Page 68 of Walk Off

“Old things can be pretty cool sometimes,” Kyle said. “I have a baseball that’s over a hundred years old signed by one of the best players to ever play the game.”

Jasmine’s eyes went wide. “Really?”

Kyle told her more about his signed Babe Ruth baseball while she listened. She’d heard the story, and had even seen the ball once when he’d shown it to her. After his Aunt Elinor had died, he’d found it in her house in a box addressed to him, along with her will, which stated that he was the sole recipient of everything she owed. There was a note attached to the ball explaining where she’d gotten it.

Turns out, his Aunt Elinor had found it in her own father’s garage when he’d died. She'd had it authenticated and was saving it to give to him the day he made the majors. It was worth thousands, and Kyle could have easily sold it to survive those years after she died, but he’d refused. It was his most prized possession and he’d told Celia that he’d never part with it.

Not because it was signed by Babe Ruth, but because his aunt had wanted him to have it.

After they each told the other about their days, Jasmine passed the iPad to her. “I’m going to go try on my new leotard.” She bounded off leaving Celia alone to talk to Kyle.

“Your gift was a huge hit.” She felt awkward and wasn't sure what else to say.

“What about yours? Was it also a huge hit?” His smile lit up the screen, but she also saw his apprehension under the smile. He wanted her to like his gift.

“I don’t even remember telling you how much I wanted that music box.”

“You didn’t, but every time we walked by that store, you mooned over it. If I'd had money back then, I’d have bought it for you.”

She shook her head. “I can’t believe you remember that.”

“I remember everything about our time together.”

That admission had her falling just a little more in love with him,if that was even possible. She already felt like she was as far in love with him as she could possibly be. “You don’t have to buy me gifts. Or Jasmine.”

“I know that. I wanted to. I want you both to have everything you’ve ever wanted. I want Jasmine to have the things neither one of us had growing up. I’m not trying to spoil her, or buy her love. I just want her to know that I’m a part of her life and that I’m paying attention to the things she enjoys.” He paused. “I want that for both of you.”

She saw the seriousness in his eyes. There was also something else. Something that looked a lot like love.

Fear gripped her by the throat. “I have to go,” she rushed to say. “Thank you for the generous gifts.” As quickly as she could, before she started crying, she clicked off the call. Her hands were shaking and she felt tears well up in her eyes.

She loved this man, and from the looks of it, he loved her back. Everything inside her told her to leap and look later. To take the chance.

One tiny part of her was holding her back.

That part where she heard her mom’s voice in her head that she would never be good enough and that she was nothing but a whore who would never find love.

Why was it so easy to listen to that one little voice instead of the other ones telling her to go for it?

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