My jaw drops and my eyes narrow. His head falls back as a roar of laughter erupts from him.
I missed this and him. I already know where this night is going to go and how we’ll be spending the rest of it, but I have one more thing I need to say first.
“By the way, whatever bar you keep going to where the blonde Instagram bimbo works at, stop going.” He pulls back, a deep v creasing his forehead. “The long white-blonde hair with boobs the size of my head? The girl who likes to hang all over you? I’m sick of seeing you in pictures with her.”
“Jealous?” I nod and lean down to nibble on his earlobe. “Should I jump into the stands during the next game and kiss you on the jumbotron again?”
“That would be preferred,” I say, taking a break from sucking on his lobe.
“If you need to hear it, you don’t need to worry about her or any other girl for that matter. I only have eyes for one jealous, infuriating, beautiful, brilliant woman.” I inhale his scent, letting happiness settle in my bones. I could get used to this. “I love you, Lila.”
“Thank you for waiting for me.”
We kiss and spend the rest of the night making hot, passionate love, and I wouldn’t have it any other way.
Epilogue
Hollis
One year later
I’ve always considered myself to be a hopeless romantic, but even I think this takes the cake.
I think I could’ve bought Lila an engagement ring the day after we met. I recall that fateful day back at Fenway Park, her tight jeans, her Red Sox tee. The minute I saw her, I was a goner. I knew she was it for me, even before we said one word to each other. Some people don’t believe in love at first sight, but I think those people don’t open their hearts to the possibility.
Tonight is the anniversary of our very first date. It’s been a long hellish road to get here, but we’re stronger now than ever before. We’re both living our dreams, neither of us full of regret or resentment. This is how it was always meant to be.
I didn’t think I’d settle down in Texas. Boston was always my home, and I think I’ll always have a deep love and respect for the Red Sox. Hopefully one day I can retire back in blue and red, but until then, my contract got renewed for Houston. I’m contracted here for another five years.
The day I found out was the day Lila and I started shopping for houses and putting down roots. About six months ago we settled on a sprawling ten thousand square foot home on a couple of acres of land. Lila called it ‘a home right out of HGTV!’ The thought excited her and I put the offer in that day.
Right now, I’m waiting for her to leave the hospital and meet me at the front gates of Minute Maid Stadium. The pitcher’s mound is set up with a picnic similar to the first date I took her on back at Fenway. There’s a blanket and a picnic basket, but there’s not a dinner in the basket tonight. Instead, the only thing in the basket is a princess cut engagement ring. Our dinner is being set up at home for a small party after I propose. It’s the same meal we had on our first date, though this time I added some crab fries for my girl.
A photographer is hiding in one of the dugouts and mine and Lila’s friends and family are hiding in the other dugout waiting to witness the moment. Then we’ll go back to our place to celebrate. Unless she says no, but there’s no way in hell that’s going to happen.
The minute she steps out of the car, I have to laugh. Of course, she’d show up in her scrubs.
“I’m so sorry, babe. I didn’t get a chance to change because I was already running late and didn’t want to keep you waiting.” I lean down and kiss her. I hear most guys are nervous before they propose, but not me. My hands are steady as a surgeon’s. I’ve never been more sure of something in my life.
“You look beautiful.” I take her hand and lead her down the steps to the stadium. She smiles and her right hand grabs onto my forearm. I glance down at her, my smile broad, matching hers.
“It’s kind of our anniversary.” I shrug as if it’s no big deal. I don’t want her to suspect anything tonight. “I thought, what better way to celebrate than to recreate our first date?”
“I love it. Did you find some good Italian food again? Because I’ve been dreaming of that pasta since that night.” She tugs me faster, eager to get to her ‘dinner.’
“I got something I think you’ll like.” We sit down on the basket in the middle of the infield and I pray she doesn’t see the camera or hear anyone talking from across the field. I made everyone promise to stay quiet, but anything can happen. I just want this night to be perfect for her and for us.
I turn my back for one second to grab the champagne flutes and the bottle, ready to pop the cork. When I hear a small gasp come from my girl, I turn back around. Of course, she immediately reached for the basket, looking for her dinner. Her hand is shaking as she pulls the small black velvet box from the wicker basket.
I set the flutes back down and take the box from her wobbly hand. Her left hand is covering her mouth and a tear slips over her cheek.
“Lila, your impatience is just one of the many things I love about you.” A watery chuckle bubbles out of her. “I’ve known it was you since our first date. I could’ve proposed to you that night and been completely secure in every word. You’re like no one else I’ve ever met. You’re passionate, smart, supportive, funny, caring, frustrating, stubborn, silly, hard-headed, and so many other things. You’re complex, and to me, you’re perfect. You’re perfect for me. You challenge me like no one ever has and you make me a better person. I could list all of the reasons I love you, but we would be here all night. You’re it for me. I’ve waited this long for you and I don’t want to wait anymore. Marry me, Lila.” I open the ring box, though I’m not sure she can even see the ring through her tears.
“I love you so much.” She pushes up on her knees and kisses me. I could kiss her all night if we didn’t have an audience.
“Is that a yes?” I ask after pulling away.
“Yes, of course, yes.” I slip the ring on her finger and she admires it. “I love you so fucking much.”
“I love you too, baby.” I motion to the dugouts and watch as our friends and family start to join us. Lila’s hands cover her mouth as more tears spring into her eyes. We stand and wait for our loved ones to join us in the middle of the field.
Bridget is the first to run out and all but tackles Lila to the ground all over again. They cry together and Bridget yells something along the lines of, “I better be maid of honor!” before they burst into watery giggles.
Jackson shakes my hand and nods at me before enveloping his sister in a hug. I know there was no way I’d ever get her parents’ approval, so instead, I asked for her brother’s blessing. I know how much Jackson means to her and we haven’t had the easiest relationship. I was grateful he said yes and he and his boyfriend flew down to celebrate with us.
Just because I know they don’t approve of me, doesn’t mean I didn’t ask her parents to come. I wanted them here for her because, despite everything, I know how much she wants her parents’ love and approval. They don’t deserve her as a daughter, but I’m damn surprised they showed up. I watch on as Lila hugs both of her parents and they offer her smiles. Maybe they’re coming around to me after all.
I go to stand by my parents and little sister who all love Lila. The moment they met my now-fiancée, I think they were as smitten with her as I am. She was so nervous, understandably so considering who her parents are, but they fell into an easy routine. She had a movie marathon with my little sister, Emilia, she bonded over wine like a girlfriend with my mom, and honest-to-God laughed at my dad’s horrible jokes. She fit right in.
I love being able to provide this moment for her with everyone. Hell, even Phoebe and her daughter showed up to celebrate with us. The bedrooms will be full, and I wouldn’t have it any other way.
Soon enough, I hope to fill it up with a school bus full of kids anyway. We might as well get used to the noise and mess.
I think the
biggest surprise is when Leo walks out onto the field also. I’m glad I was able to track him down and he could make it. Though I didn’t realize it back then, I owe a lot to him for looking after my girl when she was in Philly. He’s a pretty good dude and if anyone had to watch after my girl, I’m glad it was him.
Throughout the night, I sit back and watch Lila showing off her ring and crying tears of joy. Her parents even come up to me, and though I know they don’t support my profession or our relationship, they’re as civil as they can be. Lila and I will never be Jackson and Marcus, but I think we’re making some real progress here. It’s all I can ask for.
Finally, we head home to the catered food and the somewhat-impromptu engagement party. We stay up all night, opening a bunch of unnecessary gifts and doing a few too many champagne toasts. I’ve never seen Lila happier and she’s never looked more beautiful.
That woman is going to be my wife.
After everything we’ve been through, the highs and lows, the roundabout journey to get us here, I’m glad we’ve been through it all together. I have no doubt in my mind that she and I can power through any storm. With her by my side, anything is possible.
I can’t wait to officially make her my wife.
THE END
Loved Fastball Flirt? Stay tuned for a sample of my rom-com Chasing Red
1
Hailey
I wake up to the sound of Icona Pop singing All Night because what better way to get in the mood of kicking ass and taking names? I start every morning with a dance party to get my blood pumping because, frankly, I love mornings.
Okay, that’s a lie, but in all seriousness, who loves mornings? You have to get out of your warm, cozy bed, birds sing at an obnoxious volume, and the sun is painful in its brightness. Life shouldn’t start until at least eleven. Brunch, I can get down with. I just need a fun way to drag myself out of my pillow-top mattress.
I take my hair out of its braid, allowing the blonde waves to tumble down my back. Walking into my closet, I find my favorite off-the-shoulder cream sweater and pair it with jean shorts and white converse.
I share a two-bedroom apartment with my best friend, Mackenzie, who is almost always awake before me, but the place is quiet this morning. I make us coffee, throw two bagels in the toaster, and start the daunting task of waking her up.
I’ve woken my best friend up a number of times in our lifelong friendship and it’s never fun. I peek my head in her bedroom door and it is dark thanks to the black-out curtains covering the windows despite the fact it’s eight-thirty in the morning.
This is so not good. I knock lightly, hoping it’s enough to stir her. “Kenz, it’s time to get up.”
A loud moan fills the room.
I should’ve waited until the coffee was ready.
Meow. Her cat, Mittens, runs over to me, rubbing against my legs. I walk over to her bed and deposit the black feline on her head. She’ll start pawing at her bedhead any second now. Sorry, Kenz, sometimes drastic measures are required.
I head back out to the kitchen, grabbing our thermoses from the cupboard, and fill them with coffee. Kenz likes her java to be more sugar than anything. I’m not sure it can even be qualified as real coffee.
“Ow, you bitch.”
I smile behind my cup and stalk back to her room. Placing her cup on her dresser, I lean against her doorjamb.
“Get up, slut, we’re gonna be late.” I close the door before she can hit me with her pillow.
Fifteen minutes later, we’re on our way to our advanced psychology lecture. It’s our senior year at the University of Pennsylvania. While we’re not worried about being late, it would be tacky to miss our first class of the semester.
Mackenzie bursts through the lecture hall doors and makes her way down the steps to the front of the class. Before she gets too far, I grab her backpack and pull her with enough force to have her falling backward. I steady her before she actually falls down.
“I’m not sitting in the front of the class.” This is an elective for me. I know psychology is her major, and she wants to do well, but we’re seniors. It’s lame.
Rolling her eyes, she points to a middle section. I shake my head and pull her back up three more steps nearing the last row and take the two end spots. She plops down with a huff and pulls a notebook and pen from her book bag before setting it on her desk like the little nerd she is.
As a pre-med major, I’m allowed to call her a nerd. I’m arguably more into school than she is, and she only wants to do well. It won’t stop me from ribbing on her about it though.
I place my MacBook on my desk and open a new document while we wait for the professor to start the lecture. Right as Dr. Kavanagh pulls up the syllabus, a text pops up on my computer.
Chase: Hey, it’s Chase. I was thinking of driving up for Hunter’s birthday next weekend to surprise him. You in?
I look at Kenzie out of the corner of my eye, but she’s too enamored by the course syllabus. How random.
My brother, Hunter, lives out near State Park by his alma mater, Penn State University, which is three hours away. Chase is his best friend. His incredibly cute best friend.
My brother and I used to be inseparable. Though he’s five years older than me, he never made me feel like a child. He always treated me with love and respect, and I always considered him my best friend.
That is, until, he moved in with his wench of a fiancée, Alison. She’s kept him from me and my family, and I’m counting down the days until they break up. She’s a monster and my brother deserves so much better than her.
But why is Chase reaching out to me? I haven’t seen him since Hunter helped me move into this place. Well, except for the brief run-in at Starbucks a couple weeks ago. He didn’t bring up this grand idea then.
Does he plan to stay with Hunter and the she-devil? Does he plan to carpool up there? I can think of a million questions and just as many things that could go wrong. But I’ve never been one to turn down a party.
Hailey: Hell yes. Should I bring Kenzie?
Chase: Probably wouldn’t be best. You know she’s in love with him, right?
Huh. I’ve always had my suspicions, but she never told me so herself. It’s funny to hear he’s come to the same conclusion.
I’ll nail down the finer details later. For now, I’ll plan on a road trip with Chase Freaking Westbrook. He’s like, hotter than the center of the Earth. He is what wet dreams are made of, if women could have actual wet dreams, that is.
Ninety minutes can pass by at lightning speed when you’re not paying attention. Kenz jabs me in the ribs with her elbow while I’m too busy daydreaming about next weekend. How embarrassing.
“What gives?” I can’t even tell her what I was thinking about.
I shake my head. “Sorry, I spaced. I didn’t sleep well last night.” I shrug and rush to pack up my things. This is our only class together and now I have to rush off to my organic chemistry lab. Joy.
“Meet up for lunch?” I pull my schedule up on my phone to see if I can meet her.
“I have a break at two thirty.” She nods and we plan to stop at our favorite food truck on campus.
We don’t do anything in lab since it’s the first week of the semester, so I take the remaining three hours to Facebook stalk Chase.
He’s a calculus teacher now at our old high school and coaches the hockey team. If I had teachers like that in my day, I might’ve been a teen cliché trying to sleep with him. But my teachers were old and most of them were women. Not my style.
More good news, he broke up with his last girlfriend over a year ago and hasn’t posted anything since to indicate he’s seeing anyone new.
I get lost staring at the screen, looking into his icy blue eyes, and wishing I could run my fingers through his sandy blonde hair.
Ever since Hunter first hung out with him when they were in high school I had a crush. But I have a huge red flag looming over my head as the untouchable little sister. Not that Chase has ev
er shown any interest in me, but even if he did like me, he couldn’t.
I fall down a wormhole of FBI-level investigating and wind up on his ex-girlfriend’s cousin’s dog’s fan page. My phone ringing pulls me away from the stalking.
Shit. I’m late for lunch with Kenz. “Hey, girl, sorry I’m late. I’m on my way.” I rush to meet her and find her sitting at a table outside of the business building with two meals in front of her.
“You owe me.” She smirks, so I know she’s not too mad at me. “What’s with you today? You’re totally spaced.”
“It’s, um, Hunter. You know it’s his birthday next weekend and I hate not celebrating with him. Ever since that bitch dug her claws into him I’ve barely seen him or even talked to him.” I shrug. It’s not a complete lie. Every word, at least, is true.
She takes a drink and chews on her straw, lost in thought. I always try to keep her up to date with news of my brother. Mainly because I’m hoping she cracks and confesses she likes him. Hasn’t happened yet, and now we’re both keeping secrets from each other.
“What do your parents say about her?” Her voice is soft, blowing over her straw enough to create a whistle.
I smile. She will love this. “My mom loathes her. She’s always polite, of course, but she calls my mom Ronnie. It’s disgusting. My dad is indifferent toward her, ignoring her the best in can, but he’s always got my mom’s back. Considering my mom likes everyone, her distaste for Ali speaks volumes. I don’t know why Hunter stays with her.”
My parents are the epitome of a sickeningly sweet and so in love couple. They make me believe in true love and more than anything they’ve taught me what I deserve.
They were high school sweethearts and they still act like they’re in the honeymoon phase. Growing up I felt embarrassed to be around them because they act mushy all the time. Now that I’m older, I can admit it’s the type of love I yearn for.
Fastball Flirt (The Boys of Summer Series Book 1) Page 25
