Page 105 of Stolen Bases

“Oh.” I bite back my smile.

Knowing we’re not a complete secret to her family is a relief. Eli and Mason know about Talia, and knowing she talks about me to someone in her family solidifies where we are outside our bubble.

“Don’t get me wrong; I still think you two are crazy for being together. You have Nico and Cat to contend with, and that’s going to be a tremendous battle.”

“Yeah, I know.”

If my conversation with him was any sign, Romero is going to be a colossal pain in my ass. I need to figure out who the hell he was referring to when he said I slept with his girl. As much as I don’t want to, I’m going to have to tell Talia. There is no way I can hide this from her. I don’t want to.

“Listen, I don’t know what Nico’s said about me—I’m sure some not-so-great things—but just know that I really love Talia. I don’t want her to get hurt. If she hurts, I hurt.”

She stops on the sidewalk and looks at me, her eyes assessing every inch of my face, searching for a fraction of insincerity. She won’t find any. Talia is my everything, and everyone else is just going to have to accept it. Especially Nico.

“Hmm. I can see why she fell for you. You’re honest. And hot,” she says, continuing down the street.

I can’t help but chuckle at her bluntness. Talia was right; I like her.

“You know, since Lia met you, she’s been different. More confident. Happy. Keep doing what you’re doing, and you might win over the most important people in her life.”

“Thanks.” A warm sensation fills my chest. It looks like I have one out of six on my side, and while it might not be the best of odds, it’s a good start.

We step up to a house that stands out against the rest on the block. I knew Romero remodeled his childhood home for hismom, but Talia didn’t do it justice in her description.

Hidden behind lush, privacy shrubs and a custom-designed gate, the once single ranch house is now a spectacular two-story contemporary craftsman. Although newly renovated, anyone with eyes can see the Romero home still maintains a quiet charm. The whale-blue siding, beige accents, and large windows give the house a modern look. The second-story addition compliments the block without being ostentatious.

A newfound respect for the conceited catcher I know floats to the surface. It’s not that I didn’t believe Talia when she said he had a big heart, but seeing it is another story. Romero went all out for his mom and family. It’s something me and my brothers would have done for our parents if they needed it.

My parents aren’t rich, but we definitely never went without. Mom was a teacher until she retired a few years ago. She taught at the private elementary school we all attended—at a discount—while Dad was an accountant for a few family-run businesses in the area. Their careers made it possible for them to be involved in my and my brother’s lives. They attended all the games for whichever sport us boys were involved in, we had family dinners every weekend, and they also made sure we spent time together as a family, whether for vacations or just day trips around the state of California. I count myself lucky. I know not everyone’s family looks like mine.

What Talia told me about her childhood—and is documented here in the beautifully remodeled home—I can tell this family is full of love. I’ve never been curious about Romero, but standing here in front of the home he clearly put thought into fixing up, I can see what Talia has been saying about him.

Maybe he isn’t so bad.

Together, Sofia and I sneak along the far side of the fence that lines the driveway, leading to the carport. Sofia makes sure the coast is clear at the entrance of the backyard between the house and the two-door garage, before she waves me over.

I have to pick my jaw up off the floor as I step under the twined wisteria vines and honeysuckle-wrapped pergola attached to the house.

Okay, I take it back. Romero is still a flashy asshole.

Lit from top to bottom in white twinkling lights, the multi-tiered backyard is show-stopping and opulent. From the slate stone patio, the second-level deck, the outside firepit, and the upper pool level with the hot tub with a stunning waterfall, the backyard is a full-on oasis.

Is that a fucking she-shed and a koi pond?

“Holy shit!”

“Shh,” Sofia hisses. “I didn’t sneak you back here to get caught now.”

“Sorry,” I mumble, still floored by the sight before me. I’d love to see what this place looks like during the day.

“We all know it’s ridiculous back here. But … that’s Nico,” she whispers. “We don’t bother fighting with him.”

I grunt in response. With Romero, I also find the path of less resistance the one worth taking. I guess I’m more like his family than we all realize.

Sofia smacks my shoulder and points up. “That’s where you’re going. Time to climb on up, lover boy.”

“What the fuck, Sofia? When you said climb, I thought you meant a drainpipe or something. Not a fucking ten-foot pergola covered in vines. How do we know this thing is strong enough to hold me up?”

“Because Nico made sure it was earthquake-proof. Now, get going before we get caught,” she says. A light turns on behind the sheer curtains by us. “Shit, that’s Aunt Cat’s room. You need tohurry.”

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