And if I was really lucky?
She spent most of those nights tangled up in my sheets.
Dustin had gone home after we finished moving Tate into her new condo. He wasn’t exactly thrilled about her leaving her hometown, but she had stood firm in her decision. She wanted to be closer to me and to take advantage of the new opportunities the city had to offer.
One of the biggest perks of her new place was her proximity to my private gym. She no longer had to deal with prying eyes or men openly ogling her while she trained. The added privacy gave her a sense of security she hadn’t realized she was missing.
On top of that, she had recently started training a few teen girls there a couple of days a week. It was a small but meaningful addition to her career, and from the way she talked about it, it was clear she loved it. Seeing her so passionate about something outside of modeling made me proud, and I knew this was just the beginning of what she could build for herself.
Sunday night dinnershad become rare ever since the playoffs. Life moved fast, and so did I, always chasing the next game, the next win, the next moment that might finally make him see me. And not to mention chasing Tatum.
Surprisingly, it was my dad who finally called two days after the terrible dinner with Tate. He made an effort. His voice was steady but softer than I’d ever heard it.Congratulations.Then,after a pause, came the words I had been waiting my whole life to hear, words I had once stopped believing would ever come.
I’m proud of you.
Something in me—something cracked and aching for years—finally mended.
I swallowed the lump in my throat and offered him tickets to the next season. He didn’t hesitate. He promised to be there with my mom.
And for the first time, I believed he would be.
Sittingat the kitchen island in my penthouse, I scrolled through my bank app, the numbers staring back at me. The playoff bonus had officially hit my account this morning, and it was a damn good sight. Not that I needed it. I was already set with my contract, endorsements, and the deal I was about to sign as the new starting pitcher. But the win had come with a nice payday, and for the first time in a long time, I wasn’t thinking about investments, taxes, or financial advisers.
I was thinking about Tate. I wanted to spoil her.
Her car was a piece of junk. I’d been saying it since the first time I saw the thing, practically held together by prayers and duct tape. She swore it was fine, but I’d seen the way she clenched the steering wheel on the highway like the damn thing might shake apart at any moment.
Not on my watch.
I was getting her a new one. Something safe. Something sleek. Something she deserved.
I leaned back in my chair, stretching my arms as I picked up my phone and dialed Graham. “Hey, you got a second?”
“For you? Always. What’s up?” he asked, sounding distracted.
“I need help picking out a car for Tate. Something safe but not too flashy, or she’ll fight me on it.”
Graham whistled. “She won’t like anything you buy. She’s very independent.”
“Probably,” I admitted, grinning. “But she needs it, and I don’t care if she fights me over it.”
Hunter joined the call a moment later. “Don’t listen to him. You want her safe, right? Her piece of crap isn’t going to make it another thousand miles.”
In the last month, Hunter and Tate had been spending time together, and he’d finally warmed up to her and was taking on the big brother role a little too seriously.
“All right, nobody asked you.” Graham sighed.
“I’ll put you in touch with my guy at the dealership. He’ll set you up.” Hunter ignored his twin.
“Appreciate it, Hunter.”
“Anything else? Maybe something I can help with?” Graham asked, amusement in his voice.
“Yeah.” I exhaled, rubbing a hand over my jaw. “I’m taking her on vacation before spring training starts.”
“Damn, you’re really excited to spend that bonus, huh?”
I didn’t even hesitate. “She deserves it.”
