According to those nearby, the star athlete stepped in, steadying Tatum, offering quiet reassurance, and making sure she wasn’t left floundering in the awkward situation. And while that alone was enough to raise eyebrows, the real shocker came next because, in the middle of it all, Silver was overheard asking Tatum to be his girlfriend.
That’s right. One minute, he’s her anchor in a sea of chaos. The next, he’s shooting his shot.
Her response? Witnesses say she didn’t exactly give him a straight answer, but there was a smile, however small. Could it mean she’s considering it? Or was she simply too stunned to process what just happened?
With Silver’s high-stakes playoff run and Tatum’s name already dominating headlines, this unexpected grocery store moment has only added fuel to the fire.
So are they officially an item? Or was this just another near-missin their complicated history? One thing’s for sure. Griffin Silver isn’t just playing for a title. He’s playing for Tatum.
So will we see Tatum in the stands tonight, cheering on Silver as he fights to keep his playoff dreams alive? Could she be the Braves’ new good luck charm?
Stay tuned to find out.
CHAPTER 32
TATUM
PRESENT
I had never been to a pro baseball game before, but tonight, I wasn’t just any fan in the stands. Millie was bouncing off the walls, talking a mile a minute about the guy she went out with last night, and then changing the subject to tell me how excited she was to be here, then started planning my wedding. Yup, planning my wedding with Griffin, even though only a few hours ago, I had just said yes to being his girlfriend. And a day ago, she hated him. Bipolar much?
“I can see it now. Two babies. Big house. Two dogs. Oh, I can see it now,” she had chanted on the drive over here, and I hadn’t processed a damn thing. All I could think about was the fact he’d given me his jersey to wear and his hat.I was wearing his number.Something I had secretlydreamedabout for years.
We were sitting with thewives. The realization settled over me as I walked through the exclusive stadium entrance, our names checked off a list by a well-dressed attendant. My stomach twisted.This wasn’t my world.And yet tonight, it was. I was the girlfriend of rookie Griffin Silver. My picture had beentaken numerous times already, and I could only imagine the articles that were starting to surface.
The stadium was a heady mix of scents, a cocktail of everything that made a ballgame feel alive. Something you could never quite grasp by sitting at home. Freshly cut grass from the field, the crisp, almost sweet scent hanging in the warm night air. Sweat and leather, the undeniable musk of athletes who had been grinding all day under the sun. Hot dogs and popcorn, the buttery, salty aroma wafting through the stands, mixing with the sharp tang of mustard and the sticky-sweet scent of cotton candy.
The wives’ section carried its own fragrance, a blend of expensive perfume and coconut-scented sunscreen, and the faintest trace of champagne fizzing in tall glasses. I caught a whiff of my own jersey, Griffin’s scent still clinging to the fabric—clean detergent, a hint of cedarwood, and something undeniablyhim.
I inhaled, grounding myself.
Even surrounded by thousands of people, itwasthatscent, the one that reminded me of late-night drives, stolen glances, and the way he used to say my name that made my chest ache the most.
The wives’ section was a private, cushioned area, elevated just behind the dugout with an unobstructed view of the field. The women around me were effortlessly beautiful with long, beachy waves, designer sunglasses perched on their heads, and expensive jewelry glittering under the stadium lights. They laughed easily, chatting like they’d known each other forever.
And I didn’t think I’d ever belong with this crowd.Thank God he let me bring Millie.
I smoothed a hand over my jeans, suddenly regretting my outfit of a simple tank top and Griffin’s oversized jersey, the one he’d given me just hours ago.It felt like armor. A reminder of whyI was here. He wanted me here, and at the end of the day, that was all that mattered.
I was here forhim.
The moment the team took the field, the energy in the stadium shifted. The crowd roared as Griffin’s name was announced, his presence commanding even from a distance.God, he looked too good in his uniform.Confident, strong.Mine.At least for now. It was different hearing the energy, feeling the energy, ripple through the crowd compared to watching it on a screen.
Millie grabbed my hand and stood at the entrance of the private section. “This is real,” she whispered, and I nodded, totally at a loss for words. We edged farther into the area finding two seats.
The wives erupted into cheers, some standing, some raising their drinks. Next to me, a woman with perfectly tanned skin and a rock-sized engagement ring and platinum wedding band leaned over, the one I had assumed was with Griffin all those weeks ago. I wanted to die of embarrassment. She was married.
“So which one is yours?” she asked, flashing a friendly smile.
My breath hitched.Was he mine?
I forced a smile, eyes locked on the field. “Number twenty-eight.” My voice was softer than I intended.
The woman’s eyes widened slightly. “Silver? Wow. He’s a hell of a player.” Then, with a knowing smirk, she added, “And Iheardhe’s got a wild side.”
My stomach flipped.Had she been a cleat chaser?
I barely had time to respond before the game started, and for the first time in years, I watched Griffin play from the sidelines and not through a screen. He was no longer the cocky boy I’d grown up with, but now a man who was absolutely fearless.
