Page 66 of Home Run

“Yankees,” I replied without hesitation. “A little hometown competition would be awesome.”

“Yeah, you’re right,” he said, passing the microphone back to me. “Anyway, that was fun. Congratulations, Simpson. Hope you get the girl. But for now, you’re up, so get your ass out there.”

“Shit.”

I jumped up, leaving the recorder inside my glove on the bench, and jogged to the end of the dugout, grabbing my helmet and bat on the way.

We were bottom of the sixth, and leading against the Braves by six runs to three. Jupiter had been correct. I was having a good game, and I’d been having agreatseason. I’d gotten two runs earlier, but I was yet to hit a home run this game. It had been a few weeks since my last one, so I was due.

You ask any player, and they’d tell you theyknewwhen a home run was coming off their bat, and I could feel this one. My batting arm was buzzing with an extra surge of power that needed expending, and in the crowds behind me, Millie was watching.

It was the first game she’d been to since she’d fallen pregnant. Between my grueling traveling schedule and her tiredness, she hadn’t made it. So today was extra special for me.

She was sitting where she always sat, a couple of rows behind the dugout, with Radley and her Secret Service crew. I’d caught her eye every time I’d run back into the dugout, and I’d realized that this game was the first gameshe’d attended where she’d smiled at me as I ducked back in, instead of scowled. Or simply ignored me.

I stepped up to the plate. The Braves pitcher had thrown fastballs the last five times I’d been here this game, and I doubted he’d make it a sixth. Especially as the Braves were down three runs.

We all had a ritual at the plate. I liked to roll my shoulders, swing my bat over and back, loosening my arms. This followed with several deep breaths in and out through my nose, until my heart rate lowered. Then I was ready.

Getting into position, I waited.

The first pitch went wide, and then he got into position again. Knee up, arm back.

It came as a curveball.

The crack of my bat making contact with a ball was the most beautiful sound. One of my favorites, quickly followed by the roar of the home fans when they knew a home run was happening. Tossing my bat in the air, I took off for first, quickly passing second. As I rounded to third, I spotted her.

I stopped dead. I’d truly never seen anything more perfect than Millie leaping out of her seat and cheering for me. Any doubt I had about being in love with her vanished. I loved that girl so hard it warmed my blood and powered me through my day.

The ball was way out in left field, caught by someone in the middle of the bleachers, my home run was safe, but I started jogging again just in case. The last thing she saw before I disappeared into the dugout was me blowing her a kiss.

We won ten to six and sailed into the postseason top of our division, which meant we had a couple of very welcome days off before the NLDS games began.

The usual scrimmage of players, family members, sports reporters, Lions coaches, and staff rushing through the corridors seemed to have doubled in size compared to last night’s game. Sprinting past the locker rooms before I got pulled into an interview, I headed straight for the spot I knew Millie would be waiting with Radley.

“There’s today’s MVP,” she cheered.

“Why, thank you.” I grinned back, leaning in to kiss her cheek and taking a second too long to do so. “Enjoy the game?”

“Yeah. It was great, you guys were awesome.”

“Where’s Lux?” asked Radley.

“Coming, he was talking to Coach as I came out, but he won’t be long,” I replied, right as Millie covered a huge yawn. “You tired, Baby Mama?”

She had to be tired when she missed the opportunity to roll her eyes at me whenever I called her that.

“Yeah. A little. It’s been a while since I was awake this late.”

“You guys go, we’ll see you when we get home. We won’t be far behind you.”

“Are you sure?”

My hand hovered over her belly. I still liked to give her the opportunity to refuse my touch, but she never did, and for half a minute I got to feel the life we’d made together.

“Yes, of course. Go home. I’ll let Lux know,” I added.

“Come and see me when you get back.” Millie lifted on her tiptoes and kissed my cheek.

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