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“I do,” I sigh. “So fucking bad. We’re friends; we have been since I got here, but we’ve been getting a lot closer.”

“She sounds like she’s special, then,” Ari says, any judgment or humor from earlier now erased from his tone. He can see how serious I am about this.

“She is, Ari. She’s fucking incredible.” I rub my jaw, trying to calm myself. “She’s my… Starlight.”

I didn’t give Rory the full explanation for why I chose that for her. I didn’t lie, but I didn’t tell the whole truth either.

So why Starlight? Because her smile shines as bright as the stars in the clear night sky, lighting up everything it touches. Because any darkness fades whenever she’s around. Getting caught in her light makes everything feel the way it should.

“So go for her. If this woman has the Cole Pierce I knew so wrapped around her finger, she’s gotta be the one.”

The one.

I like that thought.

The closer I get to Rory, the more I like what I see. We’re compatible in so many ways, and we always have fun together.

That’s what I’d want from somebody I considerthe one.

And the thought has me groaning again.

Because I can’t fucking have it.

I let out a breath. “I can’t,” I say softly. “I can’t have her.”

“Why?”

“It’s complicated. I really like her, but we can’t be more than friends. We’re not allowed to be together.”

“Wow, this is a real-life Romeo and Juliet,” Ari laughs. “Romeo went for the girl. You should, too.”

“That play ended with both of them dead. I’d rather not try to live out a fucking tragedy.”

“Okay, bad example.” He takes a deep breath. “Cole, I’ve never known you to be like this. You obviously really fucking care for this woman. You should be with her, circumstances be damned. You sound like you’re miserable at the thought of not being able to even try.”

“I wish it were that simple.”

God, I wish it was.

Skip is an incredible Field Manager and a great guy, but getting involved with his daughter would obliterate my career. Baseball is all I know—I can’t give that up.

I’ll just settle in for a life of misery and loneliness.

eleven

Rory

Cole coming over tohelp with Sage two days ago confirmed for me that I’ll never move past this man.

He didn’t have to come over and hang out with a toddler, but he did anyway.

He didn’t have to stay when I told him he could leave when said toddler was having trouble falling asleep, but he did anyway.

He didn’t have to ask for the picture I drew of him, but he did anyway.

I didn’t have to fall harder for Cole Pierce, but I did anyway.

I have a hard time believing he thinks of me the same way I think of him, but maybe there is a chance Lucia and Ella are right. He’s going out of his way to see me more often than he did before. More than he did when we were still firmly friendzoning each other—before the World Series.

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