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“I think I love you.”
Holy fucking shit. She said it. Tenley Abrams just told me she loved mefirst.
I feel on top of the fucking world.
“You think?” I tuck a strand of blonde hair behind her ear.
Tenley nods, biting her bottom lip, and it’s the cutest thing. A nervous quirk I’ve noticed she has. “Yep. Wanna know why?”
“Nah, not really,” I tease her, earning me a jab to the stomach. “Of course I do.”
“You make me feel alive. Seen. Taken care of. All the things that have felt so foreign in my life. You’re so much more than I ever gave you credit for, August Graves.”
Well, strike me dead. I can die a happy man.
How fortunate am I to be loved by this woman?Little does she know, I’ve loved her enough for both of us.
“Wanna know why I love you?” I hear her sharp intake of breath, soaking in my words and clinging to them for dear life.
“Mhm.” Her head nods at an ungodly speed.
“Because you’ve been nothing but a challenge for me in the best way. A woman who’s confident in her worth and knows she doesn’t need a man to confirm that. But I see the way you’ve slowly handed over control to me. Even when you would have rather died than admit it—I saw it. I saw you. I’ve always seen you, Tenley. Before you were pregnant, I knew something would come from us someday. Something beyond just us. I’m glad it took a baby for it to finally be our time. I was willing to wait forever for you.”
“You have always seen me, haven’t you? Even when I was too stubborn to realize it.”
I nod. “I’ve just been waiting for you to see me, my love.”
“I see you now. In fact, you’re all I see, August.”
“Thank fuck for that.” I kiss her feverishly, not caring we’re in the middle of the hospital waiting room. I need her to know how brave she is for opening up to me, and promise her with my lips that I’ll be everything she needs me to be.
I intend to keep her, and I plan to show her just how.
45
AUGUST
“Bring ’em home, Graves. We’re counting on you.”
“You got it, Coach.”With pleasure.
I step into the batter’s box, ready to bring Jethro and Mack home. With one Striker on second and the other close to stealing from third, all it’ll take is a base hit from me to send my boys home.
A ground ball could do the job as long as it hits a gap.
Jethro may be a rookie and a pain in my fucking ass, but he’s got speed. The dude can steal a base in record time. I’m counting on that with this hit.
Another thing about me: a base hit isn’t gonna cut it.
I’m a go hard or go the fuck home kind of guy, and that’s exactly why the second I make contact with the most perfect pitch, it’s fucking airborne.
My grin stretches across my face as I leisurely run the bases, watching my game-winning ball soar over the bullpen and land straight into the stands of the home run stretch.
Homer with two runs batted in, baby.
They don’t call me a beast at bat for nothin’.
“That’s what I’m talkin’ about, Graves!” Mack chants asI meet him at home plate, sealing our win. Riding a palpable high, I place three fingers over my lips and raise them to the sky in gratitude.
