Page 50 of Playing with My Heart

His answering grin was both mischievous and slightly hesitant. “Maybe. Come on, let's head out to the field.”

As he grabbed my hand and led me towards the pitcher’s mound, my heart began to race. What was going on? The knowledge that thousands of eyes were on us made my palms sweat, but Travis’s steady presence beside me was reassuring.

“Travis,” I hissed, “what are you doing?”

He just winked at me, that infuriatingly charming grin still in place. “You trust me, right?”

“Of course,” I answered without any hesitation. I swallowed hard, my throat suddenly dry as we reached the pitcher’s mound. The entire stadium seemed to hold its breath, a palpable tension in the air. Travis’s hand was warm in mine, his thumb rubbing small soothing circles on my skin.

“Ladies and gentlemen.” His voice rang out, amplified by the microphone he’d picked up off the ground. “I hope you’ll forgive this brief interruption, but I have something important to say.” He turned to face me, his blue eyes sparkling with emotion. “This man walked into my life a year ago and turned my world upside down. He’s the kindest, most compassionate person I’ve ever met. His dedication to our patients, his unwavering support for me, and his ability to make me laugh even on the toughest days—make him everything I never knew I needed.”

I felt my cheeks flush, overwhelmed by the intensity of his gaze and the sincerity in his voice. “Parker, before we met,” he continued, his voice softening, “I thought I had it all figured out. But you showed me what it means to truly connect with someone, to build a partnership based on trust, respect, and love.” He paused, taking a deep breath. “You’ve made this past year the happiest of my life. And I want nothing more than to spend every day trying to make you as happy as you’ve made me.”

As Travis dropped to one knee, the world around us seemed to fade away. The roar of the crowd became a distant hum, the bright stadium lights dimming until all I could see was Travis’s face, his eyes shining with love and hope.

“Parker Scott Reyes,” he said, his voice trembling slightly as he held up a ring. “Will you continue to make me the happiest man in the world by becoming my husband?”

Tears welled up in my eyes, blurring my vision as I nodded emphatically. “Yes,” I choked out, my voice barely above a whisper. “Yes, Travis. Of course I will!”

His face broke into a radiant smile as he slipped the ring onto my finger. In an instant, he was on his feet, pulling me into his arms. His lips crashed against mine, warm and familiar, yet electrifying in this moment. I clung to him, my fingers digging into his shoulders as I poured every ounce of love and joy I felt into that kiss.

Suddenly, a deafening roar erupted around us. I broke away from Travis, startled, only to realize it was the entire stadium cheering for us. The sound was overwhelming, an outpouring of support and celebration that left me breathless. “Holy shit,” I laughed, wiping at my eyes. “I forgot where we were for a second there.”

He grinned; his arm still wrapped securely around my waist. “That’s a good thing. Though I have to admit, I didn’t expect quite this level of enthusiasm from a bunch of baseball fans.”

We held hands as The National Anthem played then made our way back to the dugout. Travis suddenly nudged me, pointing up at the stands. “Look who made it,” he said, his voice warm with affection.

I followed his gaze, my heart swelling as I spotted a group of familiar faces. There, sitting just above the dugout, were Travis’s friends, our co-workers, and—my parents? I blinked in disbelief, wondering if my eyes were playing tricks on me.

“Mom? Dad?” I called out, waving excitedly.

They waved back, both of them beaming with pride. Next to them, I saw David, my ex-boyfriend-turned friend, sitting with a handsome man I recognized as Dr. Martinez from the hospital. The two of them had been dating for about eight months and seemed to fit together in a way David and I never had. David caught my eye and flashed me a genuine smile, mouthing‘Congratulations’ as we passed, and I felt a surge of warmth in my chest. It seemed like we’d both ended up finding happiness.

A wave of contentment washed over me. Here I was, surrounded by the people I loved most in the world, having just gotten engaged to the man of my dreams. I squeezed Travis’s hand, overcome with emotion. “You okay?” he asked softly, his eyes searching mine.

I nodded, unable to keep the smile off my face. “I’m great,” I replied. “Everything is perfect.”

The game flew by in a blur of excitement and stolen kisses between Travis and me. Before I knew it, we were filing into Gibson’s Grill, a swanky steakhouse overlooking the Chicago River. The warm glow of the restaurant’s lighting seemed to mirror the happiness radiating from our group.

“To the happy couple!” Jasper raised his glass in a toast. The rest of the group followed suit, a chorus of cheers and clinking glasses filling the air.

I caught my mom’s eye across the table, noticing the way she was beaming at my fiancé. God, that had a nice ring to it. “So, Travis,” she began, leaning in conspiratorially, “tell me more about how you fell in love with our Parker.”

Travis chuckled, his hand finding mine under the table. “Well, Mrs. Reyes, it all started when this incredibly talented physical therapist walked into my clinic for his first day of work?—"

As he regaled my parents with the story of our first meeting, embellishing it with his trademark charm, I couldn't help but marvel at how seamlessly he fit into my family. My dad was laughing at Travis’s jokes, my mom was hanging on to his every word, and I—well, I was falling in love all over again.

“I have to say, Travis,” my dad chimed in, cutting into his perfectly cooked ribeye. “It’s clear how much you care for our son. We’re thrilled to have you join our family.”

I felt a lump form in my throat, overcome with emotion. “Thanks, Dad,” I managed to say, squeezing Travis’s hand under the table. His eyes were watery as he thanked my dad.

The evening passed in a whirlwind of laughter, stories, and endless congratulations. As we stepped out into the warm summer night, my parents hugged us both tightly before heading back to their hotel. “We’ll see you for brunch tomorrow, sweetie,” my mom said, kissing my cheek.

After waving goodbye to our friends, we found ourselves alone for the first time since the proposal. Travis turned to me, his smile radiant in the city lights. “Ready to head home, fiancé?” he asked, the word sending another thrill through me.

I bit my lip, an idea forming in my head. “Actually,” I replied, feeling a surge of spontaneity that I knew came from being with Travis. “There’s something else I want to do first.”

He raised an eyebrow, intrigued. “Oh? And what might that be, Mr. Reyes-soon-to-be-Brooks?”

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