“Alright, team.We’vegot this.Y’allknow it.Iknow it.Let’sshow everyone in the stands what we’ve got.”
A cheer loud enough to scare away a few birds that had perched on the roof of the dugout rang out drawing the attention of the fans who cheered right back.
Rose’s spirits rose and she grinned atAcen.
The game started slow.Bothteams tight, their bats quiet.Bythe third inning, it was still scoreless, and the sun was brutal.
But in the top of the fourth, something shifted.
Dani cracked a double down the third base line, and the dugout erupted.Tashafollowed with a bloop single that brought her home.Suddenly, thePickwickPirateQueenswere up by a run and the momentum turned.
Rose watched her team come alive—grinning, cheering, high-fiving like they were invincible.
And for a few glorious innings, it felt like the past couldn’t touch her.
UntilBrianasauntered down the bleachers and made a beeline forAcenwho was sitting at the end of the dugout bench closest to the entrance.Hewas so focused on the game that he didn’t even look up.
Rose’s chest tightened.
She tried not to look.
But she couldn’t not see the wayBrianaleaned in, all soft voice and tilted smile.Couldn’tignore the wayAcenstiffened but didn’t get up.
Couldn’t stop the fear that maybe she was wrong to believe him.
Then he stood.
Not fast.Notdramatic.
But enough.
He stepped away fromBriana.Saidsomething quiet.Somethingfinal.Andturned back to the game.
AndRosesaw him chooseher.
Without hesitation.
Briana didn’t storm off.Shesimply pivoted, lips tight, and walked toward the parking lot like she’d never intended to stay long anyway.
Rose breathed again.
By the bottom of the seventh, thePickwickPirateQueenswere up 3-0, and theMarauderswere starting to unravel.WhenDanimade a diving catch at third to end the inning, the stands exploded.
AndAcen?
He stood and clapped.
Forthem.
For her.
After the final out, after the handshakes and cheers and the loudest rendition of “WeAretheChampions” that had ever rattled thePickwickBendfield,Rosejogged over to the bleachers to hug everyone she could get her arms around.
Declan met her halfway.Shehesitated for a moment, aware ofAcenbehind her.Mostlikely watching this little encounter.Sheshrugged mentally.Shewouldn’t spend her life worrying thatAcenwould be jealous every time she smiled at another man.Andthey’d made no promises to each other.Yet.
“You came,” she said, smiling atDeclan.
“You told me to.”
