31. Chapter 31 #2
“Good, because there’s going to be a lot of it in our future.
” I stare into her gorgeous eyes and decide to take a chance.
Love is a risk with no guarantees, but I’m not scared of falling alongside her when I know we’re going to catch each other every time.
“There’s something I need to say that I should’ve told you at the wedding reception. ”
Her gaze searches mine, waiting.
“I love you.”
“I love you, too.” She beams at me. “What kept you from saying it before?”
I round the metal railing and grab her hand, leading us back toward the tunnel. “You know I’ve been waiting to hear back from my agent about a potential trade. And it felt unfair for me to tell you that without knowing what my career could mean for me—for us.”
“I appreciate the sentiment.” Alyssa squeezes my hand.
“But I also hope you know you can tell me anything. I don’t want you to ever doubt us.
I want to be with you anytime, anywhere.
Whether that means you’re playing for Louisville or Boston or across the country in Los Angeles.
I’d be lying if I said I’m not a little scared about what that might look like, but we’ve made things work for three years as friends, and I know we have what it takes to go the distance as a couple.
” She pulls us to a stop. When I turn to face her, the sunlight hits her just right on the field, giving her honey hair a warm glow.
“We’re in this together, Slugger. You and me against the world, remember? ”
“Us against the world.” There’s no fighting the grin that tilts my lips. “Does it also help that I just heard from my agent, and it’s looking like the trade is off the table for this season?”
She swats my arm. “You could have started with that.”
I laugh. “I didn’t want you to think I was only saying I love you because I’m staying here.
” I cup her face. “Just to be clear, I would’ve told you I loved you regardless because I couldn’t hold it in any longer.
I’m scared, too, Lyssa. Scared of losing you.
Scared of moving too fast or saying the wrong thing.
I’ve loved the person you are the past three years.
How you’re a steady, safe place to land after a long day.
How easy it is to be with you. I love how you make my space your own.
How kind and thoughtful of a friend you are, like when you watered my plant for me because you knew I wouldn’t keep it alive otherwise. ”
I laugh, wondering how I hadn’t seen it all along.
“And I know I said I was only going to be focused on my career when we met, but you changed things for me. The quality time I spent with you this past week has meant more to me than any amount of playing baseball ever could.” I graze my thumb across her cheekbone.
“And I know now with complete clarity that you’re the person I always want by my side.
Because I love you. For all those reasons and so many more. ”
Her entire face lights up, glowing brighter than all the stadium lights during an evening game. “I love you, too.”
“Come on, Bradford. Coach is going to have our heads if we’re not off the field and back in the locker room on time,” Dawson calls from the tunnel.
I place a quick kiss on her cheek, and we head through the tunnel.
My teammates are waiting for us in the loved ones’ area.
Alyssa gives them all quick hugs goodbye but hangs onto Hayden a little longer than the rest of the guys.
It looks like she’s whispering something in his ear.
I trust her fully, so I’m not jealous…but I am curious what they could be discussing.
When they step away from the embrace, Hayden smiles down at her and nods.
“What was that about?” I tug her closer.
Her eyes shimmer with mirth. “Guess you’ll have to wait and see.”
I pull her in for one final kiss as we hear a door open. I assume it’s going to be one of the guys yelling at me to hurry up. But it’s actually Henry, peering through the door connecting this foyer to the fans’ section of the stadium.
“It’s time to clear this area.”
Alyssa turns and waves. “Hi, Henry.”
The stoic brute of a man’s lips turn up into a rare smile. “It’s about time you two got together.”
We both laugh. She gives me one last peck before heading toward the door Henry’s holding open. Just before she exits, she turns back and shoots me one more smile. “Good luck out there, Slugger.”
The thing is, I don’t need luck anymore. Not when I have Alyssa as my lucky charm—my best friend, my person, my girlfriend, the woman I love—cheering me on in the stands.
The Mustangs were completely in sync tonight.
Several double plays. Fletch pitched multiple strikeouts.
Zero errors. But our batting is where it really shows.
We’re up 20–3 at the seventh-inning stretch.
It’s probably making the Shreveport Sea Lions wish there was a mercy rule in the MLB right about now.
Hayden elbows me in the ribs and points to the big screen.
I look up and watch as the camera crew pans to different fans around the stadium engaging in a dance battle.
Right now, it’s a cute young kid flossing.
But then, suddenly Alyssa is on the screen, only she doesn’t look like she did just a few hours ago.
She’s wearing a maroon ball cap with our logo on it and a Mustangs jersey.
She grins at the camera and twirls to reveal my last name on her back.
The sight of her wearing my name does something to me.
I plan on giving her my last name for real one day, but for now, this will definitely do.
The guys catcall in the dugout as I step onto the field and grab the attention of the nearest cameraman.
I blow a kiss directly into the camera lens before making a hand heart like Alyssa and her friends always do.
I don’t care if the guys rib me later. I’d do anything for her.
The screen cuts to Alyssa again. She makes the hand heart back, and the stadium goes wild.
I’m already riding on a high today after having Alyssa down on the field and knowing we’ve practically already won the game. But this moment is sending me to another level of euphoria.
I want to shout that I love her from the rooftops, but showing this whole stadium that she’s mine and I’m hers feels like a good start.