Page 121 of Force Play

If she’s still hurt that I kept things from her, she doesn’t show it. “Tell me the plan,” she says, sounding stronger. More like the friend that kept me from withering away to nothing when my mom was dying.

When your world comes crashing down around you, time does this funny thing where it seems to stand still. It’s like you’re trudging through it in slow motion and the world passes by at light speed. I think back to that day two and a half weeks ago when a simple blood draw upended everything and that’s where I start.

“Dom was with me for the blood draw, and every step of the way since. He put baseball aside to be there when I needed him, not caring if he got in trouble. No one I’ve dated has ever given that much of themselves to me.”

“The game he missed,” Lilah remarks, putting the pieces together.

“That was the day I got the results back. I was useless. There’s no way I would have retained any information or made it through that appointment without him there.”

“I’m glad he was there for you,” Poppy says, wiping the tears from her cheeks.

“Once the initial shock of it waned, I knew I wanted surgery. I want the chance my mom never had; the future Dom and I have planned out. I want it all; every fucking second that I have, and I want it with him.”

“Do you have surgery scheduled?” Willa asks, chiming in for the first time.

I shake my head. “That future I mentioned includes having kids with the man I love.” Poppy’s grip on my hand tightens. “Slow your roll, babe. I’m freezing my eggs, not getting pregnant. Don’t you think a new husband is enough adventure for one week? Once we get through the retrieval, I’ll know the timeline for surgery.”

“I hate to ask, but this marriage came out of nowhere. Are you worried at all that you are letting the emotions of all this cloud your judgment?” From what I know of Willa, she’s practical and to the point, so I’m not surprised that she’s the first to ask the question I’m sure has crossed everyone’s mind.

“No.” Everyone but Lilah seems equally shocked by the sureness in my answer.

“How’d it happen?” Poppy asks, tilting her head to the side.

“When we found out, he went straight into business mode. We had so much to figure out and once I started processing all of it, I realized I was going to have to get a job with insurance. He wouldn’t hear it.”

“He could have just helped cover the costs,” Willa points out.

“He could have, but it wasn’t just about the money or insurance.” I rub my temples trying to figure out how to explain that the man I wrote off as a mistake ended up saving me more than once. “The past two months have been the hardest of my life; barring my mom being sick. Except for one thing—Dom. When I gave in to him for a second time it didn’t take me long to realize that by forcing myself to avoid how he made me feel was only hurting both of us. Turns out he’s everything I needed and what I wanted.”

“So he just proposed?” Mia asks.

I tilt my head to the side thinking about that day. For the first time since I got here, everyone stops with the questions and listens while I recount how the non-proposal-proposal happened.

Exhaustion is etched in the lines of Dom’s handsome face, in the set of his dark eyes and the slump of his shoulders. His golden brown strands are a mess because he’s been tugging at his hair for hours as we sit side by side at his kitchen table researching fertility clinics, the best surgeons, insurance, trying to line up his calendar with my cycle, everything. The one thing we haven’t talked about, that’s at the front of my mind, is how I’m going to do this without giving up my dreams.

One thing that is clear, this is going to be expensive without insurance coverage. I almost broke at the stress in his voice when the topic of medical proxy came up.

“Hey. Are you okay?”

He’s been checking on me all day, staying strong while I fall apart, but right now he’s quickly fraying and I can’t blame him. It’s a lot; more than he should have to deal with, but I don’t dare tell him that.

Dom pushes his chair back and takes my hands. “No, I’m not. I’m trying really fucking hard to be, but I’m not.” His voice trembles as he voices his truth. “And I need to say something. You’re probably not going to like it. You’re going to think I’m nuts, but I can’t get it out of my head.”

“I already think you’re nuts.” I try for a joke, but the spirit just isn’t there.

“Marry me.”

That’s it, two words that change everything. I blink back at him, stunned, wondering if I misheard him.

“What?” I choke out.

“Everyone will think we’re crazy, but I don’t care. I’ve been calling you my future wife behind your back for a year. Let me take care of you. Give me the peace of mind of knowing no matter what, I’ll be able to support you in every way.”

“You’re right. That is crazy.” So why does my heart skip at the idea? “You shouldn’t do this because you’re scared.”

“Baby, scared doesn’t begin to cover it. I’m fucking terrified. But that doesn’t change the fact that this is what I want. The thought of you getting sick—” The fear in voice tears at my heart. “You are what I want. Life is short as it is. I want every moment I get with you, and I don’t want to wait just because people might question our decision. Think about it. What do you want out of this life? Tell me I’m not there when you picture yourself and a year from now, five years from now, ten? If it’s not me there with you, I’ll drop it and just cover all the costs.”

It makes so much sense when he says it that way. I bite my lip, weighing the pros and cons in my mind, picturing my future. Every single image I conjure he’s front and center, right there with me.

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