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“Ok. Frannie is going to try to be there, but this pregnancy is totally kicking her ass.”
“Tell Marcus to come and we’ll handle the kids.”
Evie typed something on her phone. The ninth inning started. My focus switched gears.
“Watch this, Austen. We’re going to get a base hit. I guarantee it.”
Just like I predicted our next three batters made it on base. We add
ed two runs to the score. As long as we played tough defense, we’d have another win this afternoon. My first season as an owner, and we were easily division champions, if not headed further into the playoffs.
The season had been fucking incredible. There was a learning curve, but Evie had been there with me every step of the way.
It helped that the team I bought was in Atlanta. We were close enough to Newton Hills to move back home. The warehouse had been home during my bachelor life. The days when I slept around and spent my nights with nameless models. I didn’t want to hold onto it. I sold the penthouse and bought a house for my family. A place where Austen could run. Where we could have dogs and cats. Hell, she could have a bunny rabbit if she wanted. There was fresh air and green grass.
Austen stood on two chunky legs when I held her up for the last pitch. Nailed it.
Evie kissed me on the cheek. “Good game, baby. Want me to take her?”
“Nah. I’ll carry her.”
We started to leave the box when we were greeted by reporters on the other side of the door. I didn’t always make press appearances. I let the ball club handle it. I knew why they were here now. Everyone had read the announcement online this morning.
“Mr. Hartwell, any comments on your former business partner’s marriage to Johnny Stepp?”
I shook my head. Evie squeezed my hand.
“I wish them as much happiness as my wife and I have in our marriage.” I actually hoped they made each other fucking miserable.
“Did you know when she left Scout that she and Stepp were seeing each other?”
“No idea.”
Sasha’s marriage to Stepp had been a shock. I wondered how long she had planned it. Knowing her, it was all part of a larger plan. Stepp was just as likely to go along with it. It could have been me. I could have taken her as my life partner instead of the amazing warm sexy woman I had chosen.
I never regretted for a second getting drunk in Bella’s that night. I never regretted being scared shitless by my love for Evie. I never regretted letting my guard down and learning how to be a husband to her. How to be a father to Austen.
“Have you spoken to Mrs. Stepp since her wedding?”
“No. But we send the couple our congratulations.”
“Do you think you and Mr. Stepp will work on any projects together in the future?”
“I can’t see that happening.” I grinned. “I have my hands full with this one.” I held Austen up and she giggled.
“Do you and Mrs. Hartwell have plans to have more children?”
Evie and I both froze in place. The flashes went off.
She looked at me. I grinned.
She knew exactly what I was thinking. She always did.
Austen needed a baby brother. It seemed like Team Hartwell could start on that project tonight. Or sooner.
“We do make cute babies, don’t we?”
Evie slapped me in the chest, but I didn’t care. The reporters chuckled at our easy banter. I didn’t care if the entire world knew how much I loved my wife. That I loved her enough to flip my world upside down. I loved her enough to fight for our family. That I loved her so much I wanted to see her pregnant again. I wanted our nights to be about baby making again.
