She has a mission, and it’s bigger than me, it’s bigger than baseball, and it’s bigger than even she is.
Grady sighs and offers me the baby.
I take him, remembering all over again how tiny and fragile he is and how I need to treat him like the most priceless baseball in the universe.
Babies are awesome. Love holding this little guy.
But it’s not enough to pull me out of myI don’t belong herefunk.
“Whoa, dudes, heavy atmosphere,” Beck says.
Max grunts. Ava, Beck’s baby, gurgles in Max’s arms as he takes the seat on my other side.
“You grew up normal,” Grady says to Beck.
“As normal as someone as fabulous as me can,” he says.
Ava starts crying.
So does Miles.
“Quit pinching my kid,” Grady says to me.
“I’m not. Beck’s horrifying him.”
“I could try singing,” Beck offers.
“I could try punching you in the face,” Max mutters.
Ava stops crying and coos at him, and after a minute of me patting Miles on the little tushy and bouncing in my seat, he calms down too.
“As I was saying,” Grady whispers in the darkness. “Ryder, you grew upnot in Hollywood, even if you’ve always had a Cooper-sized ego.”
“I was joking about being fabulous,” Beck whispers back. “I was justpretendingI was Cooper. Weird experience. I don’t think I want to do it again. But you do you, Coop. Seems to be working for you.”
There’s another growl in the darkness.
“Ah, shit. Okay. Itwasworking for you.” Beck’s still whispering. “I’ve gotten really good at interpreting Judson, and he says if you hurt Waverly, he’ll kill you.”
There’s a grunt of agreement from much nearer behind me.
“Can you save murdering him untilafterthe Fireballs win the World Series?” Max asks. “We kinda need the asshole.”
Beck gasps. “Dude.”
“Jesus. Way to curse it,” Grady says. “Now you’ll never win.”
Judson chuckles.
Guy’s scary.
“Dad. Knock it off.” Sarah steps out of the house to join us on the deck too. “The entire world saw you kissing Mom’s pet pig onGood Morning Americathis morning. No one’s buying the idea that you’re scarier than the six bodyguards hanging out in the foyer.”
“I was totally buying it,” Beck says.
“We’re already married. You can quit sucking up to him anytime.”
“But then he might not buy me ice cream the next time he takes me to the park. Oh! Is that the fried chicken? Is food here?”
