Ethan’s eyebrows raise and I don’t miss that little smirk that ticks up at the corner of his lip.
“Speaking of memories,” I add with my typical goofy undertone, happy for the change of topic, and he chuckles, taking one glass in each hand.
I grab the last one and nod a thank you to the waiter.
“What was her name?” he asks.
“Celeste.”
He holds up his glass. “To Celeste. And…taking risks.” We tap the rims of our glasses together and just as they connect the crack of the bat sends a ball into the outfield and over the fence.
Hudson Byrnes hits a three-run homerun bringing the score to 3-0 in the first inning.
The entire stadium erupts and Ethan and I cheer along with them. His arm wraps around me as we chant along with the crowd. As excited as I am for Hudson and the Smashers lead, I’m happier with the moment we just had because it felt like leaps and bounds of progress in such a short amount of time, and for the first time I feel a comfort in where this could go.
Hannah comes running, jumping into both of our arms. Ethan and I think the same thing and peck a kiss on her cheek.Her cheeks flush in heat as we share a look with each other and there are so many unsaid words that float in between.
Seamus is now standing next to Mimi as she glances over at me with a wide, giddy smile and I know I look just as silly as she does but I don’t care.
This is the most hopeful I’ve been since reuniting with them, and even if we have to hide what’s happening between us for now, it’ll be worth it in the end.
44
ETHAN
There are a few things in someone's life that I hear you get the honor of experiencing.
Marrying the love of your life.
Witnessing the birth of your child.
Watching your favorite MLB team win game seven of the World Series in extra innings with a walk-off home run, live in person.
And this is the most alive I’ve felt in years. I must have talked to every single person in that suite. I couldn’t stop myself, it was like my baseball brain took over and every time one of the Smashers did something I had a back up stat for it.
I spent a lot of time with Seamus and Christian, and surprisingly Christian knew a lot more about the sport in general than I expected. I figured as the sponsor of the field, he would know a little bit about the team specifically, but I couldn’t hold in my excitement when he started spouting off unusual facts about baseball's history. I was on literal cloud nine.
“The probability of a pitch hitting a bird is microscopic. My father and I were in the stands and it was the craziest momentin baseball history,” Christian says with a smile that only a memory like that could bring out.
That’s what I love about this sport. Even if you aren’t a baseball fan, there’s something about going to a game, sitting anywhere in the stands, and talking with friends as you watch America’s favorite pastime.
“I’m so jealous you were at that game. I bet it was crazy to watch replays of that moment.” I take a sip of my beer, one that I’ve been enjoying a little too long that it’s a tad warm for my liking, but the conversations have been so good I haven’t had time to finish it.
“I think you know more about baseball than anyone I’ve ever met. Do you play?” Christian asks, just as Dane steps up next to us.
I confessed to Dane the last time we were here that I used to play but that was only because he forced me into it. This is the first time I feel like I just want to talk about it. My past and how much I loved it.
“I used to and you know, I wasn’t half bad,” I admit modestly as I hold up my hand, “but an injury prevented me from getting drafted.”
His lips pull back with a hiss as he looks at the scar on my hand. “Oh man, I’m sorry to hear that.”
“Yeah, it wasn’t meant to be,” I say the words I begrudgingly tell myself, but this is the first time I actually feel okay with it. Maybe because I’ve had a taste of watching it again. Or maybe it’s the game seven World Series high I’m still riding.
I glance around and see Dane walking up to us. My eyes bounce around the room looking for Hannah but I don’t see her.
“Hey, where’s Hannah?” I turn, asking Dane because she was sitting on his lap for the last few innings.
“She went to the bathroom. Thank goodness because my leg was falling asleep and I would have never asked her tomove. I’d rather amputate my leg than do that.” We both laugh because that’s probably a statistical fact.
