Page 146 of Fielder's Choice

When warmups are over and the first pitch is thrown, the game begins. The guys take their positions on the field—Ari’s on first base, Josh is on third, Cole stands between second and third as the shortstop, and Lane is in center field.

The home team apparently bats in the second half of an inning, so the away team—the Pittsburgh Bridgers—steps up to bat.

To my untrained eye, the new pitcher seems pretty good. He throws pitch after pitch, but none of the batters end up on base.He threw twenty-one pitches, which, based on Harlow’s anxiety, could certainly be better.

But they do end the top of the first inning, at least.

Look at that. I did learn something.

We watch as the teams switch sides, with the Bridgers playing defense and the Stars on offense. Ari picks up the bat first and heads to home plate, but I watch Josh grab a bat, too, and stand in an outlined circle.

“What’s Josh doing?” I ask.

“He’s in the on-deck circle,” Ella answers. “Since Ari is the leadoff batter, he goes straight to the plate, but the next batter gets ready in the on-deck circle. They’ll take practice swings and all to loosen up. Josh is batting second today.”

Harlow lightly elbows me. “Your man bats after Josh, though.”

A Korean song plays while Ari gets into position. He swings at the first pitch and misses—evidently, that’s called a whiff. He does hit the ball on the next pitch, though. It lands in the outfield, and he safely gets to first base.

California Girlsrings out as Josh prepares for his at-bat, Lane walking into the on-deck circle. I can’t tell where the pitches are landing, but he has two strikes and three balls after the first five pitches—a full count. When the next one comes in outside of the strike zone, Josh is walked to first base, and Ari moves to second.

Now, Lane is up. We listen closely to hear his walkup song, and a song I’m not familiar with starts playing.

Even though I don’t know it, it’s easy to see why he picked it. It has a fun beat and pointed lyrics.

Lane sways along to the music as he walks to the batter’s box, but his back is to the field, and his eyes are on me. He mouths the lyrics to the song, directing them at me, and everyone around us can tell.

“My ballerina, sway me side to side. All I need is a little love and care tonight.”

He winks at me before he gets into position, and I have to bite down my smile.

Walkup songs are personal to the player, and Lane chose one aboutme.

How could I not love that man?

We watch now as Lane rears the baseball bat back, ready for the first pitch. The first one is a strike. The next is a ball. But the third pitch Lane hits, and he smacks the ball over the outfield wall.

Home run.

He hit a home run, just like he told me he would.

So he can keep me coming back.

Lane rounds the bases, and after stepping on home plate, he looks at me again, holding his hands up in the shape of a heart. I do it back, and he smiles so brightly.

I’ve never known him to have shame, but I didn’t expect him to be so open about our relationship already. He’s all in, though. Head over heels in love withme.

And he doesn’t care who knows it.

In fact, I think he wantseveryoneto know.

“Are you guys sure I can be back here?” I ask as they quickly sneak me through the hallway.

The Stars won tonight against the Bridgers three to two, with Lane providing the only runs. Once the game ended, the girls immediately ushered me out of our seats and took me through the halls until we reached the authorized personnel area.

“It’s fine,” Lo assures me.

“I don’t have a team pass.”

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