Chapter 16 - Molly

After the amazing time in the bath with Tyler, we hung up the video call. I washed off before toweling off and getting dressed. Ty got in the shower himself and said he would call me when he was done.

I was suddenly famished and realized I hadn’t yet eaten dinner. I wasn’t sure why, but a peanut butter and jelly with bananas sounded amazing. I went into the kitchen and began making a sandwich. Peanut and Stormi both rubbed against my legs, reminding me of their presence.

Penelope and the kids came home as I was sitting down to eat.

“Are those bananas on your sandwich?” Peyton asked with a shocked expression on her face. “Mom! I want a sandwich like that!”

“We were just talking about how we’re all going out to eat together. Preggo here couldn’t wait.”

I just shrugged and said, “I blame Baby B.”

“Why not Baby A?” Camden asked.

I just laughed. “No idea. Just sounded good.”

“B for Bananas!” Meadow said with a laugh.

“I love you!” I said.

“Are you ready to go eat?” Pen asked as she eyed the pajama pants and tank top I had thrown on after my bath.

“I’ll go put something else on. Where is Emma?”

“She went ahead to the Pizza Palace to save some tables.”

“Great idea,” I said as I grabbed some clothes and went into the bathroom to change quickly. I put on my new maternity shirt that says, “Yes, I am pregnant. No, you can’t touch my belly.” I paired it with my maternity jean shorts and slid my feet into some flip flops.

Soon, we all arrived at Pizza Palace, and I was overwhelmed by the different scents all around. I needed garlic bread, and I needed it quickly. I would definitely blame this craving on Baby A.

I told the waitress that I would give her a double tip if she would get me garlic bread as soon as she could. When she brought out all the drinks, she had a basket of garlic bread with her. I would definitely double her tip.

We had a great meal and a lot of laughs. I wish Meadow lived here permanently, but I was glad Emma had moved here. She fit in with us, and I had a feeling our group name might be changing to the Four Musketeers soon.

My phone began to ring, and I looked down to see Ty was calling.

“Hey, love. Haven’t talked to you in a while.”

“Hey, baby!” Tyler said. “Sorry, I didn’t call you right away. Are you sitting down?”

“Yeah, all of us girls are sitting down to pizza.”

“HEY!” Camden cried out.

“And Cam, too. Sorry, buddy!”

“Well, Molly, I need your undivided attention.”

I let everyone else know to be quiet around us and told him he had all of my attention.

“My agent just called. I’m getting called up. I’m going to be on the Bluffton Storm. I get to play in Triple-A!”

“Oh, Ty! I’m so proud of you!” I exclaimed.

“They also want to put me on the 40-man roster for the Coyotes. I might not get called up, but you never know! I’d be on the roster, and my agent said I’d most likely get an invite to spring training next year!”

“That is so awesome!!! When do you leave?” I was crying tears of joy.

“I’m packing now. I leave first thing in the morning. Malachi Blevins and Bret Welker are getting called up, too,” he said about a pitcher and the third baseman on the Lightning.

“What time is your game? I want to be there.”

“It’s a night game at 7. But Molly, it’s a three-hour drive from Riverbend.”

“I will text my doctor and ask her what she thinks. I haven’t had any more bleeding and not even any Braxton Hicks contractions,” I explained. One of the advantages of living in such a small town was having your doctor’s phone number. “You’re going to be closer to me by four hours than you are in Bristol. I need to see you. I miss you so much.”

“Well, you know I want to see you, too. If it’s okay with your doctor and someone else can drive you, then I want you there.”

“I’ll drive you,” Penelope said next to me. She could obviously hear our conversation. “I don’t even know where we are going, but I’ll take you anywhere.”

“I want to go!” Meadow said.

“Don’t leave me behind,” Emma said. “I’m all up for a road trip!”

I had to laugh. “You guys are the best friends ever!” I told them how Ty was getting called up to Triple-A, and they were all excited for him.

Emma was really quiet after I told Tyler I couldn’t wait to see him tomorrow and hung up the phone.

“What’s wrong?” I asked her.

“I’m sad for Dominic. He’s been in the minors for over five years now. I don’t know if he’ll ever get to the Major Leagues.”

I felt guilty that I hadn’t even thought about my brother. “That really sucks. But maybe he’ll find more success as an agent.”

Emma nodded, but I could tell she was worried about her brother. I felt bad for Dom, too, but I was very proud of Tyler. His dreams were coming true.

“I’m really freaking bummed Hunter wasn’t called up, too,” Meadow said.

“I know. Ty’s sad, too. He’s going to miss his newest bestie,” I said as I practically waddled up to Bluffton Bank Field, home of the Storm. “But he’s good and will be called up soon.”

“What’s going on with you and Hunter Montgomery?” Emma asked.

“What? Nothing. We’re just friends is all. There is nothing going on at all. He is taken, and so am I,” Meadow said very quickly.

“Sounds like someone is in denial,” Penelope whispered to Emma and me, and we all giggled.

“Shut up, guys. A girl can have a hot best friend.”

“A girl who is not into her friend would not call him hot,” Emma said with a laugh.

“So, anyway, how is Dom taking Ty getting called up again?” Meadow asked.

“Nice way to change the subject,” Pen snickered.

I took pity on Meadow and said, “He said he’s fine with it. I talked to him this morning, and he’s actually talking to a few agencies now about going the sports agent route. Ty already said he’d be his first client.”

“I’m glad he has a fallback,” Emma said. “I was so sure he’d make the majors someday. At least, he did make it to Triple-A once or twice.”

“And his knowledge of baseball and playing will really help him be a great agent,” Meadow said.

We found our seats near the home team dugout, and I texted Tyler to let him know we were here. He must have had his phone with him in the dugout because a minute later his head stuck out of the dugout, and he looked around. He gave me the biggest smile when he saw us. He jogged over to where we were sitting, and I met him at the half-wall that separated us.

“Damn, you are the most beautiful pregnant woman I have ever seen! You’re glowing!” Tyler said as he wrapped me in a huge hug.

“I’m waddling everywhere now, but I’m so happy to see you again!”

Tyler smiled down at me and then leaned down to take my lips with his. The kiss was full of passion and longing. It had been five very long weeks since I had kissed or hugged this man. We could hear cheers and whistles around us, but we kept on kissing. After coming back up for air, he leaned his forehead on mine, and his hands rubbed my belly. He bent down farther and kissed the top of my belly.

“Hi, babies! Be good to your mommy and stay in there at least one more month. Daddy wants to be there when you’re born!”

I felt them moving around like crazy and loved how they already knew their dad’s voice. “They want to wait for you to be there, too,” I said. I noticed his jersey, and a frown formed on my face. “Hey, why aren’t you number 7?”

“It’s already being used by their shortstop,” Ty said with a shrug. “Number 17 is their left fielder”s number, so I figured number 27 would be the next best number.”

“Well, when you make it to the Coyotes, is someone else using number 7?” I asked.

“Number 7 is actually a retired number for the Coyotes,” a fan sitting near us answered.

“So you can’t be number 7 on the Coyotes?” I asked, not sure why it mattered so much to me, but I loved him being number 7.

“Come here, baby!” Tyler said and pulled me in for a tight hug. “I don’t care what number I am if I make it to the majors. Maybe 27 will be my lucky number.”

I nodded and realized if he didn’t care, why should I?

Ty waved at my friends and thanked them for bringing me. “I feel bad all of you drove all this way just for a game. I really wish I could spend the night with you tonight or even have dinner, but we have an away game tomorrow. We have to leave right after the game.”

I nodded and knew this ahead of time. “I know. I’m just glad to see you now.”

“Stone! Let’s go!” one of his new coaches yelled. “Batting practice!”

“I’ll see you for a bit after the game,” Ty said and leaned down for one more quick kiss. “I love you.”

“I love you!” I said and watched as he jogged off to take batting practice.

Tyler was not a starter, and I was sad I didn’t get to see him play much, but I understood he had just been called up. In the fifth inning, Tyler pinch hit, and he got a single. You would have thought he hit a homerun with how excited our little group was. The manager decided to keep him in the game, and I was happy to see him behind home plate. He was doing an awesome job behind the plate, and I had to grin when I saw the guy on first base begin to take a step off the bag.

“Here we go,” I said, and all the girls looked at me. I pointed at the player standing off the bag. He was leaning towards second base and watching the pitcher, not the catcher. “Ty’s gonna throw him out. It’s his favorite thing to do.”

As soon as the pitch was thrown, the opponent began to run towards second. Like clockwork, Ty caught the pitch, immediately stood up, and threw the ball directly towards second base. It wasn’t as smooth as when Hunter would catch it on the Lightning since they worked so well together, but the shortstop on the Storm caught it, and the would-be base stealer was called out at second.

I jumped up and was cheering as loud as I could. My husband looked over at me and gave me a nod and a smile. I was so proud of him and glad I got to see it in person.

“Damn, Williams, he is good,” a man behind us said. I turned in my seat and realized two men in suits with clipboards, briefcases, stop watches, and even radar guns were sitting a few rows behind us. I was so excited scouts were here to see Tyler’s amazing skills behind home plate! I couldn’t wait to tell him.

After winning the game 8-5, I couldn’t wait to hug my husband. We all went to the player entrance, and I was excited that Tyler was one of the first ones out the door. I ran into his arms and hugged him as tightly as my growing stomach allowed me to.

“You did so awesome!” I said and kissed his lips.

“I’m so glad you were here in the stands. I almost forgot how amazing it is to have you cheering for me in person.”

“Molly called it when that guy was trying to steal on you,” Penelope bragged about me.

“That’s my girl,” Tyler said and pulled me closer to him.

“Stone, don’t hog all the pretty girls. Who are these ladies?” a good-looking African American player asked. He was almost as tall as Tyler and had beautiful light brown eyes that kept checking out my best friends.

“Blevins, this is my wife, Molly. She wasn’t able to come to many Lightning games because of our twins here,” Tyler said as he rubbed my stomach. “Molls, this is Malachi Blevins. He was a starting pitcher for the Lightning but moved up with me.”

“Nice to meet you,” Malachi said with a big smile.

“Hi,” Emma said with a huge smile. “I’m Emma. I’m… uh…Molly’s brother’s sister.”

Malachi raised an eyebrow at all of us giggling girls. “I’m not sure what is so funny, but hello, Emma. It’s nice to meet you.”

“I’m Penelope, and this is Meadow,” Pen introduced them.

“Well, hello, Meadow!” another player said as he came over. I recognized this guy as the first baseman. He was about the same height as Malachi but had reddish brown hair sticking out from under his baseball cap. He had intense green eyes that were zeroed in on Meadow. “Did you know the name Meadow is worth seven points in scrabble?”

“Um, no, I had no idea,” Meadow said with a tilt of her head at the newest addition in our group.

“I know! It surprised me, too. Because you are definitely a ten!”

“Oh my god!” Tyler groaned, along with Malachi and a few other players around us. I laughed but saw a blush on Meadow’s face as she laughed with everyone else.

“That was horrible, Brody,” Malachi said. “This idiot here is our first baseman, Brody Shepard.”

“Thanks for the laugh,” Meadow said with a shake of her head.

“Are you ladies from around here?” Brody asked and then looked at Penelope. “Because my best friend is a relief pitcher, and we could double. He likes brunettes while I’m into blondes.”

“Thanks, but we’re good,” Pen answered for them both. “You guys are leaving for a road trip, and we’re heading back home.”

“You’ll have to come watch another game, and we’ll take you out then!” Brody said with a wink at Meadow. He was not backing down.

“Does that mean you’re leaving, too?” Malachi asked Emma.

“Yeah, but I’m sure I’ll have to bring Molly back to watch a game before the end of the season.”

“Can I get your number?” Malachi asked. “You’ll have to let me know when you come. Bluffton doesn’t seem like that great of a town, but I could show you around.”

Emma gladly handed him her phone and then sent him a text with her number.

“Can I get your number?” Brody asked Meadow.

“No, thanks. I live in New York, anyway, so I don’t think I’ll be back anytime soon.”

“Come on, gentlemen. We need to board the bus!” one of the coaches called out.

I looked up at Tyler and stood on my tip toes for a goodbye kiss. “I miss you already!” I said as the kiss ended.

“Thank you so much for coming. Oh, Molly. Don’t cry! I love you so much!”

“Everything makes me cry these days,” I said as I hid my face in his shirt.

“That’s very true,” Pen said with a laugh.

“Thanks again for driving her, Pen,” Tyler said and gave my friend a big hug. He then hugged Meadow and Emma.

“I meant what I said. I will try to bring Molly to at least one more game before the end of the season,” Emma told Ty.

“I appreciate that.”

We all stood and watched as the team climbed onto the bus. They already had all their luggage packed on the bus before the game. I blew Ty one more kiss, and we waited until the bus left.

“Girl, that was something else,” Penelope said with a shake of her head at Meadow. “Your name is worth seven in scrabble! What the hell?! We’re going to have to play a game of scrabble now.”

“Talk about one of the worst pick up lines ever!” Emma said with a laugh.

”Hunter loves games like scrabble.” Meadow just shook her head but had a far off look in her baby blue eyes.

“You’re thinking about Montgomery, aren’t you?” I asked.

Meadow shrugged but admitted, “I shouldn’t since I have Ryan, and he’s dating Chloe. But I do love our friendship. I might send him a text and see how he’s doing without Ty on his team.”

I had no clue that Meadow and Hunter texted so often. I definitely liked Hunter better for my best friend than Ryan.