Page 45 of Home Run Fiancé
I throw my head back and laugh, the pure joy I feel coursing through my veins allowing for nothing but smiles and laughter in this moment. She’s truly crazy. She’s smiling back at me and I know everything is going to be okay. I point to her with my bat, steady and grounded. She points back at me, bracelets lining her forearm and glittering in the afternoon sun, and we’re the only two people in the stadium. I nod, pulling my batting helmet down low and stepping into the batter’s box.
My girl told me to hit a home run so I’ll do everything I can not to disappoint her again. The bases are loaded, which means hitting a single would be the smart move to ensure at least one guy gets home and we get a point.
But I’m tired of playing it safe.
Tired of protecting myself, and in so doing, missing out on the best in life. It’s time to trust in Rhys. Time to trust in myself. The Sliders made the best decision by signing me on and I’m going to prove that right now.
The first pitch comes in as a strike, but it was a bit higher than I like so I let it go. The pitcher shakes his head at the catcher, shakes it again, and finally nods. He winds up and lets the ball fly. It’s coming in hot, but I know that ball is mine, just like I know Rhys is mine. I swing with every muscle I’ve built over the last ten years of professional baseball. The wooden bat connects with the ball right in the sweet spot. I feel the reverberation up my arm and know without a doubt, that baby’s going deep.
I drop the bat and watch the ball fly through the blue sky. I start walking toward first, confident in my homer. Before I hit first base, the ball drops into the stands, fans scrambling to retrieve it. I throw a fist in the air and keep running, seeing my teammates rounding the bags in front of me.
When I tag home base, I search for Rhys in the stands, seeing her jump up and down and clap over my promise kept. My new teammates stream out of the dugout and pile on top of me with shouts of celebration. I lose sight of her, but I can feel her with me.
The rest of the game has a new energy buzzing through our team. That grand slam homer was the move I needed to let my teammates know I’m here to play my best, not just a free ticket home. We end the game winning by two runs, which makes me happy, but I’m mostly focused on seeing Rhys, talking to her, holding her, begging her to forgive me.
As soon as the last inning is over and the players all run for the dugouts, I make a beeline for the pitcher’s mound. A sound guy runs up to me with a microphone and a cameraman isn’t too far behind him. The local sports reporter runs out in a spiffy white suit, her heels not impeded by the grass at all. Inanely I wonder if she practices running on grass in heels. I’m so nervous I could puke on my cleats.
The camera light goes green and the reporter is thrusting a microphone between us, congratulating me on the win.
I smile that “aw shucks” smile I know the fans love. “It was certainly a team effort and I appreciate the Sliders welcoming me with open arms today.”
She laughs. “Well, hitting a grand slam is certainly a way to make an entrance. What motivated you today?”
I take off my hat and run a hand through my sweat-soaked hair. “Honestly, it was knowing my fiancée, Rhys, was in the stands watching me play.”
The reporter nods, a gleam in her eye all women tend to get when they smell a love story. “Everyone saw her telling you to hit a home run right before you stepped up to the plate. Could you ask her to yell that every game?”
I chuckle. “Actually, I was going to ask her something else.” I motion behind the cameraman, where a bewildered and awestruck Rhys is being escorted to the pitcher’s mound by stadium security, just like I asked them. I owe so many favors to people who work in this stadium, it may take the rest of my career to pay them all back for today’s little plan.
Rhys swivels her head, taking in the stadium from down here on the field. Her eyes sparkle and her mouth drops open. She reminds me of how I felt when I stepped on my first professional field right out of high school. I feel the cushy grass under my feet for the first time and the lights in my face all over again just watching her reaction. Her hair is down and curled, a long thin braid peeking through her thick hair. Even her Vans are bright red to match the Sliders colors and her ridiculous shirt. She’s gorgeous. I can’t believe she’s in front of me, giving me another chance.
When she’s finally in reaching distance, I take her hands in mine and pull her close. She focuses on me, a sweet smile on her face and a flush to her cheeks that takes her into the stunning category. Before she can ask what’s going on, I launch into my speech, the one I practiced over and over the last few days. It needs to be perfect so I ignore the camera, the reporter, and the catcalls from lingering fans wondering what’s going on down on the field.
“Rhys. I’m so sorry. I jumped to conclusions and took my frustration out on you. When I should have been leaning on you the most, I chose not to trust you.” I run my thumbs back and forth on the back of her hands, needing to feel her silky skin. My gaze drills into hers, hoping I get to see those hazel eyes every day for the rest of my life.
“We had a destination in mind when we got together and even though we’ve taken a bit of a detour…” I get down on one knee right there on the pitcher’s mound, watching Rhys’ mouth drop open again. I reach in my back pocket and take out her ring. I kept it there the whole game as my good luck charm.
“I can’t imagine living this life without you. Rhys, I love you. Will you put up with my bad moods, cheer for me every game, and let me do everything in my power to give you the life you deserve? Will you marry me…for real?”
The reporter gasps and pushes the cameraman to get in closer to capture the moment, but I don’t care. All I can see is Rhys’ eyes filling with tears, the way her chest rises and falls faster. And then the smile comes, the kind that transforms a face and changes your life.
“Yes!” Rhys shouts in that throaty voice of hers that’s held me transfixed from the very beginning. She leaps, arms and legs flying around me, catching me by surprise once again. I nearly go down, but manage to catch myself, and her, before she gets a speck of dirt on that tacky shirt I’ve come to love.
Her lips find mine and I’ve never tasted anything sweeter. Salty tears trail down her cheeks and I promise myself she won’t ever cry sad tears again over me. I’m the luckiest man alive to have the honor of loving Rhys. We break apart for a second when we hear loud cheering from the stands. Apparently, quite a few fans stayed around to watch what was happening and approve of my proposal. We turn and look, seeing Asher, Mama, and Damon standing in their box seat watching us. Mama’s crying happy tears and Asher doesn’t look like he wants to kill me.
Rhys laughs and then looks back at me. “I love you too, Jake.” She frowns, tears still glittering on her cheeks. “I just have one question: what happened to your eye?”
I forgot about my black eye since it didn’t hurt any longer, but it’s a nice greenish yellow while it heals. I shrug and put the ring back on her finger where it belongs. “Got the sense knocked into me.”
She gives me a look and I know I’ll be explaining later. She paints my face with kisses, starting with my black eye, her hands tugging at my beard, like she can’t get enough of me.
The feeling is mutual.
Epilogue
Rhys
I fan my face with today’s newspaper. I haven’t quite gotten used to the summer heat in Texas yet, despite living through the summer here. Jake just finished his first season with the Sliders, barely missing out on getting into the World Series. He has a few weeks of rest and recovery before he’s back at it, preparing for next season. Which means it’s the perfect time for our little wedding in front of family and close friends.
