Page 83 of Endgame

Now that’s a ball game.

“That’s what I’m talkin’ about!” I can hear Leggins roaring from the sidelines. “That’s how we play some baseball!”

As soon as the ball is secured in Mack’s glove and the umpire calls the out, Mack charges me at the mound, his massive frame tackling me to the ground.

The roars from the Striker's dugout alert me they’re coming before all hell breaks loose, booing to be ignored, andwe’re all jumping up and down shouting in victory to the sound of our anthem.

“Atlanta boys, where you at?” King is wailing at the top of his lungs, sending hype energy through our veins.

I live for this high.

“We right hereeeee!” The team responds over and over again like a manly game of Marco Polo, but for champions. Amid the excitement and an incredible win, my eyes search for my beautiful girl in the background. The electricity when she’s near alerts me to look ahead.

Layered in Striker's colors with her bright hazel eyes on me, I watch her from afar as she lowers her camera, lens clearly locked in on the sight of our celebration and looks at me with a smile full of so much pride.

She’s stunning.

My smile reaches hers in seconds, and I stand awestruck as she blows me a sweet kiss that sends my heart into delirium.

I’m hit with an overwhelming sense of adoration for this woman. She’s quickly become what I look forward to most every day, and the prospect of her becoming something more thrills me.

I can’t wait to get her alone tonight. She doesn’t know it yet, but tonight she’s mine. I have plans for her—plans to woo her and make her unable to resist my overwhelming charm.

Get ready, baby. I’m coming for you.

35

DAKOTA

Callaway:I’m picking you up at eight. Wear something comfortable, or nothing if you’d prefer.

Dakota:Funny. Always telling, never asking.

Callaway:It hasn’t failed me yet.

Dakota:What are we doing?

Callaway:That’s for me to know and you to find out.

Dakota:I’m nervous, Callaway.

Callaway:Don’t be. I’ll take care of you. Can’t wait to see you.

Why am I so nervous?It’s not like I’ve never been around the guy. We see each other regularly and he feels more familiar than most people in my life.

Yet, the worddaterings in my heart truer than before.

There's an unforeseen possibility going into tonight. Dating is a stage of vulnerability, where you typically share about yourself with the other person, hoping they like what they discover. It’s a good thing for me; Callaway already knows almost everything there is to know about me.

This is the next step, the one where I finally choose tomove forward with him after months of fighting this gravitational pull he has with me.

After the Strikers nailed the win and took the sweep against the Cardinals, they headed to the guest locker room for a meeting on what’s to come for the rest of the season. Coach Leggins seems to be in a decent mood since the win, so, hopefully, he will let the team off for the rest of the weekend to celebrate.

While the team was meeting, I head to my guest locker to collect my camera equipment.

I have a good feeling about the photos I was able to shoot tonight.

There were so many moments of the team in sync with each other, cheering for one other, and a determination I was able to witness and photograph.

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