Chapter 11

"Did you get in another fight?" Jake looks up from his bag on the bench next to him.

"Last time the manager called a team meeting like this after practice was because you beat the shit out of the pitcher after the game," Alex says, as if I need reminding. I didn't forget the game, and I very clearly remember the fight that followed.

"That's not what this meeting is about." Tossing my sweatshirt into my bag, I zip it up and head toward the locker room door.

"It must be something pretty big because his daughter is here."

"Maybe he found out that you were sleeping with his daughter."

Turning back, I shoot Jensen a look telling him to shut up. "I'm not sleeping with Harlow. We're friends."

Without another word, I turn and head out of the locker room and down the corridor leading toward the field. Reaching the top of the steps, I see Harlow talking to her dad. I watch as he says something to her before walking toward home plate.

"You know what's going on?" I ask, coming to stop next to her.

"He just said he wanted to talk about something and thought it would be best that I came here and heard it from him before it comes out in the news tonight." Not taking her eyes off the man standing by himself looking up into the stands, she asks, "You don't know what it's about either?"

"Not a clue." I step to move past her, linking my pinky with hers, the smallest touch to remind her she's not alone, no matter what news her dad is about to share. "What's up, sir?"

"You could act like you didn't just touch my daughter. At least pretend for another hour that you listened to the warning I gave you all about staying away from her."

Looking over my shoulder, I take in Harlow's shocked expression and the panic in her eyes. I know she wants to lie to him, to tell him the same thing we have been telling everyone—that nothing is going on between us. "Is that what this is about?" I don't deny it because what's the point? I'm not willing to give Harlow up, and if getting traded is the only way to keep her in my life, then so be it.

"In a way, yes."

"Dad." Harlow's shaky voice has my heart racing. I'm ready to fight for her if she tries to end what we've started.

"You were never good at hiding things from me. Your mom used to get so upset with me because I had a hard time waiting for you to come to me when you were upset or when you had a secret. I could always tell." His smile is soft, and I can only imagine how hard it must be to watch your daughter grow up and want to be on her own, make her own decisions, and not have to listen to your warnings. "Besides, Hendrix left his sweatshirt on the couch and the back door is really loud upstairs when it squeaks."

"You've known the whole time?" I try to hide my laugh at Harlow's high-pitched voice. But by the unimpressed look her dad tosses my way, I must not be as good at hiding my thoughts as I think.

"Well, not the whole time. When you went to his house for dinner, I really thought maybe you were just going to be friends and that wouldn't be so bad."

"So is that what this meeting is about?" Harlow asks him.

"Sort of." Shifting his gaze to me, he studies me for a second before directing a question at me. "Did you take care of what you needed to over the weekend?"

"Yeah, I took care of it. It won't be an issue again."

"What did you take care of?" Harlow's eyes bounce back and forth between her dad and me. I wait to see if he's going to say anything, but when he just smiles and pulls her in for a hug, I let out a relieved breath, knowing he won't tell her about the trip I took to introduce myself to Ian and let him know exactly what a piece of shit he is.

"Before the other guys come out, I want you both to know that as long as you're happy, then I will stay out of your business." He looks at me. "If you do anything to hurt her, I will make sure your career ends. I couldn't do anything to that sorry excuse of a human who hurt her last time, and I won't sit back and watch her get hurt again."

"You have my word."

Looking at Harlow, he smiles. "And you… Don't be too tough on him. He's one of the good ones, even if he doesn't know how to stay out of trouble."

"What are you talking about?" I look between Hendrix and my dad, clearly I'm missing something between these two.

"Give me some credit kid, I may have been single a long time, but I can see what's going on here."

"It's ok, Harlow, your dad and I talked last week. He knows how I feel about you, I wasn't going to deny it."

Before he has a chance to say anything else, the rest of the team comes out. Releasing Harlow, he moves to the front of the group that has gathered around where we're standing.

"Alright, listen up." Her dad's booming voice has the guys shutting up and paying attention. Slipping my arm over Harlow's shoulder, I pull her closer. "There is no easy way to say this, so I'm just going to say it. Over the past couple of months, it has come to my attention that I'm not getting any younger. And while spending countless days with all of you is its own kind of fun, I'm ready for more. I've focused on nothing other than baseball for so long, I think it's time for my focus to shift. Tomorrow night will be my last night with the team. I'm retiring."

Harlow's sharp intake of air tells me she had no clue this was coming.

"What are you going to do with all that time?" Jensen asks.

"I'm going to enjoy some time with my daughter, find a hobby, and maybe I'll get lucky enough to find someone who wants to spend time with me."

The guys throw out questions and congratulations.

"You alright?" I ask Harlow, hoping this isn't too much of a shock for her.

"I can't believe he didn't tell me he was thinking about this."

"Maybe he was worried you would try to talk him out of it."

"Maybe. I just worry about what will happen next."

"What do you mean?"

"What if the new manager isn't as trusting as my dad and doesn't want to give you a chance to prove that you've changed? What if they decide to trade you?"

"It doesn't matter anymore," I tell her, realizing for the first time that I don't care. I can play anywhere, and I will still have the family I have built here. "I can play on any team. What I can't do is live without you."

"But this is your home."

"No, not anymore. You are my home, Harlow. As long as I have you to come back to, then I don't care where I end up. I can travel, and I will come home to you here every break I get, even if it's only for a night."

"What if you meet someone in a new place?"

Taking her face in my hands, I press my lips to hers, waiting for the sigh before she relaxes. "Harlow, I have traveled all over the world and have never met anyone like you. I will never find someone else because you are it for me. I knew it the first time we met. I knew it a little more in that bathroom. And I was absolutely positive when you came to my house for the first time. I knew then that I wanted you in my space as often as possible, and I was never going to give up."

Brushing the tears from her cheeks, I smile.

"I think I'm falling for you," she says.

And those are the best three words I have ever heard in my life.

"It's about damn time you caught up, Miss Proper."

I capture Harlow's lips with mine, cutting off her laugh and the sound of my teammates obnoxious whistles and yells to get a room.

THE END