Page 111 of Unexpected Forever
“Think about what I said, Gentry.”
A look of understanding passes between us.
He finishes off his soda. “I need to find Megan before I head out. Thanks for taking her home.”
“No problem.” I nod, my gaze roaming the yard until I find Charley.
She’s lying on a lounge chair with Amelia on one side, Megan on the other. Grace sits at Charley’s feet, using her hands to tell some sort of story that makes Charley laugh. The sun shines on her dark hair, and she seems to glow from the inside out, surrounded by people who love her.
My stomach twists, thinking back to the contract sitting in my inbox.
It isn’t as simple as choosing love over a game. Baseball is who I am; it’s my identity. I will be a dad and Charley’s man, but will it be enough without an identity of my own?
But if you think you can’t handle this, if you think your career is more important, walk away now.
Aidan’s words echo in my head. As much as his words piss me off, he found my weak spot and poked at it. I want to be angry at him, but I can’t.
As usual, the problem is me. I don’t know if I can handle both.
I’d never met anyone important enough to me to even try.
Until now.
What makes you think you deserve love, Nathaniel?
The voice that sounds like my father’s—or sometimes my mother’s—always makes me question my worth when it comes to love.
I never doubt my worth or ability when it comes to baseball. It’s all so clear what must be done. I like knowing what to do with no confusion.
Love and family? It’s messy, and I don’t know how to handle messy. Love isn’t something I’ve ever really had experience with. Even with Megan I don’t think I did it right.
Charley and little Nugget deserve better than a guy whose first love is a sport.
Whose own parents didn’t love him enough.
As though she knows I’m watching her, Charley raises her head and smiles, flashing me a wink. At the risk of sounding like a cheesy sap, it makes my heart skip a beat.
I grin at her, knowing how it makes her squirm.
All thoughts and doubts of the future and baseball are pushed to the back of my mind. I focus back on what’s important in the here and now, pretending that she’s truly mine and there’s nothing standing between us.
I have a grill full of burgers, a houseful of guests, and a beautiful woman waiting on me.
TWENTY-THREE
charley
The regular baseballseason winds down, which means Nate and I head to Florida the first few days of October for the last Bull Sharks home game.
At around twenty-nine weeks pregnant and no complications, Dr. Miller gives me the go-ahead to fly.
On a beautiful fall morning, I end up sitting in a buttery soft leather seat of a chartered jet, looking out to the Atlantic below as we descend into a small regional airport just outside Jacksonville. It’s a short flight and not far from where Nate lives.
Within minutes of landing, the humidity and warmer Florida air hits me in the face as we climb into Nate’s huge SUV.
“We’ll be at my house in about forty-five minutes,” he says, merging onto I-95. “You tired?”
“A little. How much time do we have before we need to head to the stadium?”
