Page 96 of Saving The Shortstop

“Thank you, Short,” I murmur against her lips. “Looks like we’re both going pro.”

“Damn right, we are,” she says, her lip trembling before she kisses me once more. “I’m going to back away from my hot NFL boyfriend now, because there are lot of other people in here who want to congratulate you.”

Wiggling slightly, she drops down and walks into the crowd.

I look at my parents across the room, my mom’s hand on her mouth as she cries, and my dad’s eyes glossy. “I’m in the NFL.”

The entire room erupts into cheers, and everyone jumps up from their seats to celebrate. Those who were already standing jump up and down. But even though it’s loud in here, I hardly hear the noise because I still can’t believe it.

I got fucking drafted. First round too.

My parents rush toward me, making a damn group hug as they both squeeze my body. I’ve been with them for a long time now. I’ve seen my father earn awards and other exciting things happen for both of them, but I’ve never seen them this elated.

“Never doubted that you’d make it, D,” Dad says, squeezing my shoulder. “You’re too damn good to ignore.”

“Baby boy!” my mom sobs, cupping my cheek. “You did it! You really, really did it.”

When they’re both looking at me, my throat threatens to close up, but I need to say what I’m about to. I need them to know.

“If it weren’t for you two, I would have never picked up a football. I don’t even know if I’d still be alive, to tell you the truth.” I wipe my eyes with the back of my hand. “You gave me a life worth living.” I look at my mom. “You showed me what it’s like to be loved.” I look at my dad. “You helped me fall in love with football and gave me an outlet within the game.” My throat burns, and I fight back crying like a little baby. “You two didn’t have to love me, but you did. You gave me life.” I throw my arms around both their necks. “Thank you, Mom and Dad.”

“You gave us life, Dallas,” my mom says, her voice squeaky. “After years of feeling like we were missing someone or something in our lives, you ended up being exactly what we needed.”

“She’s right,” my dad adds. “You completed our family, D. So, it’s us who should be thanking you.”

They each hug me once more before Coach King shoves between them.

“All right, all right, that’s enough from you two,” he teases. “It’s my turn to hug this little shithead.”

He hugs me tightly, pounding a palm against my back.

“I knew you were special from the first time I saw you throw a football, kid,” he says close to my ear. “It didn’t matter that you’d barely played because you had something inside you that some players will never have.” He leans back, looking me in the eye and pointing to my chest. “You had the heart for it. The grit. The want to be better … the want to be the best.” He reaches up, wiping his eyes with the back of his hand. “I’ve coached a lot of players, D, but I don’t think I’ll ever coach another you.”

“And I don’t think I’ll ever be coached by another you either,” I say, meaning every word of it. This man changed my entire life. He gave me a role being a leader, and I felt like I had a place. He believed in me, even when I wasn’t sure I was worth the hype.

“I know that you’re probably worried about what will happen if Haven ends up on a team far away from you, but don’t be worried right now, kid.” His blue eyes look into me. “Right now, you two just celebrate everything that’s happened today. Worry about the rest as it comes.”

“Yes, sir.” I nod, knowing that I probably won’t be able to do what he’s telling me to do, but I’m going to try.

“All right, you’ve got a lot of people to hug, so get your ass on it.” He grins, giving my back one more smack. “You did good, D. Proud of you.”

When he lets me go, and I see everyone cheering, all waiting to congratulate me, I can’t believe how different this moment is compared to how I used to think about my life turning out.

I used to feel like I had no one in the entire world who loved me. I always thought I was stupid, too, because I did so poorly in school and just assumed it was because my brain didn’t work right. Then Haven showed up for me, telling me that it’s okay to need extra help and it’s all right to learn differently. She helped me see that I’m not dumb; I just needed something different than most other students do. Now, I have accommodations in school that allow me to reach my full potential and not constantly feel overwhelmed. And I have a room full of people, all here just for me on my special day.

Oh, and let’s not forget my hot, professional-softball-player girlfriend who I can’t wait to take to my room at the end of this night to have our own celebration.

As a kid, I’d lie in my bed at night and think about how much I hated my life. Now, I have to say it’s pretty damn great. I’m one lucky motherfucker, that’s for sure.

EPILOGUE

HAVEN

“Come on, I know you want to sing, you know you want to sing … so sing already!” I say, reaching over the center console to give Dallas’s rock-hard abdomen a pat through his shirt. “Deep down, you love Miley Cyrus. I know it.”

“No,” he answers flatly, not even willing to entertain me. “I really don’t.”

“I take offense to that,” I mutter with a gasp. “She’s Miley Cyrus. How could you, like … not love her? Her vibes are elite, her voice … magnificent, and her lyrics? Perfection because she’s usually singing about being a mess.” I sigh. “Which, obviously you know I connect with.”