Chapter 37
Chapter Thirty-Seven
Easton
I’ve played some of my best games with my parents in the stands. Whether it’s because I want to make them proud, prove that their sacrifices were worth it, or have them cheering me on, I don’t know.
With Hadley and Tanner with them, these last three games have been my best of the season.
The game is almost over, though, and my parents are going to return to Lake Starlight. Hadley will move back into her bedroom. Tanner will come back into my room. And we’ll be back to where we were before they showed up.
And though I should feel relief about getting rid of the temptation… I don’t. All this sexual tension will lessen when we don’t have to pretend every minute of every day. Hadley not sleeping in my bed will feel weird now, but at least I’ll be able to beat off and take the edge off.
I have a lead on a woman who could be Tanner’s mom to follow up on after my parents are gone, so that’s what I should be focusing on.
We’re in the top of the ninth, up by one run with runners on first and second.
I’m unlucky enough to have Cade Reston standing on second for St. Louis.
I hate the guy—mostly because he was the number one draft pick my year and I was second. He got a bigger contract than me. I should let the chip go now. I outplay him and make more than him and have more endorsements.
But we’ve been rivals since college. Me at Ole Miss and him at LSU. Two shortstops. Two great bats. It’s probably mostly me, but I’ve never gotten over the ego hit of him being drafted over me.
“Bailey, heard the news. Congratulations.” He nods in my direction as Foster comes in for Jesper, taking his warm-up pitches.
“Thanks.”
“Marrying up. Good for you.”
Torres, our second baseman, glances at us, knowing this might not go well.
I don’t say anything. Reston’s right. Although my marriage isn’t real, if Hadley were mine, I would be marrying up. Nothing fake about that.
Plus, I just want to get out of this inning without getting into a fight with the guy.
But Foster is taking forever to warm up.
“So what do you think? Like, a couple months?” Reston asks.
“Give it a rest,” Torres mutters.
“Come on,” Reston goes on, ignoring him. “We all know Bailey isn’t the settling-down type. Look at him—baby with one woman, ring on another.” He smirks. “You collecting, or just hoping one sticks?”
I inhale slowly through my nose, forcing my shoulders loose. He’s not worth a stain on my career.
“I’m not being offensive,” he adds, as if that makes it better. “I’m just wondering when you’re going to toss her back in the pond.”
My jaw tightens.
Foster is still taking his time on the mound. Let’s get on with this.
Reston shifts closer, lowering his voice just enough. “So what is she—PR?” He tilts his head. “Or did you finally find someone who hasn’t known you long enough to want to leave yet?”
That insult hits harder than I’d like.
A little too close to home.
My foot moves a step in his direction. For a second, I feel the old snap—the instinct to step up, to make this physical, to shut him up with my fists.
I walk over, stopping just close enough that he has to look at me. “Careful,” I say in a low, even tone. “You’re real interested in my life.” I pause. “Some would say obsessive.”
He huffs out a laugh. “Just calling it like we all see it.”
“No.” I shake my head. “You’re talking out of your ass.”
His jaw tics.
Foster comes set. Thank fucking God.
Reston leans in. “Let me know when you get bored,” he adds, sounding casual as hell. “That’s usually how this ends, right?”
“You’ll have moved on by then—clearing out another locker.” Then I step back, brushing past him. Conversation’s over. “Better stay close.”
Torres cracks up.
I can feel Reston still watching me, still stewing over the exchange he started.
Foster fires his pitch, and the ball cracks off the bat, shooting into the gap.
Reston takes off, thinking I’ve got no shot at it.
I dive, glove out.
I catch it and fire it to Torres at second base.
Double play, and the Colts take the game and the series.
Reston stands on third, staring me down.
“That’s what you get,” Torres mutters, jogging past. “Don’t poke a man about the woman he loves.”
Decker and Torres laugh as they head into the dugout.
I join them, but Reston did what he wanted to. He scratched an old wound, making me second-guess where Hadley and I stand. Take the sex out of it for us—where does that leave two people afraid of the word commitment?
All my teammates congratulate me, some of them doing the ESPN highlight wheel jingle.
We file out of the dugout and into the locker room and take showers, and I’m selected to go into the media room.
I’m antsy the entire time, wanting to get out and celebrate with my family.
By the time I make it to the family room, I’m the last Colt to arrive.
My mom is rocking Tanner to sleep. My dad is talking with Decker, Hayes, and Foster. Hadley is sitting at the table with the other wives and fiancées.
I stop for a moment, realizing how much I like this. Having someone to come to the family room for. Someone to walk back to the condo with. Someone who is on Team Easton.
Hadley either senses me or she just happens to look up, but our gazes meet and she smiles. That smile kills me every time, as if she’s been sitting there waiting for me to appear.
I break across the room, but my mom intercepts me with Tanner.
“He’s about to fall asleep.” She nods, and I see that he’s one breath away from passing out. “Your dad and I wanted to talk to you and Hadley.”
“About?”
“You’ll see.” She smiles. “Did you want to take him?”
“Do you want me to take him?”
“Is that even a question?” She laughs and walks away, rocking him as I imagine she did me.
I walk over to the table and sit on the arm of the chair Hadley’s in. “Hey.”
I lean down to kiss her on the cheek, but she tilts her head, and our lips meet. Neither of us pulls away, and if we didn’t have an audience, I’d be chancing some tongue action.
“Get a room, you two,” Callie says.
“They have one,” my mom says. “Austin.”
My dad breaks apart from the guys. Hadley looks at me as though she doesn’t understand what’s going on.
“Congratulations on your marriage. We couldn’t think of what to get you, so we hope you enjoy.” My dad passes me a piece of paper.
Before I can open it, my mom tells us, “It’s a suite at The St. Regis for tonight.” She beams.
The guys all laugh, and when my mom turns toward them, they play it off as though they’re talking among themselves, when I know they heard.
“Mom… Dad…”
“We don’t need this.” I hear the panic in Hadley’s voice.
Thankfully, my mom can’t really see Leighton and Callie since their backs are to her because they’re biting their lips and their eyes are wide.
“We wanted to get you a wedding gift. We’re here. Tanner is used to us now.” Mom glances at him asleep against her. “Easton doesn’t have a game tomorrow. Go enjoy yourselves, and we don’t want to see you back until late tomorrow.”
That one noise Hadley always makes when she’s nervous comes out, and I stand, wanting to make this better for her.
“Mom, honestly—”
“We’re not taking no for an answer.” My dad steps in. “You two deserve it. Go enjoy yourselves.”
Hayes grins. “Yeah, go enjoy yourselves. Room service, champagne.”
“Robes and a bubble bath,” Foster adds. “Maybe some strawberries.”
“But stop for condoms. You don’t need another little one so soon.” Hayes eyes Tanner.
Both Leighton and Callie turn around and glare at the guys.
Decker says nothing, but Penelope pats Hadley’s hand. “It will be nice for you guys to get away.”
I guess Penelope isn’t as big a rule-follower as her husband.
“Exactly,” my mom says. “Penelope understands. And I’m sure Leighton and Callie do too. Parents need to get away. They need time to connect.”
I glance at Hadley. We really have no choice here. We’re going to The St. Regis.
“Thanks, Mom and Dad,” I say.
Hadley stands from the table. “Yes, thanks, Holly and Austin.”
“You’re more than welcome. Then you two can go on an actual honeymoon when the season’s done—after the celebration in Lake Starlight.”
“Love how you snuck that in there.” I chuckle.
“Celebration in Lake Starlight?” Callie says. “Sign me up!”
I glare at her, and she just laughs.
“Let’s go so you can pack and be on your way.” My dad gets the diaper bag and the stroller.
Everyone gets up to leave, and I take Hadley’s hand, leaning in and whispering, “I’m sorry.”
“We’ve made it the past three nights. We can handle a hotel room.” Her smile doesn’t reach her eyes, though.
She has to be doubting our willpower as much as I am right now.
Tonight might mark something memorable—the day we broke and fucked up this whole thing.
The problem is, I’m not sure I want to stop it at this point.