Epilogue

Daddy Wilson

I squatted in the grass, leaning on the metal bat in front of me and frowning at my right fielder.

“Don’t pull up, Bosco. You got to keep the swing even,” I shouted.

“His bicep is probably burning.” Our catcher, Asher Price, glared.

True, because the dumbass had decided to get a tattoo on his throwing arm yesterday. Not only was Bosco’s fielding sucking because of it, but his swing was fucked too.

These days I might understand loving someone enough to do dumbass things, but we had games to win.

“I just hope he doesn’t regret it,” Asher mumbled.

“He might regret not making the big gesture more.” I glanced up at the frustrated man towering over me.

I’d heard the rumors. Not from my guys, though. I actually didn’t think most of the team knew. But Asher’s wife had left him right before spring training.

“Wren,” he muttered like a curse.

I cocked a brow. “Don’t hate on the fact that our women are close. We’re gone a lot. They need each other. ”

“You and Wren are new. Talk to me in ten years when the honeymoon is over.” He shook his head.

I pushed up to my feet and leaned on the metal bat. “The relationships that last are the ones where, regardless of the day-to-day shit, the people involved don’t let the honeymoon end.” That was my plan with Wren.

He grunted. “I’d get ten tattoos if I thought it would help.”

That was what I thought. My catcher loved his wife, and he wasn’t enjoying his newfound freedom.

The question was, what was he going to do about it? Because if this miserable shit continued, it was going to be a long season.

“Maybe,” I suggested, “figure out what would help and do that.”

He glared at the field as Bosco cracked off another ball foul. “If he can’t hit or throw, we’re fucked.”

“Bosco, watch the swing.” When I turned back to Asher, he was stomping down into the dugout.

“Go easy on him, Coach.” The voice ripped through me like lightning.

I shot to my feet and spun. My girl was striding my way, her red sundress blowing in the warm Florida air.

As soon as Caffrey saw me, he yanked on the black leash, pulling Wren along with him. In the two months since we’d gotten him, he’d grown enough that his paws were only slightly too big for his body.

“Easy, boy. Don’t hurt Mom.” I dropped the bat and chewed up the distance between us.

Caffrey jumped on my leg as I wrapped my free arm around Wren and dropped my lips to hers.

“Looking good in the pinstripes, Daddy Wilson,” she mumbled against my mouth.

My heart hammered against my sternum. It had been a long three weeks without her.

She reached up and flipped my baseball cap around backward. “Loving the scruff.”

“Thanks, baby girl.” I kissed the inside of her wrist as she rubbed my jaw. “Not that I’m complaining, but weren’t you coming tomorrow? ”

I’d had the day marked in my brain since I slipped out of bed and left her three weeks ago to fly down for spring training. It had been a hell of a thing, getting her to move in formally before I left. It was a leap of faith in us, but she’d made it. It made me insanely happy, especially because I wouldn’t have the time to move her in later. Once the team returned from Florida, the season would be in full swing, and I wanted the time I was home to be with her. I wanted her in my bed every night whether I was there or not. Plus, Caffrey needed her.

Normally the weeks in Florida passed quickly. I didn’t know whether it was because some of my guys were extra moody or because I was missing Wren, but time had crept slowly while we’d been apart.

“We missed you, so we hopped on an earlier flight.”

“Best surprise ever.”

Caffrey jumped up again and licked at my uniform.

Begrudgingly, I let go of Wren to give the puppy some attention. She handed me his leash as I got down on my knee. He flopped onto his back, and I rubbed his belly.

“How the hell did you get the dog down on the field?” I glanced up at her, shielding my eyes from the sun with one hand.

“Like this.” She donned a flirty smile that made my heart skip and flipped her sunglasses up. “Please can’t I bring him down to see his daddy?” She batted her eyes and pushed her lip out in a pout.

Hauling myself upright again, I hooked an arm around her neck and yanked her into me. “Don’t flirt with my security guards, baby girl.”

She giggled. “Don’t worry. I love you best.”

“Damn right, you do.”

“Wren.” Avery’s shriek ripped through the air. “Come here!”

My girl ducked out of my arms heading toward her best friend. I wanted to be annoyed, but the sight of Avery leaning over the fence to hug her while they laughed made my heart squeeze. For too long, I wasn’t sure those two would get back to the friendship they once had.

But they were closer than ever. So close, in fact, that they’d tried to convince Chris and me that the four of us should stay together while the girls were in town.

Luckily my son-in-law was on the same page as me, and we rented houses next door to each other instead. The girls could slip through the fence and have coffee in the morning, but Chris and I each had our own space. I loved my daughter, but I refused to share a wall with her.

Avery passed a white bundle over the wall to Wren, and my eyes narrowed. What were they up to now?

Dramatically, Wren shook out the shirt. At the sight of it, my breath caught. Avery had been wearing my throwback jersey for years, but when Wren slipped her arms into the sleeves and spun, I swore my heart stopped. My name emblazoned on her back was something else.

“You look damn good in number forty-nine, baby girl,” I called over.

She batted her eyes. “Seems like it’s my number.” Slowly, she moved back toward me. “Almost like it was meant to be.”

I couldn’t help but smile. Although we hadn’t gotten here quickly or easily, I’d never been happier. I’d always sought out calm control, but all this time, I’d really just needed a touch of chaos. And finding out exactly what I needed was the best thing to ever happen to me.

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