Page 75 of Shades of You

I knew what he wanted and gave him the signal. His next pitch was a fastball that Brent took a mighty swing at and completely missed. This time I kept my mouth shut, not wanting to rile him too much. Evan wound up again and delivered a fastball that screamed toward home plate.

Brent swung hard, and I flinched as he sent a high fly ball arcing toward right field. My heart lodged in my throat as Liv shuffled her feet, eyes skyward, tracking the motion.

“Oh, no! Oh my God,” she squeaked, a note of panic lacing her voice and audible even from where I stood.

“Come on, Liv,” I muttered under my breath, willing her confidence. “You got this.”

She took a few steps to her right, never taking her eye off the ball. The rest of us froze, only able to watch as the drama played out. The white streak finally reached the top of its arc and began to fall. When her glove opened, the ball dropped neatly into it.

“Out! Game’s over!” I roared, tearing off my mask and throwing it to the ground. The Stingrays erupted around me, a resounding chorus of cheers and laughter. All of us rushed the mound, clustering around Evan. Still in theoutfield, Liv stared at the ball in her glove as if she couldn’t understand how it had gotten there.

The uproarious cheers echoed in my ears, punctuated by Evan’s infectious laughter. In the midst of this euphoria, Stella and Maia weaved their way through the throng of players. With a warmth that only family could muster, they enveloped Evan in a flurry of congratulatory hugs. Their faces were radiant with pride for their team and especially for their brother.

Then they turned to me. Stella was first. Her dark eyes were full of emotion as she wrapped her arms around me in a tight hug that spoke more than words ever could. Maia followed suit, her embrace equally as warm and comforting.

Finally, Liv made it to us from right field, her expression still bewildered.

“There she is!” Maia shouted. “The game-winning catch. Good thing we’ve got such a great manager, huh?”

Evan’s grin could have lit up the entire Key, his pride obvious as he boosted Liv into the air. Her bewilderment gave way to a beaming smile after he planted a kiss on her lips.

“Way to go, Liv!” I yelled. Several hearty slaps landed on my back—an age-old gesture of camaraderie among family. Among Markhams.

And I was a Markham, goddammit.

The noise around us seemed to fade into a distant hum as I absorbed the moment. How an echo from our past had been brought to life again in this triumphant present. And that it had taken all of us to get here.

I turned to find Evan in front of me, wearing a gigantic grin. “That last inning felt like old times. I knew you were going to call for me to back that son of a bitch off the plate.”

I nodded, the weight of this moment fillingmy chest. “And you did it perfectly. Great job, Evan. You’re a force of nature.”

“Hey, you’re the one who hit the game-winning home run, remember?” Then his face went serious, and I felt the shift in the air. He glanced at the ground, then met my gaze again. “I’ve missed this, Hunter. You and me.”

My throat tightened. “I have too,” I managed to say, every word laced with years of regret and longing. “More than you could ever know.”

“Then let’s put it all behind us. Once and for all. Why don’t we start again, right from this moment?”

I couldn’t speak, so I just gave him a big nod. Numbness swept over me in a wave.

Evan stepped in close and wrapped me in a hug that held the promise of new beginnings. I returned it fiercely, my eyes stinging as I fought the tide of emotions threatening to spill over. He might have been shorter than me, but he would always be my big brother. His arms were strong, his body solid as I held him, still barely able to believe it. I didn’t want to let go, as fourteen years of pain and harrowing, soul-crushing guilt trickled away. My eyes were damp, and I didn’t care.

When we broke apart, our entire family had gathered around us, and I wasn’t the only one with misty eyes. Evan’s were glassy too. Stella’s cheeks were wet with tears, and Maia was wiping her face. Dad and Nona had approached from where they’d watched the game in the stands, and their resemblance was clear in their similar expressions.

“I’ve waited fourteen years for this moment,” Dad said, his voice thick as his gaze bounced between us.

The weight of history, of feuds and failures, evaporated in the tropical heat.

“So have I,” I rasped, my voice rough with emotion.

We all came together in a huddle, a tangle of arms and shared memories, family by blood and found family from the resort. It was perfect, the reunion I’d kept locked up in the most secret places of my heart but never thought I’d experience.

Then April’s voice cut through the celebration from where she stood at the edge of the circle. Her eyes were wet too, but the expression on her face was strange, a mix of embarrassment, fulfillment, and… pain? Her arm cradled her swollen belly. “Evan and Hunter, I can’t tell you how happy I am for this moment. But I’m afraid I need to grab Gabe away from the celebration. Pretty sure I’m in labor.”

Gabe spun on his heels. His face was a picture of comical panic, eyes wide and mouth agape. “Your bag,” he muttered, swiping a hand over his brow. “It’s back at the Barn. Oh my God.”

April, cool as an ocean breeze, just patted his arm with a smile. “Honey, breathe. You’re the one who’s been through this before, remember? We’ve got time to swing by Calypso Key. It’s not like this little one’s in a hurry.”

Her gaze swept over the rest of us. “We’ll keep you guys updated, okay?”

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