It was time for the starting lineups.
Our suite erupted in cheers when Dylan’s name was announced, despite the home crowd’s less-than-enthusiastic reception. But none of us cared. We made sure our support was heard loud and clear.
He glanced toward the suite for half a second, and I swore he smiled when our eyes met.
Then it was time for the Red Sox introductions.
“Playing shortstop and batting sixth, Jase Matthewson,” the announcer called. Cammie and I shouted as we jumped up and down.
Jase looked in our direction just as Dylan had and gave a small hat tip in acknowledgment.
As the players took their positions, we stepped just outside the suite. I pressed my hands to the railing and let out a breath.
My boyfriends were out there, living their dreams, and I got to be part of the special moment.
The Red Sox scored in the bottom of the first, and Fenway erupted, but Dylan had a great defensive inning shortly after, catching a fly ball and keeping the other team from scoring.
“That’s my brother,” Cammie shouted.
Jamie laughed. “She’s been like this all morning.”
As the innings rolled on, I found myself torn between watching the field, laughing with Jamie, teasing Fallon, and listening to Chase and Gage break down the game.
Jase turned a smooth double play that had the suite cheering. In the top of the eighth, Dylan drove in a run with a single, quieting the crowd a bit.
The Red Sox ultimately pulled ahead and held on to their lead, and the crowd went wild as the final out was recorded. Even though Jase’s team got the W, Dylan had a solid debut, and watching them both succeed felt like winning twice.
We decided to let the fans clear out a bit before making our way toward the clubhouse. While we waited, my phone buzzed with a notification.
I glanced down, and my stomach dropped.
FIRST DAUGHTER, FAYE DONNELLEY, SPOTTED AT FENWAY! ARE THINGS GETTING SERIOUS WITH RED SOX ROOKIE SHORTSTOP JASE MATTHEWSON?
I stared at the headline for a second, then let out a quiet laugh.
If only they knew how serious it was with Jase … and his stepbrother.
I slipped my phone back into my purse and leaned against the railing.
This moment was what mattered.
Not the headlines.
Not the speculation.
Just the game and the men playing for me.
26
Jase
It wasthe top of the ninth, and we needed one more out to win the game. The next pitch was put into play, and the ball took a nasty hop right in front of me. I lunged, knocked it down, and for a half second I didn’t have it, just the ball rattling near my glove while my heart tried to crawl out of my throat. I clamped down, got it into my right hand, and fired across the diamond to first. It hit Palmer’s glove with a hard pop. His foot stayed glued to the bag, and the ump’s fist went up. The home crowd went wild.
My feet moved before my brain caught up, and I broke toward the mound with the rest of the infield. We crashed into a circle, hands smacking and gloves thumping against shoulders as guys yelled right in my ear. I couldn’t stop grinning, because holy shit, I’d just won my first big-league game on Opening Day at Fenway Park.
Fenway.
One of the stadiums I’d always admired was now the place where I’d played and won. I’d wanted this for so long that it didn’t feel real.
