She held out her soda, and I clinked mine against it. “Don’t get too used to it. The guys only splurge on a box once a season, and that’s it. You’re going to have to settle for outfield seats in the future.”
A loud laugh broke out from inside, where the rest of the group remained, grabbing drinks and snacks before the game started. Our allotted box had an inner and outer section, separated by a thick glass wall. Ollie and Brianna talked by the window, likely continuing their earlier argument about the best stadium food. Hadley and Emilia danced in the center of the room as a pop song played from the former’s phone speaker. Anna stared up at them in awe, struck silent by her new older friend. We’d set up her travel crib in the corner in case she got tired, but she already loved being here. And with her contained in one area, with all of us keeping an eye on her, I could relax and enjoy the game.
Okay, maybe Chelsea had a point. A girl could really get used to this life, especially the private bathroom so we didn’t have to brave the long lines between innings.
“Fine,” she sighed, dropping her head back. “Get me used to luxury, only to rip it away.”
I giggled into my soda, trying not to stare too long at the field where Jace stretched in the outfield. The rest of the team did the same, but I only had eyes for him. Hell, that man filled out a pair of baseball pants. The others warned me they did irrational things to your brain, but I didn’t get it until this exact moment.
And after tonight, he was mine for four whole, uninterrupted days. Parker and two of the other players would head down to Philadelphia next week to represent the American League while the rest of the team got a well-deserved break, and I planned to spend as much of it with Jace as possible.
Anna took a couple of wobbly steps toward me, her jersey more like a long dress than a skirt. Jace was so excited about the idea of Anna coming to his game, he’d gone out and gotten a jersey made just for her. It matched both of ours, the name Lyons splayed across the back. When we walked into the living room this morning, he gaped at us.
“You like?” I teased.
“I fucking love it. Seeing my name on your back is giving me all sorts of ideas.”
“Like what?”
“Like how much I like the sound of Kinsley Lyons. Would you—” His voice trailed off, his hands tucking into his pockets. “Would you do that? Change your last name to mine?” The question caught me off guard, and my mouth hung open. Jace mistook my silence for apprehension and took my hand in his. “Doesn’t matter to me, Kins. As long as we’re together, that’s all I need.”
“N-no,” I stammered. “It just surprised me. You think about us getting married?”
Jace smirked down at me. “Yeah, Kins. Haven’t tried to hide that. I want to marry you. Not yet, but one day. I’d like you to wear my ring.”
“I’d like that too,” I breathed. “Wearing your ring. And having your last name.”
Jace swallowed hard, but his gaze never broke from mine. “R-really?”
“Yeah. Is that so surprising?”
“I thought, because of your mom, and my name…” He shook his head. “My family name never meant much to me, but that was before you. Before Anna. We’d make it mean something real. Something meaningful.”
Someone waving their hands in front of my face broke me out of the memory, forcing me back to the present. Hadley smiled brightly down at me, “Where did you go?”
“Nowhere. Just excited to see them play.”
“Uh huh…” she drawled, giving me a knowing smirk. The music in the stadium changed, loud cheers echoing through the air as the game clock counted down. God, no wonder Jace loved being here. The excitement in the air, the constant hum of the crowd—everything made me squirm in anticipation. Hadley settled down on the other side of Chelsea, and Brianna and Ollie joined us. Anna crawled along our laps, staying with each of us for only a couple of moments. But as the game started, Anna stuck with Emilia, who explained each play, despite my daughter’s ignorance.
If you had told me months ago that I’d be here—with a large friend group, overwhelmingly in love with Jace—I never would have believed you. But now, so much love surrounded our little family. It was on all my friends’ faces as my daughter climbed into their laps, how they showed up, no matter when I neededthem. I felt it in their quiet glances they gave me when Jace strode into the outfield, surely seeing the pride and anticipation written on my face.
“Thank you,” I whispered to the sky, sure that, in some way, my mom was watching over me. As much as losing her hurt, it had led me back home—to Jace. Without the worst part of my life, I never would have experienced any of this—this weird, imperfect, beautiful life we were building together. Where would I be if I’d never come back? I shuddered thinking about it.
So instead, I cheered on the Hawks, counting the minutes until Jace and I could celebrate his break alone.
“God, I hate these post-game interviews,”Hadley whined, leaning her head on my shoulder. “They should ban them when they go into extra innings. Give the guys a break.”
She had a point. My eyes were so heavy, and all I wanted was my bed. Anna was already back at Jace’s place. Chelsea offered to take her back and hang out with her until we got home. As much as she wanted to support us, seven innings was enough.
We stared at the closed locker room door, hoping it would only be a little longer. But Cam and Jace got pulled into the interview room, so while everyone else headed home, we stayed, hanging out in the family and friends area until they finished up. Damien and Brianna left right after the game, the latter fussing over her fiancé like a true mother hen. Ollie had also left quickly, not bothering to wait around to say goodbye. Hadley was pissed she didn’t talk to any of the guys, but she kept her mouth shut, just frowning as Ollie walked away from the stadium.
“It can’t be much longer,” I said, trying to mask my own impatience. “How many questions could they possibly ask?”
“Enough to ruin my plans for the night,” Hadley pouted. “Always like to help Cam work off his energy after a big win. He’s very…rigorous.”
I covered my ears with a smirk. “I do not need to know any more details than that.”
Hadley rolled her eyes, but, before she could say anything else, my phone rang out from my purse. Chelsea’s name flashed on the screen. “Everything okay, Chels?”
