Everything fell silent for a moment, then Tyler grinned. “Well, damn. I didn’t see that coming.”
“You’re not freaked out by that?” Jase asked.
Tyler looked genuinely surprised by the question. “Why would I be?”
Jase shrugged. “I don’t know. We’re stepbrothers. That’s not something people usually expect.”
Tyler ran a hand down his face. “I mean, it’s unexpected, but also kind of not.”
I frowned. “What does that mean?”
“It means you two never had the same kind of sibling bond with each other that you have with me and Cammie. It’s always been a little something more.”
Faye leaned forward. “In what way?”
He shrugged. “I don’t know how to explain it. Maybe soulmates is the right word. I think they just didn’t realize it until you came along and fit perfectly with them.”
Jase swallowed hard. “I think you’re right.”
“Big brothers usually are.” He smirked. “And I’m really happy for you. All three of you.”
Faye smiled, her eyes shining bright. As I sat there, my niece in my arms, I realized that while it might be hard for us to be in different places, Jase and Faye were a part of me. I’d never be able to let go.
28
Faye
Unlike the firstseries at Fenway, I got to attend all four games this time. Still, it passed too quickly for my liking, and soon the Crushers’ bus would be pulling out. The Red Sox wouldn’t be far behind, as they had to leave for a road trip as well.
I watched from my seat along the third baseline, with Agent Pederson beside me. When the final out was recorded, the Red Sox had won, and my gaze flicked between Jase, celebrating with his team, and Dylan, who looked dejected.
Once the crowd had cleared a bit, Agent Pederson stood. “Do you want me to call the car around, or are you meeting Jase and Dylan first?”
Technically, I hadn’t told my Secret Service detail that I was dating both guys, but since they saw both of them come to my hotel rooms on several occasions, it was safe to assume they knew exactly what was going on.
“I told them I’d meet them at the exit so I could say goodbye before they each boarded their buses.” Jase was headed to Texas, while Dylan had a stretch of games in Cincinnati.
For security purposes, the Secret Service and the Red Sox had worked out a deal that allowed me to use the players’ entrance and exit. It also provided a little more crowd control, and the press usually stayed out of that area.
Agent Pederson nodded, and we began walking in that direction.
The corridor was mostly empty by the time we reached it. I knew from the text Jase had sent that he needed to do a media interview before he could leave, and that Dylan was likely still in the shower.
Agent Pederson stopped a few steps back, positioning himself so he could see both ends of the hallway without hovering. He always gave me space whenever he could, and I appreciated it more than he probably knew.
I leaned against the wall and waited.
Eventually, Dylan came out first, his backpack slung over his shoulder, his Crushers hoodie unzipped, and his hair still damp from the shower.
When his eyes lifted and met mine, he smiled at me, but he couldn’t hide the sadness behind it.
“Hey,” he said quietly.
“Hey,” I replied, pushing off the wall and stepping toward him.
For a second, neither of us moved. We just stood there, looking at each other, wishing I could find a way to keep him with me.
“I hate this part,” he admitted.
