Her hand grazes over mine as she tips her head up, a wide grin on her face. “Just fine. Ready to watch Daddy hit a home run.”
“You got it. And we’re still planning to tell the bosses?”
“Yup.”
I kiss her nose. “Okay.”
Someone calls her name, and Lark turns and nods in acknowledgment.
“Get back to work,” I say with a wink. My eyes stay trained on her as she walks away, over to one of the coaches.
“Everythin’ good?”
I turn to look at Darling. “Everything’s fucking awesome. Let’s win this.”
He bumps my held-up fist and we focus on the game. Sin’s on third now, and Jonesie is up to bat. Unfortunately, he strikes out and stomps off the field with his jaw clenched.
“It’s all good, man, next time. You went down swingin’,” Darling calls out, but Jonesie just gives him a sharp nod, his eyes staring straight out at the field.
It never feels good to strike out. Especially not in your first at bat, in the first goddamn game.
Good thing I hit the homer my baby wanted when it’s my turn.
The game is over all too soon with Yami getting another shutout inning, securing our four-run lead.
The press is demanding of him and me, wanting to talk about our partnership, the Tridents’ strategy of letting one catcher and one pitcher work together as much as reasonably possible, and asking about our predictions for the coming season. It’s annoying when all I want to do is shower and find Lark. But this is part of the gig. And at the end of the day, I wouldn’t change it for anything.
Eventually, we’re done, and we can jog down into the locker room. Yami looks over at me as I rush to get changed. “You got somewhere to be?”
“Yeah,” I say, yanking a hoodie on. “Lark and I have a meeting with management.”
“Oh.” His eyes widen. “Oh!”
I pause and grin as I lower my voice and say, “We’re gonna tell the team at morning practice tomorrow.”
He walks over, one hand on his towel. With the other, he pulls me in for a hug. “That’s fantastic. Everyone is gonna be thrilled.”
“Thanks, man. I appreciate you keeping it quiet.”
A strange look crosses his face. “All good. Everyone’s allowed to have a secret or two.”
I don’t get a chance to ask him what he means before he turns and walks over to his locker, keeping his back turned as he gets dressed.
As much as I want to check on him, I’ve got somewhere to be.
Grabbing my bag, I head out of the locker room and turn right, making my way to the trainer’s area. Lark is coming out of the gym, and we meet with a kiss.
“Ready for this?” she asks, taking my hand.
“So ready.”
We head upstairs to the executive level where we asked Mike Cartwright, the team’s owner, to meet us along with the head trainer and head coach. Not gonna lie, I’m scared shitless. I need them to be happy for us so we go into this season with them still thinking I’m worth keeping around for another five years.
My parents are excited about the baby, which is awesome. But they’re stretched thin enough managing the store. If I don’t land a good contract at the end of this season, I don’t have a hope in hell of convincing them to retire.
And I don’t want them killing themselves, trying to be there for Lark and the baby, as well as running the store. I want them to be able to relax and enjoy being grandparents. Enjoy the rest of their lives and let me pay them back however I can, for everything they’ve done for me.
Mike, Coach Stirling, and Mattias are already waiting for us in one of the conference rooms, and we walk in hand in hand. I pull out Lark’s chair and then sit beside her.
