Page 88 of Faking Summer
I glanced up where the stadium lights made my vision blur, and I allowed myself a moment to bask in it. Just one more out, then it would be up to our batting skills to win it. The moment the batter connected with my fastball, a shot of panic rushed through my veins like lightning. The ball soared, but as it hurtled towards the outfield, I could see our center fielder was right there, and caught it in a dive. Out three. I’d done it.
As I stepped off the mound and into the dugout, the world around me faded into a hazy blur. It was no longer about me; it was about us; the team. Our first batter stepped up, he swung straight into the shortstop's glove.
Our second batter took his stand. He attacked the first pitch with ferocity, sending it deep to the warning track. For a second, we all thought it might clear the fence—but he was held at second with a double. The next batter made it on base, and then after him, a hit to deep center field sent our guys sprinting home. The game was over. We’d won.
The stadium's buzz echoed in my ears as I bypassed the route to the locker room. I had to get to her.
Caroline stood waiting with a cheeky grin in the front row near the dugouts.
"You’ve got a lot of nerve not texting me today, Chaos," I teased, but there was an edge to my voice—I’d missed her more than I even realized.
She just smiled, that secret little smirk that drove me insane. "I couldn’t ruin the surprise."
I narrowed my eyes. "Always keeping me on my toes," I murmured, my gaze locking onto hers. "Thought you couldn’t visit."
"That was true," she said softly, stepping closer. "But, I’m not visiting."
My heart stopped. "What do you mean?"
She took a slow breath, her fingers brushing against mine. "Accepted a cheer coach position here in town," she said, her voice barely above a whisper. "It’s not the same as having my own studio,but one day, I want to open my own. And when I do… I want to do it with my own money, on my own terms." Her eyes searched mine, a mix of nervousness and excitement. "But until then… I want to be here. With you."
My chest tightened, my world tilted. She wasstaying.
"If you don’t kiss me right now," I threatened, voice rough with everything I felt for her, "I swear to God?—"
She didn’t let me finish. Her lips crashed into mine, and suddenly it wasn’t just a kiss—it was every late-night conversation, every moment of missing her, every second I’d spent wishing she was mine and that nothing stood between us.
When we finally broke apart, I pressed my forehead to hers, grinning like an idiot. "I love you, Chaos." The words tumbled out, reckless and real.
Her fingers curled into my shirt, tugging me closer. "I love you, too.”
She removed the pendant necklace I had left with her from around her neck and gently fastened it around mine. Right where it belonged. And just like that, my whole world shifted. She was here, and she was staying. We both understood that the road ahead wouldn’t always be easy, but it was ours. We’d get through it together, hand in hand, through the good days and bad. I wanted all of it—late night arguments until we made up, shared dreams, and a love that could survive anything. Finally, we weren’t just wishing for the right time or being forced to be apart. We had it all—every sunrise, every breathtaking, ordinary, beautiful second together. Caroline was the chaos to my order, the question to every answer, and the destiny I never knew I needed until I found her. And after everything we’d been through, loving each other wasn’t just a choice. It was our greatest victory.
epilogue
Reese
"How's my hair?" Bailey asked, nudging my elbow with his. The light caught the subtle highlights in the strands he’d carefully styled with gel.
I let out a chuckle, the sound lost in the ocean breeze. "Bro, I'm the one getting married," I said, shaking my head, "and you're asking me aboutyourhair?"
The salty air wrapped around us, carrying with it the faint scent of floral sweetness from the truckloads of arrangements Sam and her team had brought in. The setting sun cast an amber glow over the beach, painting our footprints in the sand with a warm, golden hue.
"You're right, you're right," he conceded, with a goofy grin. "But there's one thing for sure—you look damn good today. I swear, if she doesn't cry when she sees you, I will make a scene."
"Reese is supposed to cry when he sees Caroline, not the other way around," Boston piped up from the other side, his voice carrying over the waves softly lapping against the shore.
"I don't know about that," Bailey lifted up his sunglasses. "I've cried six times staring at him already." His eyes were bloodshot before he lowered his glasses back into place.
In the fading light, I stood there, on the edge of forever, thinking about the man I was about to become—a husband. I hoped I would always be good enough for her.
The first chords of a song signaled that the ceremony was starting. I extended my arms, one to each side, as the two women who meant the world to me each claimed a side. To my right, my stepmother’s hand rested lightly on mine. She had stepped into the void in my life without hesitation, always making me feel like her own.
To my left, my mother’s grip was tentative and eager, as if she couldn’t be more proud. We had spent the past five years navigating our estranged relationship, getting to know each other, and now we were closer than I ever thought possible. With a mom on each arm, it finally felt like everything had fallen into place—like I was whole.
As we reached the end of the aisle, I guided my mothers to their seats, the fabric of their gowns pooling against the pale sand. Turning away, I made my way to the gazebo. As the music continued, Boston appeared at the top of the aisle, my sister on his arm.
They stepped forward at a slow pace down the aisle. Lo shot me a smile that reminded me of her childhood giggles and all the mischief she’d put me through over the years. She was a college cheerleader now, and I couldn’t be more proud of her.
