Page 129 of Baseball and Shifters
Everyone laughs. Until Lucas goes all Negative Nelson.
“But what if we get drafted to different teams? What if you’re on one coast and I’m on the other? We won’t be able to stay together.”
“Oh. I didn’t think about that,” Rachel murmurs, shoulders deflating and the sense of excitement for the future suddenly turning sour with worry in the bond.
“Whatever happens, we’ll figure it out. Together. But there’s no use worrying about it now. This is a good thing. Be happy. Celebrate the win before you worry about the next hurdle,” I say.
“Derrick’s right. And besides, you don’t play the same position. It’s possible you get the same team,” Liam says.
“When’s the draft? When will you know what team you’re on?” Rachel asks, chewing on her bottom lip.
“In three weeks,” Bas says.
“That’s not too bad…” She grimaces, trying her best to stay positive. “What happens after that? What about school?”
“We’ll finish school then when we graduate next year, we’ll head to whatever city our team is located,” Bas explains, Lucas too lost in his thoughts to say anything.
The bond flares with relief. “Well, that’s good. We at least still have nine months here together before we’re thrust into the real world. I say we make the most of it.” The suggestive tone is enough to snap Lucas out of his funk and we all stare at our perfect mate with heated looks.
“What do you have in mind, Moonbeam?”
“We need to go back home for that. There are some things that should stay between us.”
“How fast can we get back to campus?” Lucas demands, jumping out of bed.
Rachel giggles at his sudden mood change.
“Unfortunately, I don’t think we’ll make it back anytime soon. No doubt my parents are already fully aware of the draft announcement and Mom has plans to celebrate.”
“Yeah, but I’d rather celebrate with our mate,” Lucas grumbles.
“Oh, we’ll celebrate, alright. But there’s no hurry. Let’s get dressed and face the world,” Rachel says.
“Yeah. You might want to answer some of those missed calls and messages, too. My parents aren’t the only ones that are proud of you.”
Lucas takes the phone from Bas and scrolls through it. The Barker family chat is blowing up this morning.
And just like that, the future doesn’t seem so far away... or so scary.
We don’t know exactly where we’re going next.
But we know one thing for sure.
We’re going together.
Rachel
One Year Later
Idon’t know if I’ll ever get used to the massiveness of an SLB game. I thought the Nightclaws games were unbearably crowded but they have nothing on these games. The stadiums are all huge and packed full of tens of thousands of raving fans every game, no matter where we are. Today is even crazier, though. My guys made it to the playoffs their first year going pro. It’s crazy and amazing and I couldn’t be more proud if I tried.
By some miracle, Lucas and Bas were both drafted to the Seattle Shockwaves. We’ve spent the last six months traveling the country cheering them on as they’ve demolished the competition.
The guys got us a VIP box for tonight’s game and it’s going to be filled with all of my favorite people here to support Bas and Lucas.
Life has changed so much in the past year. While Bas and Lucas chase their dreams on the field, the rest of us are carving out our own futures. After finishing the year strong, I finally launched the freelance design business I’d been dreaming about. What started as a few logo commissions has grown into something I’m genuinely proud of. I’ve designed banners, team merch, and most recently, a handful of book covers for an indie publishing house that specializes in fantasy romance. It feels good.
Like all the pieces of my creative soul are finally finding a place in the world. I even got a message from the Eldergrove marketing department last week, asking if I’d consult on a new line of alumni gear. Full circle, in the best way.
