Page 73 of Curveball

Not yet.

Getting her full support to return had been everything I never thought I’d have again—but I was getting older. And I wanted a family. With her. I wanted to be present for Hadley. I wanted the life we kept circling back to.

Next season would be my final run at a World Series. My last year of baseball on my terms.

Scott and I spent the next fifteen minutes on next steps—front office timing, the announcement, and media. When I hung up, I slipped back into the bedroom as quietly as I could. Farrah was sprawled across my sheets like she owned them. Her hair everywhere, mouth parted in sleep, completely unguarded.

And the only thing my brain offered up was simple. Certain.

Mine.

Finally.

Chapter 33

Farrah

Istretched my arms overhead and glanced to my side—Walker’s side of the bed was empty. I pressed my palm to the rumpled sheets, and last night came rushing back in a wave. His hands. His mouth. His voice saying my name like it was his favorite word. I never thought we’d be here again.

And somehow… this time was better. Deeper. Like everything had finally caught up to what we’d always been.

I slipped out of bed, pulled on one of his Aviators T-shirts that swallowed me whole, and padded down the hallway. I heard the subtle clink of pans, smelled bacon and coffee. Instead of heading to the kitchen, I found myself drawn to that room.

The room.

The one that was supposed to be mine all those years ago. The thought still made my chest ache. I pushed the door open slowly and stepped inside. The pale maple desk sat in a soft wash of morning light, positioned to face a wide window that overlooked the hills—endless and rolling, dotted with live oaks and brushed with wildflowers.

I trailed my fingertips along the built-in shelves, imagining this space with my touch. My notebooks. My samples. My organized chaos.

This room had once represented what could’ve been.

Now it felt like what will be.

I lowered into the plush chair behind the desk and let my gaze drift outside. Off to the left, Theo was leading the horses out to their pastures. The second he unclipped their lead ropes, they took off—running full speed, no hesitation, no fear.

And something in my chest cracked open. Because I knew that feeling. That need.

I’d been stuck for so long. Hadley and my business had become my whole identity, the only things I could depend on. And the only things I let define me. Somewhere along the way, I’d forgotten who I was underneath the responsibility and the survival.

Until Walker came back into my life and reminded me.

I’d tried to force what I thought was right, what was safe, because I thought if I could control the variables, I could avoid the pain.

But life didn’t work like that.

The more I tried to build walls to keep the hard things out… the faster they found a way in.

A soft tap sounded at the doorframe. I glanced over my shoulder, and there he was.

Sleep-ruffled hair. No shirt. Gray joggers slung low on his hips. A soft smile tugged at his mouth, emerald eyes bright in the morning light.

“What are you doing in here, Wildflower?” he asked.

I smiled. “Looking at this incredible view.” I gestured toward the window.

Walker crossed the room and slid his arms around my shoulders from behind, pressing a kiss to the top of my head.

“You look good in here,” he murmured.