“Yes,” I allowed. “He’s…” I sucked in a long breath and rubbed my eyes. “He’s everything.”
“I can tell. When he divorced Emmy, I was afraid he’d never put himself out there again. I’m very glad I was so wrong.” Shetapped my leg and stood, shifting back toward the house. “You mean the world to him too.”
He hadn’t put himself out there so much as I clobbered him when he strolled by, not giving him a choice but to notice me.
It was a meet-cute I never could’ve written because it was too farfetched to actually happen. I wouldn’t have thought a real chance for Silas and me would ever happen after that either, but here we were.
Here I was.
I’d leave here with a full heart and another jersey. I had all these big feelings for him that I couldn’t totally explain and grew stronger each day.
A love of a lifetime was a phrase I threw around in my books, having an idea of what it meant but zero clue what the true weight of it could feel like. It seemed way too soon, but if that wasn’t what Silas was becoming to me, I didn’t know how else to explain it. The notion of falling in love with anyone would’ve scared the hell out of me a few months ago, but I was in too deep to run from it now.
“I can’t wait to step up to the plate next season.” Taylor’s face was red as she ran her hand over her sweaty forehead.
Silas laughed. “Don’t get cocky. Just remember what I said. Patience, right?”
She nodded. “I think I’m going to skip the drive into town with you. I need a shower and to sit for a while.” She leaned forward, pressing her hands against her thighs.
“You were at it a while, kiddo.” I pulled at her damp ponytail. “We can wait if you want.”
“No, it’s okay. You guys go.” She glanced back at Silas and snuck me a smile.
After all this time of avoiding entanglements with men because I was afraid to bring them around my sister, Taylorwas not only okay with my being with Silas, but she was always pushing for us to be alone.
I’d babied my sister since the day she was born, but the older she became, the more I realized how much I might’ve underestimated her.
“All right,” Silas said, tossing his glove onto the deck. “We’ll be back,” he told his mother as he grabbed my hand, holding my gaze as he pressed a kiss to my wrist.
“We’ll let Taylor recover, and I’ll show you around.”
“More Silas Jones landmarks. I can’t wait,” I joked, leaning into him when he drew me into his side.
I wished it could always be like this. Silas helping my sister, getting to climb into bed with him every night, everyone around knowing we were together and in love. Or, I was.
Writing it for so many years hadn’t prepared me for the wonder and sheer terror when you loved someone with every cell in your body.
“I’m not used to all this nature,” I quipped, gazing out the window. “This town is cute.”
“A lot of city imports live up here. There are more New York accents around town than in Brooklyn, I think.”
“Do you get recognized when you come home?”
“Yes and no. I always played on the West Coast, so unless they knew me from when I lived here, no one really knew who I was unless they were a big baseball fan.”
Silas smirked right before he made the next turn.
“My old high school is up this road. Want to see where I used to play?”
“I’d love to.” I sifted my fingers through the hair at the back of his neck. “I love seeing where you grew up. It’s been nice getting to know your family too.”
“I told you they’d love you,” he said, squeezing my knee. “You were all nerves for nothing.”
“Yes, you were right,” I admitted. “They’re really great.”
“But…?” Silas prompted.
“No but. How could there be a but? Your parents are adorable and wonderful.”
