Page 174 of Force Play
I can hear the cheers from our dugout and the fans we have here as I jog around the bases, bringing in runs from Novak, Mansfield, and Rivas before I follow suit.
The team is raucous as I dance my way into the dugout, celebrating that I just put us in the lead 8-7.
We take the win, and the team takes the celebration to the clubhouse.
I catch Lucia’s eyes, though. I can see pride within them, interspersed between a blazing inferno.
The Stars won the game, but I won a whole lot more than that.
fifty-one
Lucia
“Ella!”IshriekasI pull her in for a hug. “Look at your little bump!”
She laughs and smiles. “This barely qualifies as a bump, Luc. I’m fifteen weeks.”
“And you still look fucking adorable.”
Ella bumps me with her hip. “Happy birthday, bitch.”
“My birthday was a few days ago,” I chuckle as we join our friends. This is the first off day the Stars have had since I turned thirty-two, so we’re all out at a rooftop bar tonight in SoHo.
“The Garros are here,” Ari chimes, sidling up right beside me. “You’re glowing right now, Ell. You look great.”
“Thanks, Ari,” she smiles before turning her attention to me. “Who knew Ari Morgan could be such a sweetheart?”
“I think Lucia is more of a sweetheart,” Ari smirks before winking at me.
The fucker winks at me.
Ella and Josh both attempt to hide their smiles.
“I’m gonna head to the bar and grab a beer,” Josh says, steering his wife away from us. “And a mocktail for Ella.”
While they’re talking to the rest of our friends, Ari puts his arm around me and pulls me close.
“You know they’re gonna talk after you winked at me, right?”
“Let them,” he shrugs. “I don’t care if they do.”
“Starting to think you might just be a good guy, Morgan.”
Ari chuckles against my ear. “We both know I’m a goodboy.”He gently kisses my temple. “Happy birthday, sweetheart.”
“Thank you, Ari,” I smile, butterflies erupting in my stomach.
They’re always fluttering within me now, a constant presence when I’m with the man who has his arm wrapped around me and looks at me with stars in his eyes.
Ever since he showed up for me that day at Brooklyn College, I knew I was facing a losing battle.
Ari Morgan doesn’t settle down, and I went and fell in love with him anyway.
He’s the last person I expected to fall for, but being with him just feels right.
He’s starting to feel like home.
And if I’m right about his feelings for me, I’m pretty sure I’m his home, too.
