the crowd of families in the outfield, and right at me. He’s sporting the Evaders’ jersey I bought him for his birthday and a huge smile. He looks like a mini version of his dad.
I drop to my knee in time for him to leap into my arms. His little ones wrap around my neck and his legs around my torso.
Love and warmth fill my chest as I hold my nephew in my arms, breathing in his syrupy scent. I fucking missed this kid.
“My man.” I squeeze him tight and give him a good spin before placing him on his feet. Holding out my knuckles, I wait for him to bump them. “I’m so happy you’re here. Are you ready to kick some butt out on the field with me?”
He grins, bobbing his head like one of the Evaders’ mascot bobble heads we give away on opening day. “You know it. I’ve been practicing every day.”
“That’s my guy. Practice and dedication. That’s how you make it to the big leagues.”
I look up in time to see my brother and his wife approach. I give Jace the bro-hug-shake combo before kissing my sister-in-law, Rylann, hello on the cheek. She’s wearing one of those baby carriers on her chest, with a drooling Sariah strapped in .
“How’s my princess?” I coo, tickling her belly. Riah blows a raspberry, dimples like her momma’s popping on her cheeks. “I’ll take that as causing trouble.”
“That would be accurate,” Rylann says. She’s got dark circles under her eyes, and she looks a little worse for wear. “She’s teething and has been a bear at night.”
“Just like your daddy, right?” I poke my niece again, making her squeal.
“Hey, I take offense to that,” Jace grouses. “I’m not a bear.”
“Take offense to what?” Eli asks, stepping into our circle. He must have come from work because he’s wearing an expensive suit tailored to his body.
“I was messing with Jace.”
“Uncle Cam called my dad a bear,” Rhys interjects. “My mom’s just grumpy because she’s having a baby.”
“Rhys,” Rylann gasps.
“What?” He shrugs like he didn’t just drop a bomb on the group.
Jace wraps an arm around his wife’s shoulders and kisses her temple. “I guess the cat’s out of the bag.”
“Wait, you’re serious?” Eli asks.
“Deadly,” Jace says proudly. Last Thanksgiving, he mentioned wanting more kids. I guess he wasn’t messing around. “I knocked her up real good.”
Rylann slaps my brother in the stomach. “Ace, knock it off. I’m sorry, guys. We were going to wait until we were at your parents’ house for the barbeque tonight to tell everyone.”
“Wait for what?” my dad asks, stepping into the circle with my mom, Mason, and Emery in tow.
“To tell everyone Mom’s pregnant,” Rhys says, ruining the surprise twice.
“Rhys!” Jace shouts.
“Really?” Mom asks. Her hands clutch to her chest, and you can’t miss the glassy sheen in her eyes .
Rylann removes Riah from the contraption on her chest and hands her to Jace, who Riah slaps in the face with a drooly hand. Ry turns to the side and with her hands smooths the dress covering the slight bump on her stomach. “Thirteen weeks.”
My mom lets out a scream before wrapping Rylann up in a bear hug. Emery joins the two of them as they all start talking about how she’s feeling and when the baby is due. My dad and Eli congratulate Jace before getting in on the baby conversation. I’d bet anything Mason and Emery aren’t too far behind Jace and Rylann.
I turn to Jace. “Congrats, brother.”
“Thanks, man. I’m real fucking happy about it.” Jace watches Rylann with starry eyes as she chats with our family. His happiness is palpable.
My stomach twinges with jealousy. I want that. Maybe not all those kids yet, but I want to look over at my girl and not hide how I feel.
Out of the corner of my eye, thick raven-hair shimmering in the sun catches my attention.
My girl.
The organ in my chest takes off at a gallop as she smiles. She’s surrounded by a group of women who all eerily look like her, with black hair, voluptuous curves, and olive skin. With her attention occupied, she hasn’t seen me yet, so I stand back and observe. My eyes scan her from head to toe.
My sexy little pixie is wearing blue and white sneakers, tiny cutoff jean shorts that show off her muscular legs, and an Evaders jersey. She turns around, giving me a view of her full ass and…
What the fuck?
Across her back, it says Romero .
Anger and jealousy rip through me. My blood pressure spikes, and my lungs freeze like I’ve just taken a blow to the stomach. Fisting my hands at my sides, I force my feet to stay planted.
Don’t do it, my head screams at me .
Eli lands a punch on my shoulder, pulling me out of the green haze obstructing my vision and begging me to go postal.
“Dude, stop staring.” Eli is a few inches shorter than me, but he’s still strong. He forces me to turn and face my family. “Are you okay?”
No. “I’m fine.”
Eli snorts. “Sure, kid. I’d believe you if you didn’t look like your puppy got ran over and now you want to beat the living hell out of the driver who did it.”
“Do not,” I mumble. I rub at the ache in my chest. On second thought, maybe he’s right.
I struggle to keep my eyes off Talia. I watch her like my life depends on it as she mingles with other families and players on the team. I almost beat the shit out of Serrano when he kisses the back of her hand. Nico pushes his friend away, threatening him. Talia throws her head back and laughs.
“Uncle Cam, can we play catch now?” Rhys asks. He pouts up at me with golden-brown eyes, and I can’t say no.
“Good idea.” I give my nephew a high five. Thank God he’s here today, or I might do something stupid, like rush over to Talia and cause a scene.
I lead Rhys over to the infield, where we throw the ball around. A couple of other kids join us. After a while, I start a hitting derby, pitching the ball to all the kids who want to take part.
Nico approaches with a cocky smirk that I’d like to punch right off his face. Standing behind him is Talia, chewing on her lip.
I lob the ball at a cute little girl wearing an Evaders’ tutu. She sticks her tongue out and swings, spinning around in a circle. She’s fucking adorable, and I can’t wait for my niece to rock this outfit while I pitch to her.
“I see you’re already practicing for your next job, Miller.”
“What might that be, Romero? ”
“Little league coach. ‘Cause all you’re good for is throwing meatballs at kids.” Nico laughs at his joke. “If you retire now, you’ll make it before the next little league season starts.”
For the first time today, my eyes lock on Talia’s as she stands behind her brother. Her lip quivers, and her eyes shimmer with unshed tears.
Fuck.
This is the shit I don’t want Talia to witness. I don’t want her to see how bad things are with her brother. She has this idea of him being a great guy, but that’s not who I know. I avoid her questions when she asks how things are going with him.
Talia mouths, I’m sorry, before wiping a tear from the corner of her eye. Every molecule in my body wants me to wrap her up in my arms and reassure her that everything is going to be okay. But I can’t.
I can’t lie to her. I love her. I promised her to always be honest. She has to know our relationship is going to be an uphill battle where Nico is concerned. I only hope that he doesn’t make her choose because no matter how much I love her, I won’t break her family apart. I’d let her go, even if it breaks me.
Well fuck, that was dark.
“Hey.” Rhys stalks over and pokes Romero in the stomach. “You have poor sportsmanship. Uncle Cam says poor sports don’t have friends.”
Romero stares wide-eyed at my nephew, who just called his ass out for being a tool.
Jace walks over, placing a hand on Rhys’s shoulder. “Are you okay, Rhys?”
“Mr. Romero was being mean to Uncle Cam,” Rhys says, using his manners. His little body vibrates with anger, and his arms cross over his chest. My little champion is ready to throw down.
I couldn’t be prouder of him .
Jace bites back a smile of pride as he glances my way. I nod from the mound, assuring him Rhys is fine as I stand stock still watching on. I’m not going to lie; I’m interested to see where this goes.
Romero looks uncomfortable as he stares at Rhys. If he takes even one wrong step, I’ll lay his ass out. As will the rest of the Miller crew strolling up. The Romero family is not too far behind as Nico glances around, unsure of what to do.
“What’s going on here?” a middle-aged woman asks. Talia’s mom. Aside from age, the two are identical with the same heart-shaped face, sparkling gray eyes, and silky black hair.
That’s my queue to step in. I approach, cool as a cucumber, and plaster on my good-boy smile. “Nothing, ma’am. Everything is fine. We were just playing some ball, right, Rhys?”
Rhys tilts his head up to me, a dubious look on his face. I stare at him, begging him to keep his mouth shut. My prayers fall on deaf ears.
“No. I heard Mr. Romero say mean things to you.”
I see my dad’s posture stiffen as my mom grips his arm, holding him back. We’ve talked a lot over the years about staying quiet and taking the high road. It’s difficult to sit aside and listen to someone tear you down, but that’s what we decided I should do. I can’t imagine how my dad feels coming face to face with a man who takes shots at me daily.
I’m not a dad, but if someone said shit about Rhys, I’d be ready to clobber them like the Hulk. Coincidently, that’s how Rhys looks right now.
Talia’s mom crouches down. “I’m Caterina. What’s your name?”
“Rhys.”
“It’s nice to meet you, Rhys.” She holds out her hand, and they shake. “I’m sorry my son was mean to your uncle.”
“He should say sorry. It’s the right thing to do. That’s what my mom says I have to do when I call my cousin Lily a mean jerk. ”
“You’re right; he should.” She stands, hands on her hips, waiting for her son to comply. I’d take great pleasure in this if it wasn’t embarrassing for the both of us.
“It’s all good,” I interject. “Just some good ribbing between teammates, right, Romero?”
Nico lifts his hat and runs a nervous hand through his hair. “Yeah. All good.”
Caterina glares at him.
“Sorry, Miller.”
“Thanks,” I mumble as Nico spins around and stalks off.
Caterina turns to me and the rest of my family. “I hope you all enjoy the rest of your day.” She rushes after Nico, and the rest of the women in her family follow.
Talia and I stare at each other for a fraction of a second. So much unsaid. I fucking hate that I can’t go to her. Talk to her. Hold her. Kiss her. She’s my fucking girlfriend, and it’s killing me to have to pretend she’s nothing to me.
A woman who looks like Nico’s mother, only a touch taller and leaner, drapes her arm over Talia’s shoulders. I catch eyes with the older woman, who flashes me a wicked smile before winking at me. She pulls Talia away, whispering in her ear as they walk away.
Weird.
“Well, that was fucking weird,” Eli says exactly what I’m thinking.
“Eli!” everyone shouts.
“Yes,” Rhys yells, pumping his fist. “I get another swear present.”
Everyone groans. I guess we’ve all received the swear present consequence instead of the swear jar.
Eli lifts Rhys overhead. “How about some ice cream and we call it even?”
“Deal!” Rhys squeals as Eli tickles his sides and carries him away.
Everyone follows, and I’m left scratching my head.
What the fuck just happened?
Mason places a hand on my shoulder. “So that’s her, huh?”
“What?”
“Kid. I’m not an idiot. I’ve seen you watching her all day. And the way she reacted to her brother talking to you like that was a dead giveaway.”
I don’t bother lying. It’s not worth it. Besides, I’m tired of keeping this to myself. If I had my way, Talia and I would just rip off the band-aid and tell everyone about us already. “Do you think anyone else noticed?”
“Do you mean did her brother notice? No. He’s a bigger idiot than you are.”
“Hey. You’re supposed to be on my side.”
“I am. You’re still an idiot for falling for his sister. That dude fucking hates you.” Mason chuckles.
“Fuck you, Mase.” We make our way to the open concession stands as I not-so-stealthily search for Talia in the crowd.
“Aw, don’t cry about it. Fix it.”
“Easier said than done.” He’s right, but I just don’t know where to start.
Mason points to the left. “Start there.”
I watch Talia disappear as she turns the corner towards the bathroom.
Checking if the coast is clear, I turn to my brother. “Keep an eye out for me?”
He gives me a salute, and I do what I’ve wanted to do all day. I go after my girl.