Chapter 40

CHAPTER FORTY

Eli

Graduation has come and gone, and though I've committed to play college baseball in Tennessee, my draft status will most likely change that. I've waited for this day, and now that it's here, my nerves are all over the place.

My agent thinks I will go in the second round, which means I was invited to attend the draft in person. Leaving my friends in Leighton River didn't feel right though, so everyone is coming to my house, including a full camera crew to film the moment we find out.

"You ready for this, big guy?" Ben asks as he and the rest of the crew arrive at my house.

"As ready as I'll ever be," I respond.

"Do they have a clue of which team you could go to?" Maya asks.

"I've spoken to a few of them, but we won't know until they make the actual pick."

I wrap my arm around Liza, bringing her closer to me. "I don't care where I go, as long as she's with me." I kiss the top of her forehead, and she hugs me back.

Losing her job was a blessing in disguise. It took a little while for things to completely calm down, but when they did, the superintendent of schools called her, saying she understood the entire situation and hated having to let her go but that her hands were tied. Turns out, there were a lot of kids needing outside tutoring, and she wanted to give the families her contact information to set up something privately.

Liza always wanted to work with younger kids, so it worked out to be the best of both worlds. She's been working one-on-one with kids who are struggling to read, and she's already seen great transformations.

She's enjoying it so much that she decided to go back to school to get her master's in special education, focusing on dyslexia. When she found an online school, we decided she'd go wherever I went, so we could both follow our dreams together.

We all walk to the living room, where the camera crew is getting set up. I look around and see everyone who's supported me through my journey here. All of my family is here, but also my coaches from both my travel team and my high school team. Every person who has touched my life in some way is here to support me.

The film crew walks me through how this will go, and I'm shocked when they say they'll have the cameras on us the entire time, just waiting to see if they'll call my name.

Nerves rack my body as I stand up, needing to walk around as a thousand things go through my mind. I have no idea where I will actually go in the draft and just sitting here, knowing everyone is waiting, is going to kill me.

I walk outside, needing a breather. I pace a few steps, then turn to see Liza standing at the door, making sure it's okay that she's out here.

I reach my hand out to her, needing the comfort she can offer me right now.

"Don't worry. Everything is going to be okay," she says as I wrap her in my arms.

"I'm just nervous. What if I don't go on the first day and everyone is here for nothing?"

She leans back to look me in my eyes. "Do you really think they would send a camera crew here if they didn't think they'd get something to film?"

I bring her to me again, chuckling under my breath. "Good point. It's just a lot, you know?"

She leans back and places her palm on my face. "And I'll be here every step of the way. We've made it this far. This should be a big moment for you. Don't be nervous."

I close my eyes and inhale a deep breath, only to open them and see her beautiful face. She's right. With her by my side, I know everything will work out just fine.

"Thank you." I lean down to kiss her lips.

"Now, let's get back inside and let this moment sink in. Our life starts here." She smiles so big that I can't help but return the gesture.

That's what she does for me all the time. She's my balance in life, my structure, and my happiness, all in one.

We walk back inside as the draft show starts. They finish calling the first round of names, and as the time ticks by, my heart starts to beat out of control, as I know my name could be called at any minute.

"And with the sixtieth pick, the New York Yankees select Eli Jones," the announcer on the television says, and everyone around me erupts in cheers of joy.

I drop my head to my chest as Dalton and Ben jump on me. Once I get my bearings, I look at Liza and see the happiest tears streaming down her face. I reach over and bring her to me.

"Looks like we're going to New York," I say, then kiss her.

"Hell yes, we are!" she says as everyone screams some more.

I can't believe this is my life. Everything I've worked for. Everything I've ever wanted. Looks like I do get the girl and the dream in the end.

I know people will question what happened to Liza in this book and say it's not real. That's exactly why I wrote it. This type of drugging happened to two people I know so I felt it was important to educate all of the women out there. That scene was very hard to write because it was something that actually happened to someone I love. So protect yourself ladies and always watch out for each other!

Thank you for reading How We Fooled. If you haven't met Dalton and Natalie, or Ben and Maya yet, please check out their books in the links below that can be read in any order.

I hope you enjoy them!