“We want what’s best for Dixie,” Dom says. “Lucaand I had a feeling he was destined for more than what the Thunder can offer.”
After seeing Coach Stirling out, Rafe and Dom gesture for me to stay back.
“Dixie, don’t get me wrong, I’ll be sad to see you go. But this is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. The major leagues don’t scout from the independent leagues that often. Read the offer and reach out if you have questions. But I can honestly say, the Tridents were the best team I played for throughout my entire career. You can’t go wrong with Tony Stirling in charge.”
Rafe claps me on the shoulder, then takes his leave, too. Dom walks up to me next, and nods toward the door.
“I won’t keep you, Dix. Go home and talk to Sage, let it all sink in. We can figure out the details once you’ve made a decision.”
“Thanks,” I croak, giving him a weak smile. “For everything.”
“You’ve earned it.”
I’m not really sure how I get home, but the next thing I know, I’m pushing open the door to the apartment to see Sage washing some bottles at the sink, Ivy in her bouncer chair on the floor beside her.
“Hey! How was the meeting?” she asks brightly before her brows furrow. “What’s wrong? You look freaked out. Wait. Where’s the food?”
She grabs a towel and dries her hands before hurrying over to me. “Brady. Talk to me.”
I move past her, but take hold of her hand, the foldercontaining the offer in my other hand. “I need to sit down to tell you this.”
“Let me grab Ivy.”
I sink down on the couch, and a few seconds later, Sage returns carrying Ivy, bouncer and all. As soon as I see my daughter, something in me lightens.
“Hey, baby girl.” I lean in and kiss her, and she gurgles back at me, her big brown eyes wide as she kicks her feet, making the bouncer move.
“So, it wasn’t just Dom and Rafe at the meeting,” I start before handing Sage the folder. “Tony Stirling from the Vancouver Tridents was there, too.”
Sage opens the folder and starts to read. I watch her frown, then lift her eyebrows, her mouth falling open. She looks up at me, then back down at the paper, then back at me.
“Brady. Is this…”
I nod. “An offer to sign with a major league team? Yeah. It is.” I slump back against the couch. “It’s everything I used to dream about. But I never in a million years thought it would happen like this.”
The initial shock and excitement is wearing off as the enormity of the situation hits. Sure, I have a lot to gain with this offer. But there’s even more to lose.
“Oh my God, this is incredible.” Sage’s voice is full of pride as she drops the folder and throws herself into my arms. I wrap her in a hug, trying to find some solid ground in my spiraling thoughts.
“You must be so happy! This is wild, Brady, totally wild! The Vancouver Tridents want you? Oh my God!”
Sage releases me, sitting back with a huge grin on her face.
“It is amazing, don’t get me wrong I’m shocked and honoured. But it’s not an easy decision. I’d have to leave Cedar Creek. Leave you and Ivy. I can’t…I can’t do that.”
“What the hell are you talking about?” Sage says, sounding baffled. “Why would you leave me and Ivy?”
“Well, not leave,” I hurry to explain. “I never want to leave you two. But long-distance half the year would be so hard on you. And I’d miss so much.”
Sage is already shaking her head. “I’m still confused. Are you seriously saying you’d expect Ivy and me to stay here?” Hurt laces her words.
I blink slowly as what she said sinks in. As well as what she didn’t say. “Would you actually go with me? It might be a few moves, not just one, if they put me down on the minor league farm team for a while. Besides, playing in the big leagues is a hell of a lot different from playing for the Thunder. More travel, more commitments, more pressure, and more uncertainty.”
“And wouldn’t it be easier to face all of that together? Of course, I would move with you, you big idiot. Or have you forgotten what my life was like before you? I moved around all the time. I can find work almost anywhere, and I’m basically a pro at starting over in a new town. Ivy’s just a baby, so she’s easy as well. You’re not getting rid of us that easily.”
A massive weight I hadn’t fully realized was sitting on my shoulders lifts away.
Sage taps the folder. “Besides, looking at the amount they’re offering, we could afford for me to take a full yearof maternity leave, which gets us almost all the way through next season.”
