“Thanks, Mills. I get it’s the stereotypical reason for a rushed wedding, but it’s still hurtful for a woman who has fertility issues or chooses to be child-free, ya know?”
“We get it. It was a lapse in judgment and we feel really bad about it,” Preston adds, and Ivory wraps her arm around him.
“So, does this mean I have to start calling you Daddy?” Miller asks, looking over at me.
“What?!” I shake my head, at the curveball of a question.
“Ya know, because Taylor’s a mami.”
“You have literally never called me that a day in your life.” Taylor chucks a piece of cheese in his direction.
Miller shimmies his shoulders. “A mamacita.”
“You’re an idiot.” Taylor laughs and all is forgiven.
“Wait, where’s your dog?” Chase asks, seemingly noticing something is off about this gathering.
Miller drops his head to his hands and rubs his temples. “Ugh, Gabby was right. I needed to send Cooper to a training program, and since we’re going to the postseason and he’s still a puppy, it seemed like the best opportunity to do it now. So he is at doggy boot camp for a few more weeks, maybe a month. I don’t know, they’ll tell me when he’s ready.”
“It was really brave of you to part with him.” Gabby pats him on the shoulder.
“Thank you, I needed that. It’s sad not having him here, but at least he’s not eating my socks right now.”
“Or hiding my stuff.” Preston shakes his head.
“But I’m training him to be the bat dog for next year, so Coach, we need to talk logistics.” Miller points at Mike.
“Don’t you think you should talk to the team owner?” Mike counters.
Miller waves him off. “Boss man is too busy and this is a team matter. Do we have room on the roster for a dog? What do we have to do to get a dog on the roster, Gabriella? Do you know? Is there a—what do you call those?” He moves his fingers like he’s trying to grab hold of the words but they’re just out of reach.
“Rules? Regulations? What are you asking?” Gabby responds.
“Rules! Does the league prohibit dogs on the roster?”
“I don’t know, Mills.”
“Why don’t you look into that?” He taps the table. “Now, let’s eat. I’m freaking starving!”
“Let’s make a toast first.” Ivory raises her glass to the center of the table. “To the happy couple.”
Taylor melts into my side at the acceptance in Ivory’s voice and the hearty congratulations from all her friends.Ourfriends.
Since the Troubadours had the better record in the regular season, we get home-field advantage for games one and two of the National League Division Series, which kicks off tonight in Nashville. The team has been preparing all week, and I like our odds going into this series against New York.
“Where are you going to watch the game tonight?” Taylor asks as we’re getting dressed for the night.
“Well, I was thinking about watching it with you and the girls, but what do you think?”
“I think you should watch it in the dugout with your team.” She runs her hands up my chest and loops them around my neck.
“Really?” I bring her flush against my body, never tiring of the feel of her in my arms.
“Yeah, seeing you in the dugout at the end of the last game brought back some memories for me. You looked so happy down there with the guys.”
“I’m not the young cool guy anymore. I’m their boss. They don’t want me hanging around and adding pressure.”
It’s an odd juxtaposition to have the team I own playing the team I used to play for on the road to the World Series.
