Page 60 of Curveball

Lying with Farrah in my bed after finally having her again felt surreal. I didn’t think we’d ever get here again.

She glanced up at me. “Can I ask you something?”

I nodded, eyes closing as I continued to stroke her hair, her head resting on my chest.

“What’s that room in your house for?” she asked softly. “The one with the desk, the bookshelves with all of those design magazines and architecture journals, the pinboard…” Her voice trailed off.

I opened my eyes. “Truthfully? That room was for you. After I closed on the house, I planned to ask you to design it—after I told you how I felt about you. I wanted it to be a workspace for you, something you could make your own. I wanted to surprise you, so you knew that house was as much yours as it was mine.”

I rubbed my chest, the old ache surfacing. “When I found out about your engagement, I didn’t have the heart to remove anything from that room. I just closed the door. You’re the only person who’s opened it since.”

Farrah was quiet. Processing. When she looked back up at me, her eyes were bright with unshed tears.

“I’m so sorry, Walker.” She leaned up and pressed a soft kiss to my mouth. “It hurts to know how much I hurt you because I let my fears dominate my life. But if none of this had happened… I wouldn’t have Hadley, you know?”

I cupped her face gently. “I’m not telling you all this to make you feel bad. Everything happened the way it was supposed to. We both needed to grow up. To go out into the world, make our own mistakes. We’d always had each other to shield us from the hard parts of life. Sometimes you need to sit in it to learn who you are and what you’re capable of.”

She settled back against me. “When did you become so wise, Ace?”

I chuckled. “Survival will do that to you.”

Because surviving was all I’d done since Farrah had walked out of my life.

After another round of mind-blowing sex, I asked Farrah if she wanted to go with me to watch the guys play—the Austin Aviators were playing Tampa tonight. Normally, I'd be in the dugout with the guys. But with Farrah's unexpected—and very much welcomed—arrival, I wanted her next to me. Where I could see her reactions, hear her laugh. Where she felt like mine. Sitting behind home plate meant cameras, sure, but I didn't give a shit. If the world was going to watch me, they were going to see her with me.

I was down in our seats, scrolling through my phone, waiting for Farrah while she stopped by the pro shop to grab something for Hadley. I lifted my head once I heard footsteps approach and about dropped my phone when Farrah appeared in front of me, draped in my jersey. She smiled as she did a little twirl. "You like it?"

I slowly nodded as my eyes traced down her body. She wore a tight white tank top tucked into her jeans—that might as well have been painted on—with a navy-blue Aviators jersey unbuttoned and hanging off her shoulders. Seeing my name and my number on her back again did something to me.

It always had.

Farrah settled into the seat beside me and handed me a bag of popcorn she pulled out of nowhere, along with what seemed like one of everything from the concessions.

I chuckled. "How long do you think this game is?"

"Always got to be prepared, Ace. I stress eat, remember?"

We had a blast. The game was a close one, with several home runs on both sides, which brought out the feral side of Farrah. I forgot how competitive and into baseball she was. In the end, the Aviators got the win, and I got to watch my girl have the time of her life.

We were walking down the street, headed to one of the bars close to the field that the team frequented after home games— Cohen, Drake, Beckham, Maddox, and Shane were all planning to meet up with us. I caught a glimpse of paparazzi following us and snapping pictures, so I wrapped my arm around Farrah and ushered her into the bar. We had a private sectioned-off area for our team only, which I led Farrah towards. "Sorry about all the cameras. It’s usually only bad on game days."

Farrah settled on one of the couches and smiled. "It's fine. I have to get used to it, right?"

Those words meant more to me than she knew. I grinned before leaning down and placing a kiss against her lips. "That's right, baby."

Farrah was sipping on her tequila soda, taking in the bar before turning her attention back to me. "So. Tell me. Why did you keep your number when you went pro?"

Another question I’d known would eventually surface.

I took a long pull from my beer and laid my arm on the back of the couch behind her. I played with the ends of her hair a moment before answering. "That number had been my number since the beginning. There’s a lot of meaning behind it, with one of the reasons, as you know, being your birthday." I watched as my fingers slid in and around her golden strands. "It was the last thing I had left of you."

Farrah laid her hand on my thigh and gave it a squeeze. She looked into my eyes, hers full of so much love and sadness. She leaned in and kissed me. "I don't know if you realize this, but you're incredibly romantic, Ace." She threw me a wink.

I pressed a quick kiss against her lips. "Shh… don't tell anyone," I whispered against her mouth.

"Well, look at you two love birds. I never thought I'd see the day. Farrah in the flesh!" Cohen said as he strode in, interrupting our conversation.

Farrah and I stood up to greet the guys. After we all shook hands and slapped each other on the back, I introduced them all to Farrah.