Page 51 of Walk Off

A huge smile lit up Dallas’ face and he punched Kyle in the arm. “I fucking knew it.”

“Any tips or tricks on how to accomplish it?” Other than Ruby and her friends, Dallas was probably the next closest person to Celia.

“Be there. She’s not used to that. It was the same with Ruby. Their mom really did a number on them, and it’s been just the two of them for so long.”

Kyle knew what that felt like. Being alone. Feeling alone. Not having anyone to stand by him. “I can do that. She’s wary to start anything because she’s afraid of what it could mean to Jasmine. She has every right to feel that way, but I want to be in their lives. Both of their lives.”

“Have you thought this through? They live here in Valley Falls and you live in Arizona. How would that work?”

Shit, he hadn't even gotten that far in his thinking. Valley Falls didn’t have a pro baseball team so moving wasn’t really an option for him. Of course, he could live there in the off-season, but that wasn’t really ideal to be away from them for seven or eight months at a time.

“Jesus, Dallas,” Edwin said, coming up behind him. “Don’t make the guy rethink being with Celia.”

“He’s not wrong,” Kyle said. “I hadn’t even thought of that, but now that I am, I have no clue how it would work.”

“When you love someone, you find a way,” Edwin said. “Hannah moved here, but if she hadn't wanted to switch firms, or had wanted to go somewhere else, we would have figured it out. Her life and career are just as important as mine.”

His career was still in full swing and he was at the top of his game. He had many more playing years left as long as he stayed healthy. But, was playing baseball more important than Celia and Jasmine and the life they could have together? He was starting to understand why Celia had done what she’d done.

He would have given it all up if she’d asked, and then where would that have left them? Would they have stayed together? Would he have resented her? There was no telling, and now, he might be put in the same position.

He might have to give up a life with them to keep his career.

Fuck.

“Are you assholes going to work out or chat all day?” Noah said from the treadmill he was running on.

Dallas flipped him off. “Fuck off, Ashe. You’re lucky we let your ass in here. This gym is for winners only and if I’m not mistaken, you lost in the playoffs last year.”

“By that logic, Heath shouldn't be in her either,” Noah said, sparring back.

“Hey now, don’t bring me into your bullshit dick-swinging contest,” Heath said.

“I do not want to talk about dick size with my brother-in-law,” Edwin said. “I’ll never be able to sit at a family dinner again.”

“As if last night, I didn’t have to listen to you and my sister having sex for like three hours through the apparently very thin walls of your house. Don’t you make enough money to get better soundproofing?”

“Three hours?” Dallas asked. “Holy shit, man, what were you doing to her?”

“Nope,” Heath said, slipping in his earbuds. “I do not need to hear this.”

“If you’re looking for pointers on how to please your women, I’m your guy,” Edwin said. “Hannah is always satisfied.”

“I think I’m good,” Dallas said. “But Dulanay here might need some hints.”

Keeping Celia satisfied wasn’t the problem. “I’ve got that part under control.” He wasn’t one to kiss and tell.

“I could use some hints,” Noah said from the treadmill.

“I was unaware you could even get a woman to sleep with you,” Dallas teased.

“Fuck you, Ramos,” Noah said in fake anger. “I get plenty of women.”

“Yet, you need tips on how to please them?” Edwin asked.

Noah pushed a button on his treadmill and it came to a stop. “There’s this woman and she won’t even talk to me.” He frowned. “I mean something happened years ago, and now if we’re anywhere near each other, she ignores me.”

“When you say something happened, do you mean you slept with her?” Kyle asked.

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