Epilogue - Ari
Four and a half months later…
“How are you guys all feeling?” Lucia asks, looking around at our friends.
“I just want us to win this time,” I laugh.
Cole slaps a hand on my shoulder. “Still desperately searching for that World Series pennant, eh, Morgan?”
“You guys did it without me before. Against me before. I’m not sorry that I want to be part of it this time.”
“I want Daddy to win again!” Sage jumps up, and Lane scoops her into his arms.
“Daddy wants to win again, too, Lovebug,” he smiles. “This time you’ll even be old enough to remember it.”
Harlow laughs. “She danced with Aunt Rory and Aunt Lo in the box when you guys took the pennant three years ago. Sure, she wasn’t even two yet and had no clue why we were celebrating, but she was still there.”
“And Mommy will be there, too!” she claps, and Olive beams at her.
“I sure will, sweet girl! We’re going to cheer so hard for Daddy today.”
“Will Ella be cheering for her Baby Daddy?” Josh asks playfully.
Ella rolls her eyes. “Do not call yourself my Baby Daddy. But get the win, and we can tell the baby all about what a great player Daddy is when we can evict them from my womb.”
Josh kisses her temple. “You’re due next week, Ell. It won’t be long now.”
“So help us get the win and avoid game seven, Garro,” Knox says, “and all your child’s uncles and aunts will sing your praises.”
“Maybe the excitement of a win will finally put me in freaking labor,” Ella grumbles, and Lucia throws her arms around her best friend.
“Babe will be here when they’re ready.”
“You, Rory, and Lo will all understand my pain one day, you know.”
I know Harlow and Knox haven’t started trying yet, and Cole and Rory only just started a couple of months ago.
What no one knows, though, is that Lucia and I have been trying for five months now. We’re being patient, and it’ll happen when it happens, but I can’t lie and say I don’t wish she were pregnant now.
Skip joins us in the hallway. “Okay, gentleman and Lucia,” he says with a smile. “Time for us to get to the field.”
I look at him curiously. “Why are you so happy, Skip?”
He shrugs. “I have a lot to be happy about. My team is in the World Series for the third time in four seasons.”
“Yeah, but you’re smiling,” Knox says in disbelief. “You don’t really smile.”
Skips huffs now. “I can stop smiling if you prefer. Either way, get to the field.”
The rest of the guys say goodbye to their partners while Lucia and I walk to the field on our own. Perks of having a girlfriend who’s a trainer.
“I think you’re going to win today,” she smiles, and I wrap my arm around her and pull her closer to me.
“Yeah? What makes you so sure, Spitfire?”
“I just have this feeling that it’s going to be a great day.”
“I hope you’re right, baby.” I give her a kiss before we walk into the dugout. “Get your ass out there and train some players.”
“You get your ass out there and win a World Series.”
We walk through the door, and I head for the field to warm up while Lucia heads over to Amanda, the trainer they hired to take Logan’s place.
What I wouldn’t give to hear his thoughts on a woman taking his spot.
Next season, we could possibly have three female trainers. With Lucia moving up to Head Trainer because of Dave’s retirement, there’s a new vacancy on the training staff.
Warmups begin and end, and soon the game starts.
Knox is our starting pitcher today. If we win, we shut down the potential of the Vegas Raptors pushing us to a game seven; we’ll just take the series in six.
And just like always, Knox is a force to be reckoned with on the mound. He pitches seven innings and gives up only two runs.
As for us, Cole and I both hit two-run home runs, so as we head into the top of the ninth, the Stars are in the lead 4-2.
Our closer, Chris Rockman, heads to the mound now, looking to get the save and clinch us the World Series title.
His first pitch lands just outside the strike zone, giving the Raptors’ catcher one ball to start. He whiffs on his next three pitches, though, so we end up with a strikeout.
One out.
Next, their designated hitter comes up to bat. Rockman rears back and tosses a fastball right down the middle. It’s smacked into the outfield, but not far enough to land over the wall. It’s just far enough to land right in Lane’s glove in center field.
Two outs.
The crowd is reaching a fever pitch now. We were all bummed to learn the Raptors had home-field advantage over us for the series, but right now, with us one out away from the win, it means we have the ability to take the World Series win at home in front of all of our fans in just six games.
I can’t imagine anything better.
Rockman sends a slider that the Raptors’ shortstop sends foul.
Strike one.
The next pitch is a curveball that also lands in foul territory.
Strike two.
We’re now one strike away from taking the series.
Rockman doesn’t let his nerves get the better of him, though.
His final pitch is another fastball. The ball connects and sends a line drive right at me. All I have to do is put my glove in front of me, and I catch it easily.
That’s out number three.
We won.
Holy shit, we just won the World Series!
We all rush to the mound and practically jump on Rockman in celebration.
The fans in the stands are wild right now, screaming and cheering and going absolutely crazy.
I look over at Lucia, who’s wearing the brightest smile.
I forgo celebrating with my team for a moment and dash right to my girlfriend. She heads out of the dugout to meet me, and I scoop her up and spin her around.
“You won, baby!” she shouts, wrapping her arms around my neck. “I’m so fucking proud of you, Ari!”
“Holy shit, Luc! We actually fucking won.”
She rests her forehead against mine, and the roar of the crowd is all but unheard as I lose myself in those beautiful, deep brown eyes.
“You deserve this. I’m so happy for you.”
I kiss her desperately.
I’m happy about the win, but I’m a hell of a lot happier to celebrate it with her.
“World Series champions again!” Cole screams into the absurdly crowded clubhouse. Everyone on the team and our partners have crammed themselves into the small area.
The champagne is brought out for the celebratory champagne shower, and bottles are passed all around.
As soon as Rory has one, she pops the cork and immediately turns it on her dad, dousing Skip from head to toe.
“Rory Elizabeth!”
She just smiles at him. “Come on, old man. I told you I’d personally spray champagne all over you the next time you won the World Series.”
“You said that three years ago,” he grumbles. “I was hoping you forgot.”
I have my arm around Lucia, and she’s positively beaming right now.
She pops her cork and sprays the champagne up in the air. “I’m so proud of all of you. I’m proud to be part of this organization. Congratulations!”
“We should toast,” I say, holding my bottle up in the air. “To the best group of guys I’ve ever played with.”
Everybody shouts ‘Cheers!’ and we all sip from our bottles of champagne.
Well, all of the guys do.
I do see Lo and Liv sip. Ella obviously doesn’t. But Rory and Lucia don’t either.
I look down at my girl. “You not gonna celebrate?”
She rolls her eyes and playfully swats me. “I’m literally about to be Head Trainer, Ari. It won’t be a good look for me to be getting trashed with the team.”
“So it’s just an image thing?”
“It’s just an image thing,” she shrugs.
I sigh, and my shoulders fall slightly. “I was hoping for a different reason.”
“I’m sure you were,” she chuckles. “But why don’t we focus on Rory?”
Harlow beats us to it. “Rory,” she says to her sister-in-law. “You didn’t take a drink.”
“I didn’t.” She tries to shrug it off, but Rory has a tell. Anytime she’s uncomfortable, she plays with the hem of her shirt. That’s exactly what she’s doing right now.
Lane looks at her excitedly. “Why didn’t you drink, Rory?”
“Um… I didn’t want to?”
Cole laughs and kisses his wife’s forehead before whispering, “You can tell them, Starlight.”
“Tell us what?!” Lo shrieks, and she’s practically jumping for joy before they’ve even said a word.
“Well, Ari asked Skip why he was smiling earlier,” Cole starts.
Rory jumps in. “Part of that is because of the team. But it’s mostly because… I’m pregnant.”
I didn’t realize our celebration could get any louder, but it did.
We bring Cole and Rory in for a group hug while they wear the brightest smiles.
“Congrats, man,” I smile, slapping Cole on the back. “Fucking happy for you.”
Skip walks over now, Marlene under his arm.
It’s crazy how much happier he’s been since he started seeing her.
He looks at his daughter. “Did you tell them?” She nods. “Finally!” he laughs. “I hated having to keep that in.”
“You excited, Skip?” Josh asks, rubbing his pregnant wife’s shoulders.
“I can’t wait. Sage won’t be my only grandbaby anymore.”
“So many babies all around us,” Knox smiles, looking right at Harlow.
She rolls her eyes while laughing. “We’re not talking about that here, Slick.”
“I’m so excited for you guys,” Ella smiles, wiping tears from her eyes.
“Babe, are you crying?” Lucia asks her.
“I’m a hormonal mess, Luc. Yes, I’m crying.”
Lucia brings her in for a hug while Ella gathers her composure.
But as soon as she does, her eyes go wide.
“Guys…” she says warily, looking to her husband for support. “I think my water just broke.”
“What?!” Lucia yells. “I thought that didn’t actually happen that often.”
Ella grits her teeth and digs her fingers into Josh’s shoulder. Her contractions must be starting. “That doesn’t mean it doesn’t happen.”
“Are you sure it isn’t champagne?” Josh asks her.
She levels him with a look. “Yes, Joshy. I’m certain the gush I felt between my legs wasn’t champagne.”
“Do you need to go to the hospital?” Liv asks worriedly.
“Not yet,” Ella waves dismissively. “I just had a contraction, but it was only one. I have to wait until I get them every five minutes before I go in.”
“How long will that be?” Lo questions.