Page 42 of Safe at Home

I stepped out of the trainers’ office and into Tyler’s waiting arms.

“Please, tell me you were doing what I hope you were doing in the dugout,” Cooper said, while wagging his eyebrows.

“What we did is between my wife and me,” Tyler said as he pulled me closer to him and kissed the top of my head.

“I still can't get used to that,” Hayden said with a shake of his head. “I can’t believe you guys are married.”

“You have fun?” Ivan asked me with a wiggle of his eyebrows.

I felt a blush in my cheeks and smiled. “Yeah, we had fun.”

“Good for you guys,” Cooper said with a clap on Ty’s shoulder. “I wish I were getting laid.”

“Why aren’t you?” Jude asked him. “There are girls all over us after every game.”

Cooper just shrugged. “I’m over the random girls.”

I had to smile and wondered if Cooper was holding out for a certain friend of mine. “Good for you, Coop.”

“I have to say I do love seeing you here getting extra work outs in,” Ty said to his friend. “You’re gonna move up quick with your super fastball now.”

“Yeah, I heard all about Super Cooper!” I said with a huge grin. “I can’t wait to see it in person!”

“You will soon enough, shorty,” Cooper said and ruffled my hair. “I wish you were catching for me, Stone. I feel more comfortable with you.”

“Bro, you have to build up your confidence. I obviously won’t always be able to catch for you,” Tyler said with a serious look on his face. “But, hey, if you do come up to Double-A soon, I can definitely catch for you there!”

I didn’t mean to, but I let out a huge yawn just then. I clasped my hand over my mouth in embarrassment. Today had been a very long day, and after the fun we just had in the dugout and the excitement after, I was exhausted.

“Sorry our baseball talk is boring you, Molly!” Hayden said with a laugh.

“It’s not! I’m sorry! I’m just so tired.”

“I better get you to bed,” Tyler said. “I don’t know if we’ll see you guys before you leave for your road trip tomorrow or not. If not, good luck!”

“Thanks, asshole,” Ivan said and gave him a guy hug. “Wish you were coming.”

“Me, too, man. Molly and I have a meeting with the insurance agent and a contractor to talk about options.”

“Hopefully, it goes well.” Hayden said and gave Ty a hug, too.

“Bye, Super Cooper!” I said and reached up to hug our tall friend.

“You told her the nickname?” Cooper asked after he let me go from our hug.

“Of course, I did,” Tyler said with a shrug.

“I like it! It will catch on. Especially after I make signs and have Peyton and Camden holding them up!”

Cooper shook his head but had a grin on his handsome face. “I can’t wait to see that! I love those kids!”

“So, I have some interesting news. I’m not sure if it’s good or bad,” my insurance agent, Amber Fletcher, said. She was the cousin of my realtor, Autumn. “Gerald and Lisa Portillo, who own Uncle P's Dry Cleaning, have decided not to rebuild. They are going to take their insurance pay out and are moving to Florida. As you know, they have the lot next to your bakery. I talked to Autumn, and if you are interested in buying it, I would make an offer quickly. That way, you could have a larger bakery, not to mention a bigger living space above. She also mentioned that you could buy both lots, just have more living space above, and rent out the second lot for more income.”

I looked at Tyler and sighed. That was a lot of information to take in and a big decision to make.

“With two babies, more living space would be nice,” my husband mentioned. “How much more are we talking? I make a little more in Double-A and don’t spend very much.”

“Actually, not much since it’s just the lot,” Amber said, gesturing to the contractor. “The out-of-pocket expenses will be discussed when you talk to Mr. Stefan McDonald here.”

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