His request made her heart beat a little faster. She’d never want to leave him. “Okay, I’ll stay if you want me to.”
“I do.”
She was surprised when he took a turn that didn’t lead to his house or hers. “Where are we going?”
“To the lot.” He looked at her out of the corner of his eye. “If that’s okay?”
“Sure, but I figured you’d be tired. Don’t you want to go home and get some sleep?”
“Not yet.”
She didn’t know why he’d want to drive out to the lot at night, but after all he’d done for her, she was willing to follow him just about anywhere. And she knew it might come to that. Life with a professional athlete involved trades, sudden moves, uprooting the life you loved. But she wouldn’t love her life nearly as much without this man, so if she had to, she’d start over somewhere else with him.
“What are you thinking?” he asked, turning onto the dirt path that would soon be a stone driveway.
“I was thinking about the future, and what might happen if you get traded.” Knowing that she could share anything with him, even her fears, meant everything to Bella. That kind of trust was something she’d always wanted but wasn’t sure she’d ever find.
“It’s a possibility,” he said, staring straight ahead.
There was a full moon that cast a bright light over the water and Bella took a moment to appreciate it, while she sensed Loran was contemplating his career and what being traded would mean for them.
“Being traded is always a possibility,” he said, clearing his throat. “Especially as I get older. The team will likely want to get what they can for me.”
It hurt her to hear Loran talk about himself like he was a commodity. To his team he was. But to her he was everything. “The life of a pro baller,” she said with a smile, trying to lighten the mood. “I guess it’s what you signed on for, right?”
“But it’s not what you signed on for.” He bit his lip. “You just built a new life here, and I know you love it.”
She let him continue, knowing whatever he said next could have a huge impact on their future.
“I know you didn’t intend to fall in love with a professional athlete, Bella. Hell, you probably avoided it for this very reason, because you weren’t willing to give up everything for a guy. And I don’t blame you.”
She reached for his hand, sensing he needed the reassurance. “That’s true, but you’re not just any guy. You’re the one.” His eyes drifted to her and she smiled. “My person.”
He drew a deep breath before kissing her hand. “Hearing you say that means everything to me,” he whispered. “You don’t even know.”
She had some idea. “It’s true.”
“I know.” He lowered his head. “I love it here. I know you do too. I wouldn’t be building this house and having my mom move just down the road if this wasn’t the place I intended to call home. But you’re right about the trade. That could happen. And if it does—”
“We’ll deal with it. Together.” She wasn’t going to let anything else come between them. If he was worried she couldn’t handle a trade, he clearly didn’t realize how much she loved him. “Wherever you go, I go. Simple as that. During the off-season we come back here to be with our family and friends. When you retire, this becomes home, full-time.”
“And you’d be okay with that? Your business—?”
“Will survive.” She finally understood there was more to life than building her business. She’d spent years doing that. Now she was more interested in building a life… with the man she loved. “I’ll still be able to do what I love, Loran. Nothing can take that away from me.”
“I would hate myself if I thought you had to sacrifice everything to be with me.”
“You mean like Grace did for my brother?”
Her best friend had given up her business, home, family and friends to be with Ethan and had never been happier. Grace was thriving in her new life and Bella knew the same would be true for her, no matter where baseball took them, because she’d be with Loran.
“Well yeah, but—”
“No buts.” She pressed her fingertips against his lips. “Grace never regretted moving here to be with Ethan because she loves him. As long as she has him, she’s good.” She leaned in to kiss him. “And I’ve never been happier than I am with you. My career isn’t everything. I love my family, I love my friends, but they’ll always be a huge part of my life, no matter where we live.”
“I just have to be sure you know what you’d be getting into. It’s a lot to ask of anyone.”
She appreciated his concern, but after today she was more certain than she’d ever been that this was the man for her. “You’re not asking me to do anything for you. I knew when I fell in love with you what the deal was.”
