Page 73 of Nailed at Home Plate

We didn’t leave the bedroom for at least a week straight. All of our groceries and meals had to be delivered. Damn, that was fun.

My thoughts were brought to a halt as the loudspeakers sparked to life. There was a peculiar music choice that suddenly filtered over the PA system. It wasn’t any of the songs I had in the rotation for a dance number, and there wasn’t a routine planned before the game tonight.

With a few more notes in, it hit me.

It was mine and Jamie’s song.

The song we danced to at the bar when he finally showed promise in his dancing skills. Where we almost kissed. Where everyone could tell we were in love.

Except us.

But Jamie had a home game tonight, and he was starting. While he was happy to be back home with the Phillies, he knew he was on borrowed time, even with him playing like his old self. They reduced his number of games in hopes of giving some of the younger guys in the farming system their shot at the majors. Just the other week he brought up the possibility of retiring when his contract was up. I told him I’d support him with whatever path he chose, without question.

Maybe all of this was nothing. Or maybe it was the boys teasing me again. Ever since the guys on the Sillys caught Jamie and me, they hadn’t let me live it down. Which was fine. I just worked their asses in practice and made them do more complicated and elaborate routines to get back at them.

Ender suddenly popped into view via the gated entrance to the field from the bullpen. Aside from his broad grin, he also came sporting a single red rose. I was rather taken aback by his romantic gesture.

“Ender, what–”

“Cadence, this is for you.” His smile softened but was still warm as he extended the rose out to me.

“For me? Don’t you mean, Tiff—”

“That's what I said, isn’t it?” Biting my lower lip, I reached out and delicately clasped the rose with my fingertips. The scent of the flower hit my nostrils, mixing with the sweet summer air as I breathed it all in. “Besides,” Ender’s continued. “There’s a few more of its friends you need to collect.”

Raising a curious brow, I leaned to look to the side of him. Sure enough, there was Benson, a bitfurther in the outfield, waiting for me. In his hand was another rose.

Cautiously, I stepped out onto the field. My brain didn’t even register that there were thousands of witnesses to this peculiar display. The entire team was lined up, one by one, each one with a rose in hand.

Well, damn, maybe it was my work anniversary? At the back of my mind I was thinking that this was going to make a hell of a video for social media. The female fans were going to go nuts. Heck, I was going nuts. This was overly adorable, even for my motley crew. I vaguely wondered who the heck had the creativity to organize it all. Considering the fact they helped Jamie with his epic surprise for me, nothing should surprise me at this point.

One by one the team offered their rose to me as I made my way towards home plate. Some gave a smile with their flower; some gave me a smartass comment that made me crack up in laughter. It was definitely a Sillys thing to do. The boys lived up to the team’s name. They proved that daily.

I made my way through the entire roster before arriving at the catcher. He was at home plate with the last rose and down on one knee. I couldn’t help but laugh as my arms were laden with roses.

“Let me guess, Schmidt. Ending this nonsense dance number?” I laughed as I took the last stem and added it to the rest of them.

“Nope, just a question.”

My heart stopped.

I slowly lifted my gaze to his eyes as he pushed up his catcher’s mask.

Except it wasn’t Schmidt.

It wasJamie.

With one of his trademark grins and…

An engagement ring in a baseball.

This elaborate shindig all made sense now.

“But…but…the game?”

“That wasn’t the question I had in mind.” He chuckled as he leaned towards me a bit more. “Coach said I…needed anight off.”

“I’ll say…” I breathed out. Jamie reached out and took my hand in his. His calloused thumb caressed across my knuckles, calming me in seconds.

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