“Hey, bro!” Travis pulled me into a one-armed hug, his grin huge. “Didn’t expect to see you here with company.”
“Yeah, well.” I shrugged, trying to play it cool. “Emily’s a huge baseball fan.”
“Uh huh. And you just happened to offer her a ride.”
“She lives next door, of course I offered her a ride.”
“Of course.” He was still grinning, that knowing look in his eyes that made me want to punch him. “She’s pretty.”
“Travis.”
“What? I’m just making an observation.” He clapped me on the shoulder. “And speaking of observations, you haven’t stopped eyeballing her for the last ten minutes.”
I had been watching her. Couldn’t help it. “She’s good with the girls,” I said, because that felt safer than admitting anything else.
“Yeah, I can see that.” Travis followed my gaze. “Honestly, bro, she seems great.”
“She is.”
I braced myself for more ribbing, but to my surprise, Travis just said, “Gotta go help my wife. I’ll meet you in there.” With that, he wandered off to where Brooke was trying to get Annabella to put her shoes back on.
Getting the Rockford clan settled into a row of stadium seats was like playing Tetris with loud, moving pieces.
By the time we were seated, I was wedged thigh-to-thigh between my dad and Emily.
“Personal space is a myth in this family,” I told her, leaning close so she could hear me over the announcer. “You okay?”
“I’m great.” She smiled, and then the game started, and she disappeared into it.
I spent the next two hours trying to watch the field, but my eyes kept drifting to the woman beside me.
It wasn’t just that she looked beautiful, though she definitely did. It was how seamlessly she wove herself into the fabric of my chaotic life. When Dad passed a mountain of nachos down the line, she didn’t hesitate to grab a chip. When Erica groanedabout her back, Emily was the one who helped arrange her jacket into a lumbar pillow.
Every time something happened on the field, the kids climbed all over her to get her opinion, and she gave it, laughing and pointing, unbothered by sticky fingers or loud shrieks.
She fit.
It was terrifying how well she fit.
By the seventh inning stretch, the sun had dipped low. The energy in the stadium was electric, the crowd buzzing with that frantic hope of a close game. Amidst the roar, Emily went quiet. She was looking around the packed stadium, then down the row at my parents, who were holding hands, and Travis, who was wrestling a pretzel away from his son.
A strange, soft expression settled on her face.
I nudged her knee with mine. “What is it?”
She blinked, turning back to me. “I’ve never had this much fun at a game.” Her voice was quiet, just loud enough for me to hear over the crowd noise.
Something in her eyes made my heart squeeze. “No?”
“No. I’ve been coming by myself ever since my dad stopped. I didn’t realize how amazing it could be to, um, not be alone.”
Way to pluck out my heart strings. Jesus Christ.
I had no words for that. I didn’t trust myself to speak, so I just nodded, my throat tight.
“I’m glad you’re here,” I said finally.
“Me too.” Her smile was sweet, genuine. “Thanks for bringing me.”
