Page 50 of Convincing the Catcher

HARLEY

“Thank you. I appreciate it,” I murmur.

Face after face, I say the same sentence over and over before being embraced into a hug. I understand this is part of losing someone—having to hug people you may or may not know for what seems like eternity—but when I glance at the line, realizing it looks never-ending, I kind of want to cry.

I don’t like people that much on a good day, let alone a bad one.

When my eyes move back to the person in front of me, I quickly stop and turn my head.

Cane.

Cane is here … with Haven and Gigi. They didn’t mention it earlier, but maybe he came in late? Or perhaps he told them not to? Whatever it is, I should be mad because not even a week ago, he made me feel like an idiot. I wanted him to take my virginity to distract me from life, and he—a guy who has a reputation of sleeping around—wouldn’t do it.

Or couldn’t do it.

Our eyes hold one another’s, and I find myself trapped, unable to look away even though I know there’s yet another person in front of me, waiting for a damn hug.

He’s not saying a word, and even if he was, from here, I wouldn’t be able to hear him. And yet it feels like we’re sharing a conversation.

Finally, a woman I don’t recognize gets tired of waiting and embraces me all on her own.

“Your dad was a great man,” she whispers, squeezing me and patting my back. “We grew up together.”

Once she releases me, stepping back, I tear my eyes from Cane’s and say the same sentence again. “Thank you,” I murmur. “I appreciate it.”

Luckily, she gives me a sad nod and moves on to my mom. There are only six people between me and my friends right now, and mentally, I’m not sure I can hug six more people that I either barely know or don’t know at all. Especially when I can feel Cane’s gaze on me, warming me like a heated blanket.

I power through, even though it’s a blur, and it isn’t long before Haven, Gigi, and Cane are standing in front of me.

Haven hugs me first, running her hand over the top of my head, and I catch sight of Cane embracing my mom. He murmurs something, but I can’t make out what it is. Though I’m sure it’s something perfect and sweet, in true Cane fashion.

“I’m so sorry, Harls,” Haven whispers, hugging me tighter. “The whole team wanted to fly out, but it was too hard. But they all send their condolences.”

“Thank you,” I whisper, fighting to keep my emotions in check.

If I fall apart, even a little, it’ll quickly turn into me being a complete mess. I need to be strong today. For my mom, for my grandparents, and for everyone else here.

Soon, she releases me, and it’s Gigi’s turn. Once they step back, slowly, my eyes lift to Cane’s, and even though I want to fight it, my lip trembles. Maybe it’s because when I got the bad news or when my dad died, he was with me. Whatever it is makes it hard for me to hold my composure. And so far today, I’ve done really good.

Haven and Gigi move on to hug my mom before working their way out of the line, but Cane takes a step closer to me, not showing any signs of leaving.

“How are you holding up, Catch?” he rasps, looking down at me with the softest eyes.

I shrug my shoulders up and down, my eyes filling with tears.

“Yeah, I figured,” he whispers, even though I didn’t vocally respond.

Slowly, he puts his arms out. “Come here,” he whispers.

At first, I fight it, keeping myself rooted to my spot, but then I give up on trying to be tough, and I fall against him, burying my face into his dress shirt.

Everything I’ve been holding in today comes out, and of course, it’s in front of everyone in this room.

“Hey,” he murmurs against my hair. “You don’t have to stand in this line, Harland. You’ve done your part, and I promise, no one is going to think you’re rude if you walk away right now.”

“My mom,” I say in a squeak. “I can’t leave⁠—”

Suddenly, my mom is at my side.