Page 51 of Tame the Player

She doesn’t think about it, she doesn’t blink, nothing. “Yes, I’ve missed you too.”

It’s like a weight has been lifted off my shoulders. “All right, I’ll be back.” I turn to look atthe man standing next to me. “You ready to play?”

He looks at Cat, but she doesn’t even notice because she’s looking at me with her heart in her eyes. I can’t resist her, so I lean down and kiss her on the forehead before walking up to where Cole is, bringing the other man with me. “Find your son,” I say before leaving him.

Cole’s eyes are huge as he looks up at me. “Holden, what? Your game?”

I put my arm around his shoulders, and he leans into me. “We lost, but we’ll get another chance tomorrow. I hope you and your mom will come to it. I think you two are my lucky charms.”

He nods his head. “Yeah, yeah, that would be awesome.”

I gesture to the field. “So I borrowed your mom’s glove. Is it okay if I play?”

His mouth drops. “You want to play with us?”

I chuckle. “Yeah, is that okay?”

All of a sudden, all Cole’s teammates are begging to be on his team. The coach has to divvy up the teams, and it doesn’t go unnoticed that he puts himself and his son on our team.

And for the next hour, I have the time of my life.

28

CATHERINE

As soon as I see Cole is happy about Holden switching places with me, I make my way off the field and go back to sitting in the stands with Holden’s family. “Sitting this one out?” Chrissy asks.

She’s smirking at me, and I shrug my shoulders. “Yeah.”

She leans forward and squints. “Wow, I can see Cole’s and Holden’s smiles from here.”

I swallow and nod. “Yeah, they both seem pretty pleased.”

Chrissy turns in her seat. “What about you, Cat? You deserve happiness too.”

I choke back the emotion, cover my heart with my palm, and watch the game taking place in frontof me. All I can do is watch the way Cole laughs at something Holden says to him and the way they encourage each other. Holden doesn’t look like a man that just lost a big game. If anything, he looks like a man that is completely happy with his life right now.

They only play a few innings, and even though Holden’s family all stays to watch, I am glued to the game instead of the conversation around me.

I reflect on the last twenty-four hours and how I have really missed Holden. I’m not sure what to make of him being here tonight, but I’m not going to let this opportunity pass me by. The future is unknown, but I know I’ll regret it for the rest of my life if I don’t at least tell him how I feel.

When the game is over, I watch as Holden carries that pink glove in one hand with his other arm around Cole. They’re talking and laughing, and they stop a few times as people come up to fist-bump them and congratulate them on the game.

When they step off the field, Holden looks up and watches me until he and Cole stop in front of me. “Good game, guys.”

Cole is looking between me and Holden. “Thanks, Mom. I’m going to hang out with Gabe and King so you guys can talk.”

I nod as I look at Holden, trying to read what he’s thinking. I suck in a deep breath and try to calm my nerves. “Do you have a few minutes to talk?”

He nods, but the parents keep stopping to talk to us until finally, Holden holds his hand out to me, and as soon as I put my hand in his, he’s pulling me toward the outfield. We only stop when King hollers out to us, “We’re taking Cole for ice cream. You can pick him up at the house later.”

Holden looks at me. “Is that okay with you?”

I nod, and Holden waves them off.

Once we’re in the parking lot, Holden stops next to his truck and shoves his hand through his hair. “Do you like me, Cat? Do you like being with me?”

I shake my head side to side. “No… I mean yes.”

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