Page 151 of Stolen Bases

This week is the All-Star break, and we were planning on spending half of it together before she starts a ten-day rotation to make up for her days off. After last night, I think it’s best she goes home to figure stuff out without me.

We don’t have a future if her family doesn’t accept me. And I won’t be the reason they don’t talk to her or have a presence in her life. Family is everything to me.

I might not like Nico, but he has been the man in her life for longer than me. He took care of her—hell, he practically raised her—and in my book, that means he more than earned her loyalty.

Talia doesn’t see it that way right now because she’s hurting, but I do.

‘You have everything.’Romero’s words keep playing on loop in the back of my head.

I have lived a privileged life. I’ve wanted for nothing, thanks to my parents’ hard work. My dad was there playing catch with me and coaching me every step of the way. My mom gave us a leg up by sending us to the private school she worked at. I have my brothers to lean on when things get tough. I’m a professional baseball player with a long career ahead of me and accolades very few receive.

My only problem is none of it matters if I don’t have Talia. She’s the center of my universe. The very real possibility that we won’t be able to recover from this sits like a bout of food poisoning in my stomach, churning and waiting to explode.

I close my eyes and hold my girl, praying that we can make it and this won’t be the last time I hold her.

thirty-seven

Talia

The house is eerilyquiet as I step inside and close the door. My mother’s car was in the driveway, so I know she’s home.

Each step up the staircase feels more ominous than the last. I’m wholly unprepared to talk about me and Cam.

About Nico.

My heart feels like it went ten rounds with the heavyweight champion of the world.

I just spent the better part of an hour crying in the back seat of Cliff’s car while he drove me home from Cam’s place. He was so sweet, offering me water and a box of tissues as I sobbed quietly to myself.

My insides usually get all gooey when Cam orders the car to pick me up from the hospital and then drives me home or drops me off at the hospital. This time, he called the car to take me home because he didn’t want to chance someone seeing us and upsetting my family more.

I understand his reasoning, but it stung.

Everything about our morning together was a version of goodbye. The way he held me and kissed me instead of devouring me like he usually does in the morning.

When I reach the landing, I find my mom sitting at the counter with a mug of steaming tea. She looks tired and her eyes are puffy, but she also looks happy to see me.

We stare at each other for a moment before I find my voice. “Hi, Mamma.”

“Hi, baby girl.”

She stands, and I rush into her waiting arms. She hugs me tight, and the scent of her powdery floral perfume is like a balm to my senses.

I’ve missed my mom so much. Ever since our fallout over Cam, we’ve been like two ships passing in the night. We’ve both been avoiding authentic conversation for quick pleasantries and excuses about busy schedules.

“I was afraid you wouldn’t come home,” she says as we break apart. She tugs on my braid and smiles.

“I didn’t want to, but Cam made me.”

“I see.” She looks surprised to hear that.

She has no idea how wonderful Cameron really is. He thinks I don’t know what he’s doing—pushing me away because he doesn’t want to come between me and my family. Silly man. Like it or not, they are going to have to get on board. I won’t let them or anyone come between me and Cam. But he’s also right. I need to fix stuff here in order for us to have a future.

If we still have a future. This morning left me second-guessing everything.

Cam is stubborn, and he won’t come near me again if he thinks it will damage my relationship with my mom and brother. Family means everything to him.

“I underestimated him, didn’t I?”

---