Page 84 of I Wish He Would

“How about some of the ones I don’t know the answers to? Fair warning, they’re all about relationships.”

He dips his chin slightly. “I’m an open book for you.”

“How do you like to give and receive love?”

“I’m a big physical touch guy and love quality time. It doesn’t matter what we’re doing, just being with you is enough.”

A professional baseball-playing man who knows the love languages is the hottest thing. Step aside, Scoville scale, there’s a new measurement tool in town.

“What are yours?” he asks.

“The same as you, honestly. I think all the love languages have a place in a relationship, but those typically mean the most to me.”

Austin grins. “Good to know.”

“Do you have any nonnegotiables in a relationship?”

Austin’s answer doesn’t come immediately this time. He peers off toward the beach, looking lost in thought. “I’d say communication, commitment, and trust. I think everything else stems from those three things. With healthy communication and trust, I think any relationship can go the distance. And if we’re committed to each other, we don’t have to worry where each other’s loyalties lie, and I know that you’re not going to wake up one day and decide you don’t love me anymore. We’re committing to choose each other every day.”

I blink up at him in awe. “I don’t know what to say.”

He grimaces. “Was that a bad answer?”

I shake my head. “It was perfect.”

He rubs his hands up and down my back as I think of the next question.

“How do you like to handle conflict? Are you more of a go-to-bed-angry-and-talk-about-things-once-you’ve-calmed-down kind of guy or a resolve-things-as-soon-as-possible kind of guy?”

He rakes a hand through his hair, making it fall in wet, messy clumps. “I don’t like letting things fester. I honestly felt a little sick yesterday waiting to talk to you, but I know you’re someone who needs to prepare for hard conversations, so I was happy to give you the time you needed to sort through your thoughts.”

I grimace. “I’m sorry I made you feel that way. If I’d known this is how the conversation would go, I would’ve been open to having it much sooner.” I intertwine my fingers in his hair at the nape of his neck. “I guess we’ll both have to do a bit of compromising when it comes to conflict.”

“Relationships are all about compromise. There’s always going to be a give-and-take, but as long as we’re a team attacking the problem together, we can get through anything life throws at us.”

“I like that. Us against the world.” I smile up at him. “Honestly, I’m still in shock this is real.”

He shifts me closer, kissing my temple. “This is the realest thing in my life.”

I lean into his embrace, loving how natural and right this all feels. “Last question, then I need some lemonade. I’ve never really heard you talk about any exes. Why did your last relationship end?”

“That would be because it was back in high school.” He chuckles. “After that, I was so focused on baseball that I never seriously dated anyone. Maybe a handful of dinners or evenings talking to women when I was out with my teammates, but nothing worth writing home about.” His fingers trail up and down my back, making me wish we were alone right now and doing something other than talking. “As for my high school girlfriend, it only lasted six months and was a surface-level relationship. We started dating after dancing together at homecoming and broke up before the end of the school year. She got annoyed that I spent more time practicing than with her.”

“What did you learn from it?”

“How not to be, I guess.” He shrugs. “Deep down, maybe that’s why I never wanted to date anyone again until I retired. I didn’t want to fail at balancing a relationship with my career.”

I swallow the lump in my throat. “What’s different now?”

“I have a girl worth breaking all my self-imposed rules for. Someone who makes me want to come home early and who has been on my mind constantly the past few weeks. I can’t believe I didn’t see it sooner.”

Tears fill my vision as I soak in the moment, loving how there’s nothing hidden between us anymore. All feelings are out in the open.

“You know, that night of the no-hitter against the Sharks, I was miserable that we weren’t talking that week. I couldn’t hit a pitch to save my life. But do you remember that game I played out of my mind? The one where I pointed at you in the stands after?” I nod, remembering it vividly. “That was the day I had the conversation with the guys. When I realized my feelings for you weren’t platonic.” Austin tangles his fingers in my hair, and I don’t even mind that it’ll be a beast to brush out later. “You make me a better baseball player. And you make me just want to be better. The kind of man you’re proud bringing to family events and coming home to each day.”

There aren’t words to convey how I feel. To encompass the overwhelming joy, excitement, and anticipation coursing through my body. It feels like we’re in our own little slice of paradise. A happy bubble that no one can burst. I place my hands on his cheeks and pull his mouth to mine, saying with each kiss what I’m unable to express otherwise. Still trying to fathom that he’s my boyfriend.

When we finally pull apart, his dimple is back in action. “I guess that means I passed the questionnaire?”