I clench my jaw, regretting ever opening my mouth. But I see Griff staring at me before dropping his gaze to the tight fist at my side. I force my hand to relax and exhale.
It’s not like I planned to keep Sage and our baby a secret forever, but right before a game doesn’t exactly seem like the best time to come clean. Still, one look at the three guys standing in front of me, three men I’m starting to see as friends, not just teammates, and I know there’s no avoiding it.
I roll my shoulders. “I met a girl back in January when Ihad to go to Manitoba and deal with a few loose ends before moving out here. We hooked up, had a fun night, and I figured I'd never see her again. Then she showed up a few weeks ago here in Cedar Creek. Pregnant with my kid.”
Griff lets out a low whistle. “Holy shit, buddy. How are you feeling about that?”
“I mean, I didn’t ever expect to be having a kid right now, I only just got my siblings off to university.” I bark out a laugh. “Kinda figured I’d have a break in parental responsibility for a bit. But” —I shrug— “I’m not mad about it.”
“And what’s going on with the mom? Are things okay there?” Cal asks.
“That’s difficult to answer.” I grip my glove in both hands. “She’s awesome, incredible, really. We’re trying to figure it all out, you know? Parenting and all that. So I guess you could say we’re friends right now.”
“But you want more, don’t you, Dixie boy,” Foxxy says.
I don’t bother trying to deny it. “She’s staying with me right now, but I don’t know how long. In her mind, it’s all temporary. She’s trying to find somewhere else to stay, a short-term rental kinda thing.”
“Wait. How short-term? Is she gonna take your kid and bounce?” Foxxy’s voice is outraged. “She can’t do that.”
I hold up my hand. “No man, that’s not it. She’s letting me be a part of my kid’s life, no matter what. But she’s not from around here. She’s a travel nurse, so she’s used to moving every few months.”
“So would you go with her if she wanted to move?” Griff asks in a solemn tone.
“I hadn’t thought about that, but I mean, maybe? My kid’s gotta come first.”
“Fuck, dude, you better woo her into staying. I don’t wanna lose you,” Foxxy says, slapping his hand on my shoulder and squeezing it tightly.
I manage a wan smile. “Thanks, man. I don’t want to leave, either. Or stop playing baseball. But…” I shrug.
The guys are silent for a few seconds until Coach’s voice calls out across the field.
“Ten minutes, boys. Head to the locker room.”
“Good luck, Dix. Keep us posted, yeah? If there’s anything we can do.”
I nod, and Griff and Foxxy start jogging toward the dugout. I turn to go as well, but Cal stops me. “That shit sounds complicated as fuck, Dixie. But you're showing up. That's more than a lot of guys would do in your situation. Maybe over time, she'll see that and change her mind about sticking around.”
I give him a terse nod, not trusting myself to say anything more. After studying me for another few seconds, Cal nods back before following our teammates off the field.
Alone again, I exhale slowly. I’ve got a baseball game to win.
Because who knows how many more I’ll get to play if I can’t convince Sage to stay in Cedar Creek.
The roar of the crowd cheering following the singing of the national anthem slowly dies out as we take our positions on the field.
This is it. The final moments before the game starts. I finally let myself do what I've resisted for the last half hour, and scan the area of the stands just to the side of the dugout where Sage should be sitting if she took me up on the offer of tickets.
I zero in on her almost immediately, her long dark hair tied up in a ponytail and tucked under a ball cap. She's wearing the jersey I left for her unbuttoned over a white top that hugs the curve of her rounded stomach. Another young woman is sitting next to her, and they're both smiling and laughing, so I can only assume this is her friend from Dogwood Cove.
She's here.
Her eyes are tracking everything, wide and curious, and the moment they land on me, a small smile creases her face, and she tentatively lifts her hand up in a wave. I lift mine in return.
“Is that her?” Griff asks, walking up beside me.
I turn away from Sage and her friend before answering. “Yeah.”
Griff claps me on the shoulder. “Okay, so she’s here. Now you need to forget about that and just pitch. Can you do that?”
