Page 91 of If Tomorrow Never Comes

“I’m not sure I want to,” she said with a grin.

“Okay, less about dogs and more about Elliott’s new boyfriend,” Jim said. “Tell us a little about yourself.”

Elliott had told them as much about Jamie as she could without getting into details about how they met or either of their connections with Carly. Her parents just knew Elliott had met him more than a year ago and they began officially dating recently after reconnecting in Omaha.

“Sure.” He’d expected a question like that. “I was born and raised in Omaha. Youngest of three. I went to Creighton, where I played college baseball—”

“Wait.”

His attention swiveled to Jim.

“You played baseball at Creighton?”

“Yup. From ’08 to 2012.”

The older man narrowed his eyes. “Jamie ... Jamie ... what’s your last name, again?”

“Sullivan.” He tilted his head in confusion as Jim tapped his fingers against his knee, regarding him thoughtfully.

“Jim loves baseball,” Mary supplied. “Where do you think Dodger got his name?”

Jamie grinned and gave Jim an appreciative nod. “Hank’s named after Hank Aaron.”

Jim held out his drink and Jamie took his arm from Elliott’s shoulders to tap their glasses together. Then Jim set his down and slapped his knee. “Wait. I remember you!”

Jamie’s eyebrows went up.

“Second baseman, right?”

No way.“That was me. Did you watch?”

“I don’t follow college ball much until the College World Series starts. You’re a great ball player. You were part of the winning team one year.”

“My junior year.”

“They spotlighted you all the time during the games. Talked about how likely you were to go pro. But I don’t remember hearing much after that. Did you not ...?” He trailed off, as if realizing a little too late it might be a touchy subject.

“It didn’t work out.”

Jim’s shoulders fell. “Oh. I’m sorry.”

“Don’t be,” he said, and grabbed Elliott’s hand. She squeezed gently. “I’m not.”

Something in his face must have shown his sincerity. “Oh. Well, I’m glad, then.”

“Seems things worked out for the best anyway,” Mary said, glancing between Jamie and Elliott.

He looked over at Elliott. “What do you think? Did things work out like they were supposed to?”

A thousand emotions passed across her face as she looked at him. Everything from sadness to tenderness and so many in between. Everything except regret.

Their road to this place hadn’t been ideal. But he couldn’t find it in himself to regret it, either.

“Yes,” she said. “I think they did.”

The four of them continued talking for another hour before Mary stood and said she’d better get started on dinner. The dogs had crashed at their feet, and she stepped over their panting bodies with a laugh.

Jim brought out a round of ice-cold water for everyone and regarded Jamie with a twinkle in his eye.

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