Total pages in book: 45
Estimated words: 43198 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 216(@200wpm)___ 173(@250wpm)___ 144(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 43198 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 216(@200wpm)___ 173(@250wpm)___ 144(@300wpm)
Reluctantly, I look up at Miller. “Well, I guess we’ll see you later.”
I don’t want to leave him. There’s a comfort I feel when I’m with him, and I don’t want to leave the safety of his home or his arms.
He hugs me against him and then lets go. “What do you mean you’ll see me later? I’m going with you.”
Eli doesn’t seem surprised by the announcement, but I am. “You’re going to the game?”
He gives me a look like I’m crazy. “Of course I am.”
Speechless, I grab the bag of snacks and drinks off the counter, and before I can throw it over my shoulder, Miller takes it to carry outside.
Miller drives us across town to the ball field, and as soon as we park, Eli gets out and runs to where all his teammates are gathered.
Miller holds his hand out, and I reach for him. I’m not sure if he’s putting on a show or what it is, but I’m glad to have him at my side.
We get to the stands, and I’m taken aback when I see all of his family, excluding Penn and Guy, taking up a whole section. I can feel the tears start to burn, but I hold them back. They all stand up, ushering Miller and me in, and when we sit, I find that they’ve placed us in the middle of all of them.
I turn to the girls. “Thank you for coming.” I suck in an emotional breath. I don’t even know how to explain what it means to me. “You don’t… I just…”
Skyler squeezes my free hand. “You’re family, Lindsey. We got you.”
And then there’s no holding it back. The tears start to come, and I can’t contain them. Miller holds me to him, soothing my hair. “It’s okay, honey, let it out.”
I suck in a breath, knowing I need to pull myself together. I need to be strong for Eli. Miller wipes away my tears, and I focus on the ball field as they get started. That’s when I see Guy standing beside Eli on first base. “Is that Guy?”
Miller chuckles. “Yep, I knew it would happen. There’s no way he can go to a baseball field and not be involved in some way.”
I look at Eli, who is concentrating on everything Guy is telling him, and when the game starts, Guy moves to the dugout and coaches from the side.
The game goes on, and it’s fun to watch. I’m good until I see Eli tense. Even from across the field, I can see his whole demeanor change. And that’s when I spot them. The Davenports. They’re leaning up against the fence, closest to first base where Eli is playing.
I’m on my feet before I can think twice.
I’m down the bleachers and running through the spectators to get to where the Davenports are standing. I’m almost there when I see Mike, Miller’s driver, shooing them away. They’re glaring daggers at him, and I stop next to the fence. Eli and I exchange a look, and he’s scared but gives me a nod.
It’s not until I’m leaning against the fence that I realize Miller and his brothers are all over here with me. I let out a breath of relief. It’s a good feeling that I don’t have to do this alone. Miller puts a hand on the fence on each side of me. His body heats up my back, and I lean into him. “It’s okay, honey. I had Mike stationed on this side of the field.”
“Thank you, Miller.”
Guy stops next to us, and I smile at him. “Thanks for being here. You made Eli’s night.”
Guy just shrugs, and that’s when I remember. “Wait. Didn’t you have a game tonight?”
He blushes. “Yeah, but I told my manager that my family needed me.”
When I realize he’s talking about Eli, I’m shocked. “Wow… Guy… that’s incredibly nice of you.”
His voice drops. “Contrary to popular belief, I’m not just some dumb jock. I have priorities, and family comes first.” He ends it with a smile.
Miller still has me caged in, and when I try to get out, he doesn’t let me go. I look up at him. “I just wanna hug your brother.”
He scowls. “Make it fast.”
I laugh and pat him on the chest before giving Guy a small hug. “Really. This means so much to Eli—and to me—that all of you are here.”
Guy squeezes my shoulder. “That’s what family does.”
Miller brings me back into his arms, and I look down the first base line and see Ozzy is staring at the field. “Is he okay?” I ask Miller.
He brings me back into his arms. “Yes. No. He will be. His wife died a few years ago, and he still struggles with it all. He’ll show up any time we need him, but he’ll never let us be there for him.”