Page 76 of Double Play

“Their league will grow,” Isaiah counters, breaking into my thoughts and the gentle nudge my daughter gave me to move forward. Swing at a different dream. Chase the girl.

“What league?” India whispers beside me, but she’s a smart woman, and by now she must know.

Still, I warn my best friend. “Isaiah.” I’d told him my plan in the strictest of confidence. I’d already lied to him once about my feelings and his sister. I wanted him to know the truth. I’d go where she goes and she wants to head East. Not west, like Nevada.

Penn is the one to finally clarify what we’re tiptoeing around. “The future women’s one.”

My shoulder is shoved, and I turn toward the culprit.

“Get out,” she snaps.

I stare at India and glance across the table at her brother.

“I mean it. Get up. Let me out.” She presses at my arm again so insistently that I scoot out of the booth. But I don’t let India run off without chasing.

thirty

. . .

[India]

After I rush toward the hallway containing the bathrooms, I make a sharp right, changing course and heading out the front door of the stifling restaurant.

“Indie.” At the soft plea in Declan’s voice behind me, I halt in my tracks and turn sharply.

“No.” I point at his face, angered that he’d do what he’s doing. My heart is a rollercoaster full of emotion. Up the hill with hope, elation that he’d even consider following me. Down the slippery slope, angered and upset that he’d give up everything for me.

Because Declan is looking to leave his team. For me.

“No.” I bark again, poking his firm chest while he stands there and takes my wrath. I will not let him give up a good thing. For me.

“No.” I counter one more time but lose steam as tears fill my eyes and blur my vision of him.

My auburn-haired baseball god who is staring at me with wide blue eyes brimming with concern.

And when he tugs me to him, I lose my fight completely and fall against his chest as he wraps his arms around me. Inhaling his cinnamon gum and sunflower seed scent, I close my eyes and melt into the strength of his hold, giving myself a minute to absorb all I’ve heard.

Isaiah is part of an investment group intent on purchasing the Vegas Victors. He wants to use Declan to sweeten the deal. Then, the fact Declan is even an option, expressing interest in moving teams. But only teams that are in the East.

Where I want to eventually end up.

This isn’t me chasing him to Seattle. Or wanting to visit him in Chicago. This is Declan making a firm decision to follow me wherever I go.

But like he said: this is calling homerun before declaring foul ball. I’m not leaving The Den yet. The new league hasn’t begun, and they haven’t hired anyone. Decisions have been hush-hush although I’ve been vocal in all the places I can think of that I’m interested in a future with the developing league.

After allowing myself only a minute of his warmth and comfort, I pull back and glare at the handsome face of the most thoughtful man I’ve ever known.

“You can’t do this.”

“I am doing it.”

“Not for me.”

“Why not you?”

The tears fall harder. I don’t know. But I feel selfish wanting this. Him. The league. A future. I won’t let him disrupt what he has with his daughter. I won’t rob another little girl of her relationship with her father.

“You just can’t,” I counter, knowing how weak the argument sounds.