“Yeah?”
“I’m ruining it.”
“It’s okay. You ruined me for anyone else, and I’m not complaining about that either.”
We sat there for a bit longer until I felt her body temperature had stabilized. She’d been clutching her medal in her hands, and it had made an imprint on her flesh.
“That was intense.”
I kissed the top of her head. “I’m so fucking proud of you, baby.”
I didn’t need to say that my pride in her running the marathon was secondary to her opening up to me. She knew. Her mouth sought mine. We kissed; her lips opened to me, and her tongue slipped into my mouth, seeking. I fucking answered, letting her set the pace.
A throat cleared, and Kendra pulled away only to glare at her youngest sister.
“Sorry to interrupt your moment. But Mom and Dad want pictures.” Kelsey said.
“Didn’t they get enough when I crossed the finish line?”
“Never. Do you want me to tell them you’re still recovering?”
“No, I’m good now.”
She struggled to stand, stumbling a bit from exhaustion, and I got up, steadying her.
Once steady, she pulled Kelsey into her for a hug. “I told him.”
Kelsey’s eyes squeezed shut before they met mine, welling up with tears. So many emotions passed between us.
“And now I’m hungry.” Kelsey and I both laughed, and Kendra smiled.
As if on cue, her family and mine surrounded us, bearing bagels, bananas, juice, and sports drinks.
“Oh, man. You guys want me to be sick, don’t you?”
“Did you piss yourself on the course?” Colby asked.
“What?” Kendra’s horrified expression stared back at my sister.
“Yeah, I heard that the marathon runners just go along the course, don’t even stop.”
“I used a Porta-John.”
“It’s okay if you didn’t. Though it would mean that the wet spot on J’s favorite jeans was piss, and that would be epic.”
Sam snorted. “Nice to see I’m not the only one whose sister would love seeing covered in someone else’s piss. My sister Josie loves to see me squirm.”
Kylie stepped into the circle and pulled Kendra in for a hug. Luc stood off to the side and watched, his eyes not leaving his girlfriend or her now-visible baby bump. “Girls with brothers are weird.”
Kendra’s parents arrived at the circle, taking turns hugging their daughter. “Oh, please. Stop acting like you girls were angels to each other.”
Nonna extended the invitation for everyone to join us in the owner’s suite later—well, except for Sam and Luc. Sam was scheduled to pitch, and even if he weren’t, he’d be stuck in the bullpen.
The family dispersed, all with promises they would see us later.
As much as I wanted to kill our shortstop, I had to find a way to get rid of him legally. And knowing what a liability he was, put trading him away as another potential nightmare. If Kendra came forward and pressed charges, we could release him, but that would force her to put herself out there for public scrutiny.
Fuck. My heart squeezed at the thought of her being put out there for the world to judge.
