A smug smirk graces Austin’s face and is broadcast over the Jumbotron but he quickly schools his features and watches as Marsh steps up to bat.
In her seat, Hartley sits up a little straighter to watch.
With a perfect pitch from Austin, Owen swings and hits the ball into the outfield.
I’m up on my feet in an instant, watching Jensen Field Jr. with bated breath as he carefully tracks the ball. The player that was on first is now on second, and Owen’s cleats just hit the first base plate.
My hands curl around the railing in front of me.
Jensen makes a few calculated side steps, then catches the ball at the same moment Owen slides into second, and the other guy’s a few steps off of third.
Two plumes of red dust float into the air from their cleats dragging across the dirt, but it’s too late.
Jensen throws the ball to the Bear on first base, and the umpire calls both out.
The Bears and their fans go wild.
Our box erupts with cheers and screams of glee. Sailor jumps up and down, her hands intertwined with Hartley as they share a moment, Hartley hyping Sailor’s excitement up tenfold.
I’m grinning like a fool, my stomach pressing against the edge of the railing as I cup my hands around my mouth and cheer in the direction of the away team dugout.
The Bears are celebrating their win, congregated in a tight circle full of shoulder claps and mitt tossing, when suddenly Declan breaks away from his team, eyes trained solely on me, and jogs in my direction.
My heart erratically beats as he gets closer, wearing one of the biggest smiles I've ever seen on his face. Triumph rolls off him, and in a swift motion, he jumps onto the small lip of the wall, elevating himself to my level. There’s no hesitation—nodoubt or uncertainty within him—as both his hands grab my face and he slams his lips to mine.
Soft and sure, his tongue sweeps across the seam, parting my lips. It takes a millisecond before I melt, feeling like my entire life has led up to this moment. A calm, steady wave crashes through me, and my body takes over, kissing him back with equal fervor as he deepens it.
The stadium melts away, and for several seconds, it’s just us.
Two puzzle pieces that fit perfectly together.
Declan and Hailey.
A moan vibrates through my chest as his tongue continues to explore my mouth, his hand moving to cup the back of my head, holding me in place.
But all too soon, he pulls away, leaving me wanting so much more. In the briefest of moments, he leans his forehead against mine, and I wonder if everything’s just changed between us.
“So fucking worth torturing myself over, sweetheart,” he groans, making my heart flutter.
Grinning, he ruffles Sailor’s hair as she looks up at him, then he jumps down and runs back toward the team.
My fingers reach up and brush my now swollen lips, completely speechless as to what just happened.
Sailor doesn’t question why her dad just came up and kissed me, nor does she seem to notice. Thank God, because I don’t have a single answer for her.
I’m in a daze, and don’t even have it in me to give my sister a reaction when she chirps with an overdramatic sigh. “My hopes and dreams of a sleepover with my sissy are ruined now. Maybe Sailor can take your place—I have a feeling her daddy’s going to become someone else’s Daddy tonight.”
CHAPTER SIXTEEN
“You need us to watch Sailor for you tonight, Coach?” Gareth jests while we’re all in the locker room.
The game is over, our first win of the season against our rivals at their stadium, and it feels pretty damn good. After a closing speech in the locker room, I dismissed my guys and told them to go have some fun—they earned it.
“Yeah, she can hang out with her uncles while you go have a little fun of your own with the nanny,” Austin jumps into the conversation.
“You’re not Sailor’s uncles,” I grumble, shaking my head at Austin. “And I’m not going to have some fun with Sailor’s nanny. ”
“Does he have amnesia?” Jensen rubs at his neck with a towel before tossing it to the side and pulling his shirt overhead. “Because the whole world just saw him kiss her, and now he’s trying to act like he doesn’t have feelings for her.”
