She raised her glass to me. “If you ever need to vent, call me. Can’t promise to keep my mouth closed, but I’m always here to channel some additional female rage.”
I chuckled, and the last dredges of anxiety slipped off my shoulders. Damien’s hand released mine, probably noticing the shift in my demeanor. But the moment his fingers slipped away, I reached out, pulling his hand back to mine—not because I needed it, but I wanted to hold him, wanted the connection between us.
Damien smiled softly and pulled our joined hands over the table, kissing the back of my knuckles. The gesture was so simple—one that spoke of endless support and care. I never wanted to let go.
Never wanted to lethimgo.
The realization snapped the band in my chest, the one that held my heart together after Todd ripped it to shreds. But with each touch, each laugh, Damien had slowly knitted it back together. It was in his patience with me, how he encouraged me to own my pleasure and my strength. He saw me, even when I had trouble seeing myself. During our time together, he’d been by my side, never letting me drown in the tempting darkness.
Damien brought the light back into my world.
And I loved him for it.
No, that wasn’t right. Sure, I’d started falling for Damien because he pulled me out into the world again, but it was so much more than that. I loved him because of his humor, the way his eyes danced when he spoke passionately about baseball. I loved his protectiveness over his family, how much his sister and nieces meant to him, the way he commanded the field as if he owned it.
So many reasons flashed through my mind. All the small moments that had tied my heart to Damien, making itimpossible to keep up with our rules. Against his kindness, his empathy, his understanding, it never stood a chance.
Somehow, despite my fear and apprehension, he’d captured my heart.
And I had no intention of getting it back.
THIRTY
Hours later, we remained at the restaurant, one of the few tables left after the dinner rush cleared out. We’d traded our plates for glasses of wine and spent hours laughing, reliving different moments from my childhood with Mari. There was an ease between the three of us, one I hadn’t expected but loved nonetheless. Brianna slid right in between me and Mari, cracking jokes and ribbing me with my little sister. You’d never know that, hours earlier, she’d been stiff as a board, terrified of saying the wrong thing.
Turning to sneak a look at the woman by my side, I couldn’t help but smile. This was all I ever wanted. Someone who fit right in with my family. Someone to bring me out of my baseball-induced haze and make me spend more time living my life outside the game.
I never expected that woman to be Brianna, but the more time I spent with her, the more I was sure we were perfect for each other, the balance the other one needed. She tried to hide her soft heart behind reinforced walls, but it was impossible for her to turn it off completely.She cared more than most people bothered. For hours, she let Mari talk about her girls, sharing different stories from their time in school and their messes at home. Her focus never wavered; it never seemed like she was asking just to ask. Brianna wanted to get to know my family, and that meant more than I could put into words.
As if she knew my thoughts were only of her, Brianna turned toward me, her hazel eyes softening when they met mine. She stole my breath, stole the beat of my heart, and claimed it for herself.
She was becoming my everything, even surpassing my team.
With a shake of her head, Brianna turned toward Mari. “Excuse me for a moment.”
Brianna stood from the table, and I watched every step until she moved out of sight. A snicker broke me out of my staring contest. My head snapped back toward my sister. “What, Mari?”
“Oh, nothing,” she mused. “This is just so much fun to watch.”
“What are you talking about?”
“You love her.”
I blinked slowly, unable to open my mouth to contradict her. Sure, I’d admitted to myself—this was love—but only to myself. Hearing someone else point it out—Mari, no less—cemented it in my mind. Shaking my head, I forced myself to meet my sister’s knowing smirk. “I might be.”
Mari snorted so loudly, the remaining tables turned to stare. “There’s no might about it, Damien. I’ve never seen you look at anyone the way you do Bri, not even when you were engaged. You are hopelessly in love with that girl.”
“Keep your voice down.” I turned to look over myshoulder, making sure Brianna couldn’t overhear. “Maybe I do. But Bri’s not ready, so let’s keep it between us.”
“Why isn’t she ready?”
“Nasty divorce. Her ex was a cheating bastard, and she’s skittish about relationships. It’s taken a long time to admit that she likes me, not just my?—”
“Do not finish that sentence,” Mari said, holding her hand up, her smile down-turned as she weighed my words.
The sudden silence between us made my chest tighten. Mari wasn’t one to mince words, so her keeping her thoughts to herself made me worry. The longer the silence stretched on, the more my anxiety built until I snapped. “What, Mari?”
“I’m worried about you.” Mari sat back, staring at me with a knowing expression. “I like Bri, I really do, but I don’t want your heart to get broken again. After Talia, you changed, D. You became colder, more shut off from the rest of us.”
