Page 135 of Easy Out

“I’m really proud of you, piccolo. Your mom would be too.”

“Thanks, Dad. I wish she was here to see all of this.” I look at my boys and Hart. He’s smiling wide at our sons.

“Me too.”

Hart finishes up his speech. The crowd applauds him and our organization. I’m clapping and screaming for my man. I’m so freaking proud of him. It’s hard to believe he used to be afraid of speaking in public.

Manny and Dante join us in the stands as Xavier and Francisco watch the ground crew prepare the field for the game.

“Did you see Mamá? I threw the ball to first base all the way from centerfield!”

“I did slugger. You were amazing.”

“Come sit by me Dante.” Stephen pats the empty seat next to him. He sits, but he’s bouncing in the chair.

“Rooney said some kid named Eric is throwing the first pitch. I told him it was fine since I’ve done it before. I didn’t mind.” Dante keeps talking. He doesn’t care if anyone is listening or not. He’ll still talk non-stop.

When Dante was five, Marco came over to the house with a bandage on his ear. He tricked poor little Dante into thinking he talked his ear off the last time he came to visit.

Jokes on Marco. Dante climbed over Marco’s lap and talked for the next hour straight into his ‘good ear.’

Eric throws the first pitch, high fiving a grumpy Rooney on the mound. I’m sure his lip turned up a little under his beard. He’ll deny it all day, but he has fun with the kids.

The boys have a blast watching their daddy play the game that still brings him joy every day.

I’m wiping faces and doing bathroom runs, for me and the boys, in between innings.

Cisco and I get back to our seat just in time to see Hart hit a home run into right field. He gives me a quick wink as he passes first base.

Te amo, I mouth with my hand over my heart.

HART

“The boys are in bed,” I say, entering our bedroom. My breath catches when I see Lauren laying in our bed. I love her body when she’s pregnant.

Lauren may not think so, but she glows.

She’s changed out of that tight ass dress she was wearing earlier. I don’t know what I liked more. The way her backside looked or seeing Mrs. Hart printed across her shoulders.

My brujita always looks gorgeous. Even now in my old Newhouse sweatshirt. The cuffs are frayed, and the logo is faded, but she wears it well.

“They had a lot of fun today.” I climb into bed behind Lauren and wrap my arms around her.

She groans and rubs her chest. I choke on a laugh.

“It’s not funny.”

“Lo siento.” I kiss the back of her head and the side of her neck. “Was it the nachos or the hamburger?” Eventually Lauren will remember how bad her heartburn flares up with stadium food. It wasn’t this bad with the boys.

Baby girl, however, is giving her trouble.

“How did you know about the hamburger?”

“Saw you on the big screen.” She gasps.

“You did not.”

“Did too. You looked muy sexy with that sauce dripping on your chin.” Lauren covers her face mortified. “I’m just kidding with you.” She sags in relief. “They showed you eating the nachos. I’m guessing it was your second one.”

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