Page 54 of Grand Slam

The camera flips away from us, moving on to the next couple but I stay right there with her for a few seconds before I remember where I need to be.

“I better get back,” I say with one last kiss. “Don’t let the haters win, babe.” I wink, then start walking backwards, kissing my hands and blowing her a kiss. I noticed the phones the moment I entered this area. Those that got the entire thing on video or snapped a few photos. I am fully aware that the display would be news by the end of the game.

And I smile with satisfaction as I walk back to the dugout, knowing I’d hear it from the coach. But it will be worth it, so worth it.

“Where are Gran and Liz?”Emerson asks as I hold her hand walking toward the hotel.

“Jerry took them to dinner.”

“We aren’t eating?” I peek over to find her smiling but focusing on where we are walking and not looking over at me. What I find hilarious is that she is smiling but biting her lip failing to hide it.

“We’re eating,” I assure her. “I have room service being delivered in.” I lift my wrist and look at my watch. “Thirteen minutes, to our room.”

“Oh.” She nods, still grinning. “It’s a dinner in bed kind of night?”

“I thought maybe we’d eat out on the balcony, then we can move things to bed, if that sounds good to you.”

“Or we could just go straight for bed and eat after.”

Pausing, she keeps walking ahead until she meets the resistance of my hand still holding hers and stops, looking back over her shoulder at me. I give her a little tug, pulling her in closer and curl her arm behind her back.

“When are you coming home with me?”

Her playfulness fades a little as she gives me a serious look.

“When do I get to wake up in our bed to find you there? Or come home from an away game and see remnants of you all over our home, and find you laying out by the pool or curled up on our couch watching a movie?”

She holds my stare.

“How much longer do I have to wait before you’re where you belong, with me?”

“Look at you,” Emerson grips my shirt at my waist and looks at me through those long gorgeous lashes of hers, “saying all the sweet things tonight, aren’t you?”

“Just saying the things I feel,” I confess. “Telling you exactly what’s on my mind instead of wondering until I feel like my head is going to explode.”

She laughs. “Well, we definitely don’t want that.”

“Are you being dirty?” I say with a smirk and she slaps my chest playfully.

“Not yet.” Emerson nibbles on her lower lip. “But that is definitely in the lineup for tonight’s game.”

Stepping back I let her go and watch as she turns and starts walking toward the hotel once more with a little extra shake to her hips.

CHAPTER FORTY-FOUR

Emerson

I knowthat every year on this day, Liz will lay around all day mourning. I know that she will need space. I know to have the freezer stocked with ice cream and the refrigerator with wine.

I also know that Gran will be very present on this day, making soup or whatever it is she feels may be soothing and I know that she will give Liz, Kelton, and even their father a pass on this day. She won’t hound them or sass them in any form, but she will be one hundred and ten percent supportive of whatever it is they may be feeling.

She will not question their process but accept it.

The anniversary of their mother’s death will never be an easy day.

She played such a huge role in their lives and not just because she was their mother. She was always their biggest supporter. They were her everything and in turn she was theirs.

What I didn’t know was how Kelton handled the day. I didn’t know if he preferred to be alone or if he needed a shoulder or an ear. I didn’t want to overstep but I also didn’t want to appear uncaring.

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