Page 156 of The Problem with Players

“You still love me? After making you wait all these months?”

“I loved you, I love you, and I will love you, Avery Kingsley. This love will never stop.”

“I’m still working with the therapist. I’m still working on me, and I’m trying so hard to be perfect for you. I want to be everything you deserve because you deserve so much, Nathan.”

“Avery…” I took her hands in mine and kissed each palm before holding them to my chest. “You don’t have to be perfect to be loved by me.”

Her eyes fluttered with surprise. “I don’t?”

“You don’t. All I’m waiting to hear from you is when it’s our time to try again. I’m here. I’ve been here this whole time. I’m waiting in the dugout. Just call me out, Coach, and I’m yours. Give me a sign, and it’s game on.”

The next thing I knew, her lips were pressing against mine. She kissed me as if she was apologizing for every hurt she’d ever caused, and I kissed her with all the forgiveness in the world. I didn’t need Avery to be perfect in order for me to love her. I needed her to be real. And that evening, as she stood in the stables—the same stables where we shared our first-ever kiss—I knew we were ready.

I knew we were finally getting a real shot at us. I also knew I’d spend the rest of my life stepping up to the plate to let her know that I’d always show up to bat for her, no matter if she had good days or bad. Because loving her was, and always would be, easy.

EPILOGUE

Nathan

Seven Months Later

Fourth of July

“You’re going down, Kingsley,” I said, rubbing my hands together as Avery finished putting on her uniform for the Fourth of July Pierce baseball game.

Everyone from our small town was invited to the family farm to celebrate the holiday, including Avery’s family and the Honey Creek Hornets. Evan and Easton were doing what they’d done best, grilling up some meat as Mom, Tatiana, and Matthew made sure everyone had a drink in their hands for the afternoon game.

I couldn’t think of a better way to spend the holiday—baseball and family.

Avery smirked my way as she headed toward the front door. “Don’t get your hopes up, Nathan. I get Jackson on my team, and you have Willow.”

I narrowed my eyes. “What’s wrong with having Willow on my team?”

“I’m pretty sure the girl has never held a baseball bat in her whole life.” She smiled my way. “But don’t you worry, I know you’re not a sore loser.”

“I am a sore loser. I am the sorest of losers,” I pouted. “Maybe I should get out there and give Willow some pointers before we get started.”

As we headed out the front door, I saw Yara, Alex, and Willow pulling up to the property. Little Teresa was in the back seat with Willow.

Willow hopped out and rubbed her hands together. “Are you ready for some football?!” she shouted.

Oh, hell.

We were going to lose.

Everyone began to arrive, and the size of the crowd was outstanding. We had easily over sixty people laughing and joking around with one another. Cameron brought his father along with him, who seemed to be doing much better than he had been a few months ago. The other day, Cameron told me that Adam landed a new job at a construction company—Matthew’s company, to be exact. Leave it to Avery’s father to offer a hand toward a guy who needed help.

“Is it just me, or does your brother have a stick up his butt?” Willow asked me at one point as she walked over to me with a smile on her face.

“Let me guess, Evan?”

“Yeah! I asked him if he had any vegan hot dogs to toss on the grill, and he said that wasn’t a thing. To which I told him it was indeed a thing. To which he said not on his grill. To which I told him he should expand his mind a little. To which he told me that he didn’t need to expand his mind because it was expanded enough. To which I said ‘I bet you’re a Aries.’ To which he said ‘I don’t believe in astrology.’ To which I said ‘that’s a very Aries thing for you to say.’ To which he said ‘go away.’ So here I am now.”

I laughed. “That sounds about right. Evan’s a bit hard around the edges.”

“He’s grumpy.”

“Yeah.”

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