Page 78 of Until Forever

“JJ told me you’ve been teaching him.” Dad juts his chin at Jas.

“Yeah, we’ve been practicing for the last couple of months,” Jasper admits.

I link my arm through his, staring between two of the three most important men in my life.

“You did well.” Dad sits back, rubs his palms over the front of his jeans, and glances at my mother.

She wraps him into a hug and rests her head on his shoulder, then she reaches for my hand, squeezing it. It’s her way of acknowledging that she’s as pleasantly surprised as I am. Mom hates it when we fight, and though I haven’t said much to my father since I left their home a week ago, she’s happy.

Honestly, so am I. They mean the world to me, and I don’t know what I’d do if I ever lost them. Any of them, I think, then study Jasper’s profile. God, it never ceases to surprise me how much alike they are. From their facial features, the way they eat, hell, then they even share the same goofy sense of humor.

On occasion, I’ve even caught them sitting the same way—leaning over on their elbows with a leg draped over the arm of the couch. JJ has even started walking around in nothing but his boxers. This is funny when I think about it because he was a briefs boy until Jasper came home.

Home?I chuckle. I would have never thought I’d be saying that and Jasper in the same sentence a few months ago.

He tips his chin to me. “You okay?”

I tighten my hold on his arm and silently answer his question. Jasper kisses the side of my head then rests his temple against my crown. It only lasts a second because JJ catches another flyball, sending Jasper and Dad to their feet, the two of them fist-bumping.

For the next few hours, the game continues, and we’ve finally made it to the ninth inning. JJ’s team is up by two points in what will be their very first win of the season. I scoot to the edge of my seat, my fist balled tight as JJ steps up to the plate.

Rubbing my hands together, I breathe through my teeth. “He’s up,” I say, though it needs no announcement. “You’ve got this, baby,” I yell, then rest my palms on my thighs.

I shouldn’t be panicking, but I am. This is a big moment for him, one he’s been waiting on for a while. So forgive me for being overly excited. The ball is pitched, but JJ doesn’t take the swing.

“Strike.”

“Come on, baby,” I whisper.

Jasper grips my hand. “Relax. He’s going to do great. Just let him play. He keeps looking back at you, and if he sees you’re nervous, it’ll affect his game.”

“You’re right.”

JJ steps back up to the plate, shimmies, and throws a practice swing. The pitcher winds his arm and releases. I’m on the edge of my seat, as is everyone who’s here with me. And he makes it. JJ slaps the bat into the ball, and it sores way out into the outfield.

“Yeah.” Now it’s Jasper who’s going crazy, pumping his fist and screaming, “That’s my boy.”

JJ races to first base, then to second, third, and finally, he runs home after two of his friends. They won. They actually won the game—he won the game. His friends storm from the bullpen, chanting his name.

His smile is so big, bigger than I’ve seen in a long time. Finally, we’re allowed to exit the bleachers, and I race to him. JJ jumps into my arms, and I spin us around.

“You did so good, baby.” I kiss his cheek, and this time he didn’t stop me like he normally would.

“I won, Mommy. I hit a home run.”

“I saw, kiddo.”

“There’s my boy,” my dad’s voice rings out.

“Paw Paw.”

I set him back on his feet, and he takes off for my dad.

“Did you see me?”

“We sure did. You were so good out there.” Mom praises.

“Hey, bud,” Jasper says.

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