Page 128 of The Show

Never had the last seven months with her, or imagined in a million years I’d ever find happiness at the depths I felt it now. Even today, this morning, when I didn’t think I’d be able to fit any more inside, I’d asked her to marry me and almost burst when she’d accepted.

“I know, but you did.” My grandfather left the unsaid lingering in the air, because we both knew. “Right, let’s play ball.”

“You got it.”

Twenty minutes later, we’d made our way to the owner’s box -my box- where I found Lowe giggling with Beulah, Kit, and Lauren in the corner, and what looked like them comparing engagement rings. My mom, my grandmother, and Abby, were sitting on the couch, champagne already in their hands, holding an intense discussion which I had no doubt was about the wedding.

I spied Murray standing on the balcony overlooking the field, and rushed over before I got dragged into it.

“Congratulations, dude.” He clapped me on the back, even though he’d known it was happening.

“Thanks,” I smirked. “Needed to keep up with you, didn’t I? Couldn’t be the third wheel forever. Where’s Raferty?”

He pointed down to the field, where I could see Lucian the Lion Mascot greeting some of the early VIP guests who were touring the stadium before the game started. Included in the group were Buck and Shelley, plus their kids, who I’d flown up for Opening Day.

“He’s taken Bell and Barclay out there for a final practice.”

I chuckled. “You all set?”

“Yes. Don’t you worry about my dog, he’s going to become a star.”

I rolled my eyes. Today, as an Opening Day special, Barclay was going to be the bat dog, another one of Lowe’s ideas to get people excited about The Lions and The White Plains Jungle Kings, where Barclay would be making the majority of his appearances. Murray had flown him down to Spring Training to practice with the boys, and he’d been a huge hit.

The one video of him posted to social media had more comments and likes than the rest of the posts combined.

Even the Jupiter ones.

We’d had a special Lions ball cap and shirt made for him. Even I could admit he looked ridiculously cute.

Rafe returned with Bell shortly after, along with Dylan and Decker, plus their kids, though Rafe was the only one who came over to me. Decker got pulled into a conversation with my grandfather and Lowe’s dad, while everyone else was way more interested in Lowe, the ring, and the proposal story, which I didn’t realize was a thing until the third time I heard someone ask.

The three of us stood on the balcony in silence, looking into the chaos and noise of the room; the wait staff were laying out a huge brunch, Beulah was mopping up orange juice which Dylan’s youngest kid had knocked over on the floor, and Abigail and my mom were flicking through their day planners.

“A year ago, Bell had only just come along, and Murray was crying about how he had the hots for his nanny but wasn’t going to do anything about it. And now look,” Rafe said quietly, voicing what we were all thinking. “Look at what we did. How fucking lucky are we?”

I nodded in agreement, but couldn’t find the power of speech. I turned to the field; the doors had opened, and the seats were filling up. In two hours the game would be underway, and with any luck, The Lions would be heading for its first victory of the season - on home soil.

The euphoria from the morning had been pushed aside by nerves jittering in my bones. I almost wanted to speed up time just to get it over with. As it was the time went by much quicker than I was prepared for, and I left with Murray, who was taking Barclay down to the field to sit with his handler for the game.

“I’ll meet you there,” I told him when we reached the ground floor and were passing by the locker rooms. “I just want a word with the boys.”

He gave my shoulder a reassuring squeeze. “They’ll be fine, don’t worry.”

Twenty-six pairs of eyes belonging to my season roster looked up at me as I entered, along with those of August Chase and his deputy, plus a couple of the locker room staff.

This was it. Crunch time.

My breath caught as I stared at the results of my hard work during the offseason. The second the trade window had opened, I began shopping. The lists, which had been left on my desk for who to keep and who to get rid of, had been meticulously pored over. Parker King, Boomer Jones, and Lux Weston were all players I’d kept in the starting nine, along with another eleven guys in the rest of the roster. I’d brought up Tanner Simpson, and today was his first major league game as shortstop. Ace Watson had come from The Yankees, Sawyer James from The Mets, and Saint Velasquez and Stone Fields from The Giants and The Astros respectively.

And that just left Jupiter Reeves, who was currently rolling the peak of his ball cap in his hands and staring at me. Or staring through me was more accurate. Even slightly glazed his eyes seemed piercing, almost menacing against the black shirts of The Lions uniform, and making the tan he’d acquired in the Arizona sun at Spring Training appear even darker.

If he was psyching himself up for a win, he could stare all he wanted.

“Hi, guys.” I stayed where I was, by the door. “I don’t want to interrupt Coach Chase, so I’ll be quick. I was planning to drop by and wish you luck, but I’m not going to. You don’t need it. I’ve seen you play together this last month, and if there was ever evidence of a winning team, you’re it; all twenty-six of you. We’re about to make history and build something incredible this season. So instead, I’m going to tell you to get out there and show the crowds what you’re made of. WhatIknow you’re made of. The Lions are coming out fighting today.”

I didn’t expect the hollering to break out, but the louder it got, the wider my smile grew. My cheeks were hurting by the time I reached for the door handle.

Coach Chase nodded to me over the growing din. “Thanks, boss.

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