Page 125 of Third Strike Smitten

“I’ve been so stupid,” I mutter, watching him run a hand through his hair in that way he does when he’s overwhelmed before slipping his hat back on. “So fucking stupid.”

“Babe.” Tara pats my arm. “The good news is this is all fixable.”

I turn my head, glancing between them, desperate for guidance. “How do I even start? I told him I was leaving.”

“But you didn’t leave,” Sutton smirks. “And if what I heard is true, you still have his key…”

My hand flies to my pocket, feeling the cool metal of Killian’s key against my fingertips. I haven’t let it out of my sight since the moment he gave it to me.

“You’re right,” I acknowledge, my fingers still curled around the key in my pocket. “I never gave it back. I couldn’t.”

Sutton smiles. “Because deep down, you never intended to leave. Not really.”

I stare at Killian’s image on the screen, my heart aching at the sight of him sitting alone, isolated from his teammates. I did this to him. My fear, my inability to commit, has brought him to this moment of pain and isolation.

I can’t let him play the rest of this game the way he’s playing now. The team has worked so hard this season and Killian has come so far. I have to do something before he gets pulled from the mound.

“I need to tell him,” I say, the realization hitting me like a thunderbolt. “I need to tell him I’m staying.”

Tara squeals beside me, clapping her hands together. “Yes! That’s my girl!”

“I need an idea. What can I do? How can I let him know I’m here? I mean there? Fuck, I’ve got to get to the stadium.” I spring off my stool and reach into my pocket to lay some cash on the bar.

“How do you feel about grand gestures?” Sutton asks with a playful smirk.

“Are you kidding? I’m the queen of heckling those guys on the field. What do you have in mind?”

She smiles. “Well, Shepherd once pulled this ridiculous stunt at one of his games. Got the whole team to sing and dance for me in the middle of the field.”

Tara giggles. “No shit! What was the song?”

“’I’ll Stand By You’ by Rachel Platten.” She shrugs with a smile. “It’s kind of our song.”

I twist my mouth trying to come up with a cool idea. “I don’t have time to get a song and dance going before the end of the…wait…” I gasp. “Oh, my God, I’ve got it!”

“What is it and how can I help?” Sutton asks, leaning forward with interest.

“Yeah, me too! Me too!” Tara says, rising from her stool.

I look back at the television, at Killian’s slumped form in the dugout, and a smile spreads across my face. This is going to be wild, and impulsive, and, if I’m lucky, absolutely perfect.

“I need to get to the stadium. Now.”

Sutton stands from her stool. “Then let’s go, girl.”

“Are Shepherd and Sebastian there?”

“Yep.” She nods. “And there are seats right around them with your name on them.”

“Perfect.”

Tara squeals again, bouncing on her stool. “Oh my God, you’re going to make a scene, aren’t you? This is going to be epic!”

I grab my jacket, my heart racing with a mixture of terror and excitement. “I need to show him I’m not leaving. That I’m choosing him, choosing us.”

Sutton stands, pulling out her phone. “I’ll call Shepherd. He can get us in quickly.”

“And I’ll drive,” Tara offers, already fishing her keys from her pocket.