Chapter One - Gage

Chapter One - Gage

Man, I love to start training early. Even though the Kentucky bluegrass hasn’t been rolled out yet, and January’s weather has decided not to grant us a single day over ten degrees, running up and down the stands inside the Bangor Stadium gets my blood pumping.

I zip up my North Face, grab my bag of gear, and head to the parking lot. The sky is covered with big gray clouds, signaling another round of snow is on the way.

“Gage! Hold up!” Jake rushes towards me, waving his arms. The closer he gets, the wilder his gleam. There’s a huge smile plastered across his mug that has my Spidey senses screaming. Trouble is headed my way—big trouble.

“I need a huge favor, buddy.” He tosses me a fist bump.

“The last time you needed a huge favor, I ended up taking your ‘sweet and innocent’ cousin, Sarah, on a date because you begged me to. Remember?”

“What was I supposed to do? Out of the blue, she surprised me by flying all the way here from Wisconsin. I had a previous engagement I couldn’t get out of. I couldn’t leave her all alone in the penthouse. That would’ve been rude. I knew you would be nice to her.”

“Previous engagement, my ass. You had a booty call with Vanessa.”

Jake stifles a laugh. “I forgot about that.”

“It’s been four years, and I still can’t walk into Bella Cucina without the entire waitstaff laughing at me.”

“They laugh at you?”

“Umm, yeah, they do. Your cousin standing in the middle of the restaurant to demonstrate her unique talent for imitating farm animal noises is now a Bella Cucina legend. That girl mooed like a cow, oinked like a pig, and when she crowed like a rooster loud enough to shatter glass, the ma?tre de asked us to leave.”

“I’m sorry about that, buddy. Honestly, I am.” Jake laughs. “But this favor is entirely different.”

“How different?” I walk to my truck and toss my duffle bag in the back.

“Let me set this up for you.” Jake takes out his phone. “Crystal clear turquoise waters, hot white sand, gentle trade wind breezes, and us right here.” He taps the front of his screen.

“Is that Hawaii?”

“Paradise Cove in Oahu, baby.”

“When are you going to Hawaii?” I grab two Gatorades from my bag and toss him one.

“Tomorrow.”

“Tomorrow?” I take a swig of my drink.

“I’m getting married.”

Blue Gatorade sprays from my mouth and nose. “What? You’re getting married? To who?”

“Emily.” Jake slaps me on the back. “Didn’t mean to make you choke, bro.”

I swipe the back of my hand across my mouth. “Have you lost your mind? And who the hell is Emily?”

“She’s the most amazing girl in the world. She’s gorgeous. Smart. And she has the best laugh ever.”

I’m so confused. The last I heard, Jake was dating the Flanders twins. “When did you start seeing her?”

“Two days ago.” Jake sighs. “Wait till you meet her.”

“Dude, don’t you think you should slow down? Two days isn’t really enough time to get to know somebody. Marriage is a big commitment, buddy. A huge commitment.”

“When you know, you know.” He grins. “Besides, we only have three weeks before spring training starts and then we have another six months of playing ball for the season. Longer if we make it to the World Series. And the Bangor Braves is a kickass team. We’re going all the way. So, now’s the perfect time to get married. And I want you to be my best man. You don’t have to do a thing. I’ve taken care of the hotel and the airline tickets. All you have to do is go home and pack for a two-week stay in paradise, my friend. I’ll have a car pick you up at nine in the morning. What d’ya say? Will you do it?”

I stare at him like he’s sprouted a second head. “You’re serious.”

“Absolutely.”

“I can’t talk you out of it?”

“Not a chance in hell, buddy. She’s the one.”

“Alright.” I shrug. “Guess I need to swing by Walgreens on the way home and get some sunblock.”

“Excellent.” He throws his arms around me, gives me a giant bear hug, and lifts me off my feet. “Thank you! This is going to be amazing. Wait till you meet, Emily. You’re going to love her just as much as I do.”

“I hope you know what you’re doing.”

“I do. Don’t worry. Emily is my person.”

My heart squeezes at his choice of words. I had a person once. But I’m not going to let my mind go there. She’s been out of my life for years. And that’s where I’m keeping her. “Who else is coming to this shindig of yours?”

“Just me, Emily, you and her best friend. We want to keep it simple. Who knows, maybe you’ll fall in love too.”

“Not everyone wants a ball and chain.” I roll my eyes. “I’d better get going. I’ve got some packing to do.”

“See you at nine!” Jake heads for his Mustang. “Love is in the air, bro. It might catch you, too!”

I give him a thumbs up, climb behind the wheel of my truck, and sigh as the engine turns over. My hand drifts to the pocket of my jeans. Inside sits a tiny velvet pouch that holds the two-carat diamond I bought for the woman who still has my heart. I’ve been carrying it for ten years, waiting for her to come back to me. Maybe it’s time to stop carrying it around and let go. I slide my fingers inside. But the minute they touch the velvet, I snatch them back out.

I can’t do it. Not yet.

I pull out onto I-95, and it hits me.

Hawaii is my chance for a reset.

I’ve waited long enough. I will stand in the Pacific Ocean, toss the ring in…

And finally set myself free.