Page 314 of Vegas Heat

The nerves aren’t just from closing out the first series and hitting the road, though.

No, I’ve got a plan for what’s going to happen right after the game, and nothing would make that plan more special than clinching a victory.

Danny knows my plan, and he checks in with me an hour before the game. “You ready?”

I nod. “I’ve got this.”

When it’s thirty minutes before game time, we all head out to the field for our pregame routines. I take a lap around the bases. I swing by the first row and sign a few autographs. I glance around to locate my family, and I find them a few rows up near the third base line. Gabby sits beside my mother, and I grin at both of them from where I stand. My mom waves, and Gabby blows me a kiss. I pat my heart and wave back at them, and then I head over to the dugout to get my final stretches and routines in. I tug my sleeves down. I do some deep breathing exercises. I set my foot on the bench and lean over it to stretch out my calves.

And then it’s go time.

The Braves bat first, and Rush strikes out our first batter. The second hits a pop fly to center, easily caught by Johnny Prater, and the third is a groundball fielded by AJ, who makes an easy out at first by hurling the ball over to Danny.

Troy has me at leadoff, so I hit first. The pitcher tosses me two balls, and when the third comes toward me, I knock it over to left field, easily getting on first.

Duke bats second and hits a grounder right to the short stop, and AJ is third. He hits a pop fly that’s easily caught in left field, and then Danny’s up at clean-up.

He knocks it all the way to the back fence right along the fair line in far right field, and I take off running. As I tag second and race toward third, I’m thankful for the training I did in the offseason. I’m grateful for Nick’s program. I’m thankful I’ve gotten my speed back.

And, of course, I’m thankful for Gabby. I’m running as if I’m running toward her and our baby, and that’s what pushes my legs into motion as I round third and head for home.

I check to my left to see the ball is coming in toward the pitcher, so I slide across the plate to the deafening roar of the crowd as I score the first run of this game.

I glance up at my family and offer a grin, and then I head toward the dugout where my boys slap me on the back and fist bump me as they cheer for my run.

Fuck yeah. It’s good to be back.

We take the victory at three to two, a clean sweep of the Braves as Duke and Johnny score our other two runs.

After a quick celebration, the team clears the field and heads toward the clubhouse for food and rest. Some will hit the ice baths, others will get treatment from Nick, and most of us will head home.

But I head into the clubhouse, grab what I need, and head back toward the dugout as my heart races with nerves.

A moment later, Mike appears with a confused looking Gabby by his side.

“Thanks,” I say to Mike, and he nods.

I grab her hand and pull her to me. I press a soft kiss to her lips.

“Good game, Captain,” she murmurs, and I chuckle.

I pull her onto the field as the fireworks explode overhead, and I look at the jumbotron. She doesn’t notice it yet, but it’s there as “Love Story” by Taylor Swift fills the stadium.

“What are you doing?” she asks.

I smile down at her and offer a shrug as I turn her so she can’t see the screen. “I fell in love with you the moment you sat beside me at a blackjack table, and every day since then you have completely stolen my heart. I want the world to know that you’re mine and I’m yours. You are incredible, and yousurprise me every day—from watching you turn from a girl who knew nothing about the game into this woman who manages the entire social media division of an MLB team to growing our baby with grace to patiently waiting for me to get my head out of my ass.” She laughs, and that’s the moment I choose to get down on my knee. Her wide eyes finally move to the jumbotron displaying a live feed of the two of us standing right here on the field next to the wordsSay Yes!

She lets out a soft gasp that comes just in between two loud cracks of fireworks as her hands move to cover her mouth in surprise.

I pinch the ring I plan to slide onto her finger between my pointer finger and my thumb. “I love you, Sunshine, and nothing would make me happier than spending the rest of my life with you. Will you marry me?”

She nods, and the entire place erupts into deafening cheers—maybe even louder than the ones I heard as I slid across home plate earlier.

I slide the ring onto her shaking hand, and then I push to a stand and grab her into my arms.

“Yes, yes, of course yes,” she cries into my chest as she clings onto me, and then she tilts her head up and we kiss under the flashing shower of fireworks from above.

We only have a short beat to celebrate by ourselves before a huge group of people starts rushing toward us. Leading the pack is the man I thought would never get on board with this, but as Troy jogs toward us, he’s smiling widely with Joanie just a few paces behind him. My mom and my brother and his family are just behind them, and I spot Kaylee and Ben behind them and my teammates coming out, too, but it’s our families that get to us first.

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