“That’s right,” Jase acknowledged. “Faye and I are dating.”
“And I’m dating her too,” Dylan clarified.
A few reporters exchanged looks. One of them tried again. “Are you concerned about the attention this will bring to the team?”
Jase’s smile didn’t waver. “We’re concerned about maintaining our batting averages where they should be.”
A few people snickered.
“We’re not here to be a distraction. We’re here to play ball and help this team win.”
“And are you comfortable being open about your relationship now?” someone asked.
Dylan didn’t hesitate. “We wouldn’t have done it on the field if we weren’t.”
I pressed my fingers to my lips, pride swelling in my chest. They weren’t dodging questions or downplaying it for anyone else’s comfort. They were simply being honest.
Someone finally signaled that time was up, and Jase thanked the media with a nod while Dylan gave a quick wave. The reporters then moved on to someone else.
A little while later, they emerged through the players’ exit, freshly showered.
Jase spotted me first. His face lit up like the stadium lights outside. He closed the distance in three long strides and pulled me into his arms without hesitation.
“Did you have a good time watching the game?” he asked, hugging me tight.
“I did. You both played amazing.”
Dylan hugged me next. “Thanks, Princess.”
Agent Pederson cleared his throat, then gave me a sheepish grin. “Are you three ready to head out?”
I nodded and held both their hands as we left the stadium. It felt like a weight had been lifted now that everything was out in the open and we weren’t hiding anymore.
Jase,Dylan, and I rode in the Secret Service SUV while Gage and Chase drove in their own car back to their house.
Things felt different from when I had been in Portland at the start of the year. Notbaddifferent. Just easy and relaxed. Maybe it was because I wasn’t meeting the parents for the first time and we weren’t trying to hide parts of our relationship anymore.
Despite the late hour, the five of us gathered around the kitchen island, bottles of beer in front of us on the countertop. Everyone was still too hyped up to think about sleeping just yet.
Chase was animated, replaying the final inning as if we hadn’t all been there. Dylan leaned against me, his arm draped over the back of my barstool. Jase sat just as close on my other side, his knee brushing mine every so often, as if he needed the reminder that I was actually there with them.
I noticed Gage was a bit quieter, and he watched me for a moment, a gentle expression on his face.
“Hey,” he finally said. “I just want to say I hated hearing what happened to you in Vegas, but I’m so glad you’re here and safe.”
I smiled. “Thank you. That means a lot.”
Dylan’s thumb brushed slow circles across my shoulder. “So where does everything stand now?”
I took a sip of my beer before responding. “Well, the FBI has taken the lead on the investigation. Callum”—I watched Dylan tense at the mention of the asshole—“is still in custody. The White House is trying to keep as much of the story out of the press as possible.”
“Did they figure out how he knew where to find you?” Jase asked.
I nodded. “Preliminary findings suggest someone in Senator Whitmore’s office was feeding Callum information obtained from a White House staffer. Both staff members have been fired and may face charges as well.”
“Shit,” Dylan grumbled.
“I spent most of my time in D.C. in meetings,” I continued. “With the Secret Service. With the FBI. With lawyers. With advisors. A lot of people telling me what I should do.”
