I wind up the pitch and let it fly.
“Strike!” the umpire calls out.
“Two more,” I mutter to myself.
Taking my time, I pull in a deep breath, wind up the pitch, and let it fly.
“Strike two!”
“Fuck.” I take off my glove and place it under my arm, then remove my hat from my head and run my fingers through my hair. One more. One more strike, and we win. The Blaze takes the World Series win.
Sliding back into my glove, I wind up the pitch and give it all that I’ve got. It feels like it takes an eternity for the ball to make it to the plate, but I know that’s not true. I’ve been throwing in the 90 miles per hour range. When the ball gets there, the batter swings and misses.
He fucking misses.
The crowd goes wild, and my teammates tackle me.
“Fuck, yeah!” Holden lifts me in the air and shakes me.
“My man!” Cameron shouts, pulling me into a hug as soon as Holden drops me to my feet.
They’re my brothers. Not just by marriage, but on the field and in life. I look up to the stands where I know our family sits, and I need to get to her. I need Peyton. I have a lump in the back of my throat the size of Texas, and hot tears are pricking my eyes. She is my biggest cheerleader, my biggest supporter, and I need her. Right here. Right now. This moment belongs to my team, it belongs to me, and it belongs to us and our family. I scan the crowd, and I see her. She’s holding Olivia in her arms, and she’s smiling widely, and I can’t see them, but I know tears are racing down her cheeks.
I ignore the reporters and I ignore the fans, and even my teammates as I jog toward her. I need my wife.
EPILOGUE PEYTON
Peyton
He did it. My heart hammers in my chest, and I choke back the sob that’s threatening to break free. My husband and my brothers-in-law are World Series champions. I hold baby Olivia closer, and she places her little arms around my neck.
Around me, our friends and family are cheering for our team and the three men who we love dearly. I feel an arm wrap around me, and I turn to see my mother-in-law, Anna.
“He did it,” she smiles.
“He did.”
She and Gary flew in a couple of days ago, and it’s been great to be able to catch up with them. They’re talking about moving here to be closer to us. Especially when we finally decide to give them grandchildren. Their words, not mine.
“Look.” Anna points at the field, and I spot him immediately as he stalks his way to where we’re sitting.
Carefully, I hand Olivia off to her momma and start to descend the stairs. I hold the railing with each step. My smile is wide, and my heart is so full for him and the entire Blaze team.
“Mrs. Anthony,” Griffin smiles up at me.
“Mr. Anthony.” We’ve been married a year, and it still gives me a thrill when he calls me by my new name.
“Get your ass down here.” He holds his hands up to reach for me.
Carefully, I sit on the wall and smile down at him. “Are you going to catch me?”
“You know I’d never let you fall.”
“I know, but it’s really important this time.”
He tilts his head to the side, and I can see the moment he understands what I’m trying to tell him. “Yeah?” he asks.
I nod.
“I won’t let you fall.” There is so much conviction in his voice and love in his eyes that I know he’s right.
I take the leap, and he catches me easily. He doesn’t let me go, but instead maneuvers so that my legs are wrapped around his waist and my arms around his neck.
“We’re having a baby?” he asks.
I nod. I can’t seem to find my voice from the awe in his.
“Just when I thought this day couldn’t be any better.” His lips press against mine, and everything around us fades away. It’s just my husband and me standing on the field, holding each other celebrating both a personal and a professional win.
“We’re starting our team,” I say once I find my voice.
“Nah, baby, this goes beyond the team.” He smiles. “This is our family, our life, and our future. I love you, Mrs. Anthony.”
“I love you too.”
EPILOGUE EASTON
Bonus Scene
Eleven Years Later
Easton
I’m sitting in the backyard holding my youngest granddaughter, Kinzie, in my arms. She’s four, and just like the rest of her cousins, she has me wrapped around her little finger. I came out here to rock her to sleep under the shade tree away from the crowd. She’s been asleep for a while, but I can’t seem to find the will to stand and take her inside just yet.
Instead, I’m sitting here watching my family. My wife is standing with our grandson Jett. Today is his eighteenth birthday. He’s over a head taller than her, but he’s a big teddy bear just like his daddy. At least when it comes to the women in the family: his grandma, his mom, his aunts, his sister, and his cousins. As the eldest, he takes his responsibility seriously, and I’d love to say that’s my influence, but I know it’s from his dad, Cameron. He’s a good man.
I hear a squeal of laughter, and my eyes trail until I find the source. Holden and Parker are in the pool. Their twins, Sara and Sean, are on their shoulders playing a game of chicken. Their eldest, Mitchell, sits on the edge of the pool, cheering them on.
Jett comes out of nowhere with his sister, Penelope, thrown over his shoulder and jumps into the pool. The splash is huge, and the laughter that follows fills my heart.
My gaze travels until I find Peyton and Griffin. They’re sitting on a lounge chair with their son, Hank, sitting next to them. His hands are moving as he tells them a story that has them both smiling.
Kinzie squirms and squints open her eyes. “Pappa?”
“Yeah, baby?”
“I love you.”
“I love you too,” I tell her.
“I’m thirsty.”
“Well, let’s see what we can do about that.” I stand and head toward the rest of our family.
Griffin sees me. He leans over and kisses Peyton softly, rubs his hand through Hank’s hair, then makes his way toward me. “Baby girl, you want to give Pappa a break?” he asks his daughter.
“I’m thirsty, Daddy.”
“Well, let’s fix that.”
She holds her arms out for him, and he takes her easily, snuggling her close.
I don’t try to hide my smile as he walks away to do her bidding. It’s not lost on me that his reply was the same as mine. As bad as I first hated to admit it, my daughters all married men who worship them, like I do their mother.
Speaking of, my wife is headed my way. I open my arms wide for her, and she walks right into them, resting her head on my chest where she belongs.
“I never could have imagined this, Easton. All those years ago, when you came into my work, I never would have guessed we would end up here.”
“We’ve made a wonderful life and a beautiful family.”
“Thank you for this life.”
“I should be thanking you. You took a chance on me. You and Paisley, you made me fall in love with you, and I’ve never looked back.”