“It’s more than that. I felt it was important for them to know that Peyton is going to have a huge support system in Florida. We can’t replace them, but we can help fill the void.” My mom looks at Larissa, and she smiles at her before coming closer and wrapping my mom in a hug.
Griffin stays at the grill with his dad and mine while I go to say hi to my sisters and steal baby Penelope from her daddy.
“Oh no, you don’t,” Cameron warns me. “All of you women are baby hogs.” He points at Holden. “And you, get your own,” he says.
“Come on, Cam. I leave in a few days, and I’m going to miss you so much. Hand her over.”
“Fine,” he grumbles. He kisses his daughter’s head and stands, giving me his chair, before placing her in my arms. “Hold her head,” he tells me.
“I got it.” I laugh, as do my sisters.
I love on my new baby niece and just take it all in. Mom and Anna are sitting under a shade tree talking as if they’ve known each other for years. Holden, Cameron, and Oliver are tossing a football, much to their dismay, with Jett. Karina, Paisley, Parker, and I are all just sitting around the patio table, talking and laughing, while Dad, Gary, and Griffin are manning the grill.
“You okay over there?” Paisley asks.
“I’m more than okay. It feels like it’s taken years to get to this moment, but I wouldn’t change it. Not for anything.” My sisters nod, and I know they understand what I’m saying.
“How about some more news?” Karina asks.
“Yes. You’ve been holding out on me. Griffin wouldn’t even tell me.”
“Yeah, he kind of heard us talking and found out. I made him promise not to tell you until I talked to my parents.”
“What’s going on?” She’s smiling, so it has to be good news.
“Well, you know that Oliver and I made things official.”
“That was weeks ago.”
She nods. “Yeah, and I don’t want to do what you and Griffin did. I don’t know that I’m strong enough to be away from him for that long, so I’m moving too.”
“What did you just say? I thought I heard you say you were moving?”
“You heard me.” She smiles. “I’m moving to Florida with you. Oliver and I rented a place in the same complex as you and Griffin.”
“Explain.” It’s not that I’m not happy. Of course, I am, but I need to know how this happened.
“I’m not feeling softball. I loved it in high school, but college is altogether different. I applied to a new school, but it’s close by, and I changed my major.”
“What?”
“I want to be a pediatric nurse. I’ve been thinking about it for a while and decided it was time for a change. Our school doesn’t have a nursing program, but there is one about fifteen miles from the new apartment. They accepted me. It’s a four-year bachelor’s program.”
“I’m thrilled for you,” I tell her. “Why didn’t you tell me?”
“I wasn’t sure it was all going to work out. And I didn’t want you to think that I was following you. I mean, I am, and I love you, but this is something I’ve wanted, and well, Oliver is just a bonus in all of this.”
“Wow.”
“Good for you,” Paisley tells her.
“I’m proud of you for chasing your dreams,” Parker adds.
“It’s a win-win if you think about it. I get to do something I love. I get to live next to my best friend and be with the man I love.”
“That’s me if you didn’t know,” Oliver says, stepping up behind her and placing his hands on her shoulders.
“I got that.” I laugh at him.
“Did she finally tell you?” Griffin asks. He leans over my chair and offers Penelope his finger.
“She did.”
“Good surprise?” he asks.
“The best.”
“Good, now hand over the baby.”
“What? No. We’re leaving soon.”
“Exactly. I should get a turn too.” He stands and nods toward my niece, and I relent, handing her over.
I swear there is an audible sigh at the table as all four of us watch as he cradles her in his arms and smiles down at her. “We’re getting one of these, Peyton. Maybe a dozen,” he tells me.
“Let’s start with one in a few years and see how it goes.”
“I was an only child. I want our kids to have siblings like you do.”
“This doesn’t have to be decided now,” I tell him.
“No, I guess not. But I have witnesses.” He points at my sisters, Karina, and Oliver. “Take notes in case she argues in a few years. She agreed to it.”
“Anthony, give me my daughter.”
“Fine,” Griffin grumbles good-naturedly and hands her back to her daddy.
“Great. Now we’ll never get her back,” I whine.
“How about you stop by the house in the next couple of days? Cam will be back on the road for a three-day stretch, and you can soak up all the cuddles you can stand,” Paisley offers.
I look up at Griffin, and he’s already nodding. “Consider it done.”
“Let’s eat!” Dad calls out.
The rest of the day is filled with love, laughter, good food, and even better company. In no way would I have ever imagined that meeting a guy on spring break would lead to this. I had no way of knowing how he would change my life for the better.
My dad was right. This love and the love that surrounds us is beyond the team. I can’t wait to see what happens next.
EPILOGUE GRIFFIN
Four Years Later
Griffin
This is it. The final game of the World Series. Our starting pitcher tore his rotator cuff and needed surgery three months into the season, and that put me on the mound. This is my first season in the majors, and it’s been an honor to be here. I stare up at the crowd, and I know my friends and family are here.
I know that my wife is sitting with my parents and hers, as well as her sisters, and nieces and nephews. I also know that her best friend and her baby girl, Olivia, are sitting next to her.
Life has a funny way of working out, and I was drafted to the Tennessee Blaze. I had other offers, some more money, but this is where we wanted to be. I wanted my wife to have her family close while I’m on the road. We want a big family, and she needs that support system.
Oliver was drafted as well, but he’s on the farm team. He’s in the stands with his wife and their baby girl. Olivia just turned a year old, and she’s the cutest baby. I’ve been telling my wife, yes, wife. I married her the week after we graduated from college. Anyway, I’ve been telling my wife that we need to start our family. Don’t get me wrong, we’re having the time of our lives practicing, but I’m ready for what comes next. I’m ready for anything life tosses our way as long as she’s right by my side.
Shaking out of my thoughts, I get my head back in the game. Two outs, and the bases are loaded. We’re up by three, but if they get this hit, that could change the game, as well as the title of World Series winners could be over.