“Uncle Cal! Uncle Silas!” Noah and Liam chorus, following.
The men scoop up the kids—Charles lifting Jimmy and Lottie, Silas grabbing both Noah and Liam somehow, Cal ruffling their hair—and make their way to the diamond.
“Please tell me you’re here to even the odds,” I say as they approach. “We’re getting destroyed.”
“By girls,” Liam adds solemnly.
“The shame,” Silas says, setting the boys down. “Can’t have that.”
“Ugh,” Parker scoffs, “it’d be an honor to lose to us ladies and you know it.”
“Boys versus girls?” Charles asks, surveying the field.
“We’re crushing them,” Parker confirms, leaning on her bat with a smug expression.
“Not for long,” Cal says, grabbing a glove.
The game resumes—now with actual defensive capability on the boys’ side. Charles in the outfield, Silas at third base, Cal at second, me catching, and the kids rotating between positions and batting.
The girls still hold their own—Parker especially, who seems to take great pleasure in hitting line drives directly at Cal, who has to dive to catch them.
“You’re doing that on purpose!” he yells after the third one.
“Prove it!” she calls back.
Sienna is an excellent base runner, making it home twice despite our improved defense. Lottie is still learning but having the timeof her life, cheering every time anyone does anything remotely good.
After about an hour, we’re all tired, sweaty, and covered in dirt. The score is tied—mostly because we let the kids get on base no matter what, which inflated both teams’ runs.
Charles calls a break, and we all collapse on the grass near the diamond. The kids immediately start playing tag, their energy somehow still boundless.
I end up standing with Charles, Cal, and Silas near the bench, watching Parker help Lottie with her batting stance while Sienna refills water bottles.
“You’re surprisingly good with them,” Charles observes, his tone casual but his eyes sharp.
“The boys?” I ask.
“All of them. But especially Parker’s kids.” He pauses. “All three of you, actually. I’ve been watching. You’re naturals.”
Silas snorts. “I’m not a natural at anything involving children.”
“Could’ve fooled me,” Charles says. “Liam hasn’t left your side all afternoon except to bat.”
It’s true. Liam has been following Silas around like a puppy, asking him questions, showing him his throwing technique, begging for tips.
“The kid’s got good instincts,” Silas mutters, but there’s something soft in his expression.
“You’d all make good fathers one day,” Charles says, still watching the field. “When the time comes.”
The words hang in the air.
Cal clears his throat. “That’s... not really in the cards for us. The work we do, the life we lead?—”
“The life you lead doesn’t have to be the life you always lead,” Charles interrupts. “Things change. People change. Priorities shift.” He glances at us. “And honestly? If Parker ended up with someone like you three instead of someone like Ryan Matthews? I’d consider that a win.”
My heart stops.
“Charles—” I start.
