Page 168 of The Fall Classic

She’s on her feet, wearing a Firebirds hoodie she must have bought here, my hat stuffed on her head, and she’s screaming, waving her hands, and stamping her feet.

She’s sitting next to someone, too.

Oh, that’s Doug.

She’s sitting next to Doug.

I start laughing as I wave at her, and she beams as she waves back.

“Feels good, doesn’t it?” Lucas asks me, yelling over the fans. Someone in media relations points us to the reporters waiting to talk to us, probably together.

I’m good either way.

“Yeah, it feels awesome.”

Lucas squeezes my shoulders like he’s giving me a massage. “Are we talking about our girlfriends being in the stands or winning?”

“I don’t think we have to choose.”

He laughs and we walk over to the first reporter.

***

Doug finds me in the locker room before I can hit the showers.

“That was a nice outing,” he says.

“It was dicey for a minute.”

“That’s baseball for you.” He doesn’t let go of my shoulder. “You’ve done well, Fischer. I want you for the long haul. I’ll get numbers to your agent this week, but I wanted you to hear it from me before it goes through him.”

It’s not quite a fireworks display in my chest, but something burns in me bright and steady.

“Thanks, Doug.”

“You’re welcome. Oh, and that’s some girlfriend you have there. Kayla called me and asked me to give her the royal treatment and then demanded Joanna and I listen to her business proposal. Joanna’s VP of Partnerships,” he adds. I can’t help but smile. “Georgiana’s smart. I have no idea how a tweeb like you landed someone like her.”

I groan. “Liesel told you her nickname for us?”

“I’ve known your sister a lot longer than I’ve known you, and I like her better, so don’t do anything to make her mad, or we’ll have a long talk.”

I hang my head, laughing. “Yes, sir.”

“Georgiana’s waiting in the family lounge with your family. After you finish your interviews, go find them.”

After I finish my last interview, I do just that.

I run through the hallways and jump down back staircases, bolting through the stadium to get to her.

I may never be the guy who can think about his girlfriend or wife on the mound.

But I will always be the guy who runs to find her the second the game is over.

When I open the door, I see my family around Georgie, all of them grinning like fools to meet her. Lucas and Scottie, Liesel and even Coop. He’s sitting with a splint over his nose, sunglasses over his eyes, positively beaming.

Georgie is mid-laugh at something Coop’s saying when she sees me.

“Lolo!” Coop says, but I ignore him. I ignore all of them, breathless from my run. I sweep Georgie into my arms, thrust my hand into the back of her hair, and pull her in for a long kiss.