Page 104 of Home Run

“Yuck.” I picked up the tequila I’d been drinking, something much more palatable, and took a large swig.

“Where’s Millie?”

“She went to the bathroom with Radley. Where’s Scout?”

“I dunno.” He shrugged, his head falling against the couch back. “She was dancing, then she went to film content, and now I have no idea.”

The dancing was a level below us, opened up to double height, which accounted for the reason we needed to shout to each other, and from the positioning of our seats, we could see almost the entire floor. Everyone from the rookies to the locker room attendants was out there.

I swear I’d even seen Jupiter Reeves—though it was a blink-and-you’d-miss-it type situation.

He was now sitting on a couch a couple down from us, with Saint Velasquez and Stone Fields, plus two of the base coaches and the head PT. They were playing what appeared to be a drinking game combined with poker. I couldn’t tell who was winning, but the almost empty bottle of rum in front of Stone would suggest it wasn’t him.

The party had been going on for hours. I had no idea what the time was, somewhere close to midnight, I’d guess, and there weren’t any signs of it slowing down. Looking out onto the floor below, I spotted Millie over in the corner with Radley, plus Scout and the interns who worked on her team—all of them laughing together at a couple of the rookies having a dance-off.

I was so goddamn lucky.

Millie looked incredible. It was like a spotlight had opened up right above her head, and all I could see was her,though the time had long since passed when I noticed anyone else if Millie was around. She commanded my full attention. Always had, always would.

Her skin was so peachy and fresh I could be convinced she hadn’t worn any makeup, except I’d watch her put this shimmery stuff on that made her eyes look like they were sparkling. She’d pulled her dark brown hair away from her face with a braid thing, because she said it was the only way she could make her face seem a normal size and notlike a fat giant moon beaming out.

I’dlearned a while ago I shouldn’t laugh whenever she said things like that, no matter how ridiculous they were. Instead, I silenced her with a kiss after telling her how I’d never seen anyone more beautiful. And it was the god’s honest truth, even if I could see she never quite believed me.

I’d tell her until she did.

Watching her now, hand slowly rubbing over her belly, it was hard to articulate exactlywhatthat did to me. Something about knowing thatIwas the reason she looked likethat, all big and glowing. It tugged in my chest, forming this crushing need to protect her and our baby. To take care of them.

And having her here with me, watching the games, wearing my shirt was everything I thought it would be and everything I never expected it to be—consuming, almost. The power I felt inside me from having her in the crowds was the sole reason I’d won the MVP. I knew it.

With her by my side I had no doubt we’d be unstoppable.

As if she sensed my gaze, her eyes flicked up and met mine. Everything and everyone disappeared intowhite noise as a smile beamed out of her right before she blew me a kiss that hit me square in the chest. Holy shit was Igonefor this girl.

I loved her so much it was hard to breathe.

I could have stared at her for the rest of the night, if Sawyer James body surfing over a group of rookies hadn’t interrupted us. When I found her again, she was once more laughing with Radley and Scout.

Parker and I bounced slightly as Lux fell onto the other end of the couch.

“We fucking won,” he shouted, his hands in the air. “We’re going to the World Series.”

“World Series, baby.” Parker picked up a half-empty bottle of champagne, gulped down a few mouthfuls, then passed it to Lux. “Yankee Stadium, here we come?—”

“And we’re gonna kick your ass,” bellowed Lux to anyone who’d listen before finishing the rest of the bottle.

“Hey! Save some for me!”

“Whoops, sorry.” He reached over to the table behind us, plucked one of the bottles out of the ice bucket, and opened it. “Here you go, my man.”

Almost immediately an overwhelming surge of emotion threatened to spill out of me, which had absolutely nothing to do with the amount of alcohol I’d consumed and everything to do with how awesome my friends were. Plus all the staring at Millie.

Wrapping my hand around the back of his neck, I pulled him into me and kissed him hard on the mouth. “Thanks, bud, I love you.”

But instead of my affection being reciprocated, he shoved me back and wiped a sleeve across his mouth.

“Gerrrof.”

Man, what was it with people not being able to say they loved me? I was notthatunlovable, even when I punched him in the shoulder.

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