Bonus Epilogue
Cohen
It was a hot summer day in Texas, but luckily, we’d decided to have Ellie's first birthday party at Addison and Dean's house, since they’d put in a new pool before the summer started—ours was still under construction.
Ava had wanted to involve horses, shocker, so we used a couple of the smaller ponies Addison had at her farm for the kids to ride before we all spent the rest of the afternoon in the pool.
The air smelled like sunscreen, cut grass, and barbecue drifting over from the grill Walker and Dean were fighting over.
"Back up more," Beckham yelled to Shane, who was backing away from the pool with a football in his hand.
"Is this good?" Shane asked, pumping his arm, ready to throw.
Beckham nodded, signaling he was ready. He took off at a full sprint, heading toward the pool.
Once he hit the edge, he launched himself into the air at the same time Shane sent a laser beam at him.
Beckham caught the ball mid-air before crashing into the pool with a large splash.
His splash sent a wave toward Hadley in the shallow end and soaked Ava, Callie, and Ellie.
"Seriously, Beck? How old are you?" complained Ava as she wiped the water from her eyes, Ellie squealing in delight from her floatie.
Beckham flashed her a grin. "Sorry, AJ!"
He had started calling her AJ months ago, and unfortunately, everyone else had followed suit.
Shane walked over to where the rest of the guys and I were standing. I passed him a beer.
"I think you throw a baseball better than a football," smirked Maddox from over his beer bottle.
Hudson laughed. "Yeah, man. Stick to your day job."
"I don't know, not the way he threw in yesterday's game," Drake added.
Shane punched him in the shoulder, but let out a girlish scream the minute Drake handed me his beer and went after him, sending him straight into the pool.
"Remind me again why you invited them to Ellie's party?" Walker asked.
I shook my head. "No clue."
Beckham draped a wet arm around my shoulders and grinned. “Because you love us, CoJo.”
I shoved him off. “Don’t call me that, dickhead.”
“So only Ava gets to call you CoJo?”
“Damn right,” I confirmed.
“That’s not fair.” Beckham took a pull from the beer Walker handed him.
“Of course it is. She’s the mother of my daughter and blows me on the regular, she can call me her bitch for all I care.”
Walker punched me square in the shoulder. Hard. “I don’t want to hear that shit.”
I rubbed my shoulder. Fuck that hurt. I flashed an apologetic smile, “Oops.”
Walker pointed the spatula at me, “Don’t let it happen again, or I’ll just keep beating your ass.”
Beckham and Maddox snickered like a couple of schoolgirls as I continued to rub my shoulder. There was definitely going to be a bruise.
The sound of Ellie giggling drew my attention toward the pool.
Ava stepped out of the pool with Ellie, water dripping from the cobalt blue bikini that matched her eyes. The sun caught on her golden skin and dark waves as she pushed her wet hair over one shoulder.
My mouth went dry.
She sidled up next to me, wrapping her free arm around my waist, Ellie settled on her hip. I dropped a kiss to the top of her head and then to Ellie's cheek.
"Ready to sing Happy Birthday? I’m going to go grab the cake."
"Let's do it. I'll take Ellie." She transferred Ellie into my arms. I lifted my daughter into the air, and she giggled, looking down at me with the same blue eyes as her mom. "You ready for some cake, Ellie girl?"
She smiled and giggled again as I threw her in the air.
"Give me my niece. I haven't had enough time with her." Callie stole her from my arms as Ava made her way back outside with the cake.
Ava placed the small smash cake on the tray of the highchair for Ellie as everyone gathered around us.
I rested an arm around Ava's shoulders as we all sang Happy Birthday.
I took a moment to look around at the love that surrounded us and our daughter.
Every single person we loved most and supported us was here.
The entire James family, my teammates, the King family, and my sister.
Outside of baseball, I couldn’t remember the last time I had been a part of something bigger than myself.
Baseball had always been my world—the clubhouse, the field, the grind of the season.
For a long time, I thought that was enough.
But standing here now, surrounded by the people who had somehow become my entire life… I realized it never really had been.
This right here was enough. This right here was what finally made me feel whole.
My world.
My family.
Later that evening, once the party had wound down and Ellie was tucked away at her grandparents’ house for the night, I finally had Ava to myself.
Ava placed her hands on her hips and looked up at the newly built barn. The late evening sun cast long shadows across the pasture, the cicadas humming in the warm air. "It's perfect. I can't wait to get Bentley here."
I nodded. "They did a great job. When are you going to move him over?"
She glanced at me. "Next week. I need to get the shavings and feed in before he's here."
Ellie was sleeping over at her grandparents’ because I had plans for Ava tonight.
I dipped my hand inside the pocket of my jeans and toyed with the velvet box. I’d bought the ring the same week I’d put an offer in on our new house. I'd just been waiting for the right time… and place.
What better place than the barn I had built for her?
As we headed into the barn to check out the finished product, Ava stopped short on a gasp. "CoJo—"
She walked slowly down the aisle lined with candles, their soft glow flickering across the wooden beams. Wildflowers were scattered across the concrete floor like someone had tried to capture a piece of the hill country and bring it inside.
"What is all this?" When she turned around to look at me, I was already down on my knee.
Her hands flew to her mouth, her navy eyes wide.
"Ava. You and I have always done things a little out of order, but I wouldn’t have had it any other way.
You showed me what love was, that I could trust it, that I could want it.
You walked into my life ten years ago, and nothing has ever been the same.
I think even back then I knew you were it for me…
I was just too scared and stubborn to admit it.
" I opened the box and held it out to her as a soft sob escaped her lips.
"You gave Ellie my name," I said quietly.
"I figured it was time you had it too." I stood, holding her hand in mine. "Marry me, Trouble?"
Ava nodded enthusiastically. I slid the ring onto her finger, the diamond catching the candlelight and casting tiny prisms around the space. She glanced down at it before wrapping her arms around my neck. "I love you," she said against my lips before pressing her mouth to mine.
I pulled back. "So, is that a yes?" I teased.
"It's always a yes with you, Cohen."
I grinned. "Good, because it's about damn time you wore my jersey instead of your brother's."
The End.