“Hey everyone, shut it. Dixie’s got something to say.” Griff’s shout makes me want to cover my face with my hands and hide.
Instead, I rake my fingers through my hair and mutter, “Why am I the only one who keeps having these big fucking announcements?”
“Because you’re a secret attention hog?” Cal says with a smirk from where he’s standing next to the fireplace with Oakley, Foxxy, and Hiro.
“Yeah, right,” I scoff.
Griff kicks his foot out, hitting me in the shin. “Well, what is it?”
“I’m, ah, not gonna be playing for the Thunder next season.” Okay, so maybe I do like the attention a little bit, because the dramatic pause I intentionally leave after saying that has the room going completely silent, all eyes on me.
“Why the fuck not?” Griff grunts.
“Because I’ve been signed by the Vancouver Tridents.”
There’s another beat of silence and then the room explodes.
“Let’s fucking go, Dixie!” Foxxy yanks me up from the couch and into a back-slapping hug. Next thing I know, I’m being bounced around as the guys all jostle me in hugs and high fives.
“That’s wild, man. You deserve it.” Cal grins.
“Don’t forget about us little guys when you’re famous and shit,” Lucky chimes in.
I don’t realize Foxxy has left the room until he’s back with Isla, Juniper, and Sage, along with Hiro’s wife and Oakley’s partner. He’s holding a couple of bottles of what look like champagne and is grinning wildly.
“If we were outside, I’d shake these bad boys up and spray the shit outta you, but I think Cal would murder me.”
Glasses are produced and passed around, and Sage finds her way to my side. I drape my arm over her shoulder, as Foxxy lifts a glass and grins at me.
“To Brady Dixon. The only man I’ll ever admit is a better pitcher than I am.” Everyone groans, and Foxxy holds up his hand. “Okay, fine, fine. To Brady, and to the Vancouver Tridents making the smart move by locking him down. Our loss is their gain. Here’s to our boy Dixie helping them bring home the championship next year.”
“Cheers to that,” Griff says as everyone raises their glass and echoes him.
I take a minute after having a sip and try to compose a response that won’t have me breaking down. Thank God for Sage’s silent strength next to me.
“When I arrived in Cedar Creek a year ago, all Iwanted was to play ball and try to figure my life out. I had no clue what was in store for me, and even if you had tried to tell me what would happen, there’s no chance I’d have believed a word of it. Because this is beyond my wildest dreams. I have a family, I have baseball, and I have all of you as friends. So, cheers to all of you, as well. I’m gonna miss you.”
“We aren’t going anywhere. Once a Thunder player, always a Thunder player,” Cal says solemnly. “You’ll always have a place here.”
The next day, I pick up the twins from the ferry terminal for a long weekend.
I can’t wait to tell them the news. This time, there’s no nerves, just excitement. Sage and I decided to wait until tonight, when we take them out to Dot’s Diner for dinner. She’s under the mistaken impression that being in public will somehow make Blair tame her reaction.
I know better.
We swing by the apartment where Sage and Ivy are waiting for us, and then as a family, we head to the diner.
“I’m so excited to demolish a veggie burger with a side of poutine,” Blair moans, clutching her stomach. “That’s the one thing dorm cafeterias just can’t get right. They actually use shredded cheese instead of cheese curds.”
“That should be illegal,” Sage says, turning in her seat. “I’m so sorry you had to suffer like that.”
In the rearview mirror, I catch Blair’s nod. “Thank you for understanding.”
Ivy lets out a shriek, drawing everyone’s attention.
“See, even Ivy feels bad for me.”
“Or she’s telling you there are a lot bigger problems in the world than shredded cheese on poutine,” Barrett says mildly, giving Ivy his finger to grab.
