Page 169 of Bad Run

“Oh my god, he did it!” Jenna jumps up and down, screaming and waving her hands in the air, her celebration much tamer than it had been back then.

Okay, not tame, just less inappropriate.

A memory of watching Lance win his first World Series pops into my head.

My unrequited crush. Watching him win from afar. Meeting him on the rooftop. The undeniable chemistry between us. Running off together. Sugary-sweet kisses. Steamy cab rides.

It was just one night, but it had a remarkable effect on the trajectory of my life.

Now here I am, sitting in my family’s suite at Evaders Stadium, watching him win again. For the third time.

Only this time, he’s the team’s hero. My dirty knight saved the game by taking the lead with his two-run homer. It doesn’t matter what happens after this; Lance won the game.

The crowd cheers, pulling me from my thoughts, and their thunderous clapping shakes the stadium as Lance jogs around the bases. As he heads toward home, he looks up into the stands, right at me. A wide grin spreads across his face as he rubs his stomach then places two fingers over his heart, tapping the spot.

The special signal he created for me … and our babies.

Tears fill my eyes as I watch Lance cross home plate. This is his moment, baseball history in the making, and I’m still on his mind. The love I have for him swells like a balloon ready to burst.

I place my hands on my swollen stomach and smile. As if they know their Daddy is thinking of them, the little guys in my belly kick.

“Are you okay?” Jenna asks, her voice dropping low and laced with worry.

“All good.”

She narrows her eyes at me, making me laugh.

“I promise. These two are just kicking and bouncing on my bladder.”

Jenna places her hand on my belly. Our faces light up as one or both boys push against her palm. “Maybe you have soccer players instead of baseball players in there.”

“I think Grandpa would be devastated if they were soccer players.” I giggle, thinking about what a die-hard baseball fan my dad is.

“Who’s going to be a soccer player?” Tristan asks, inserting himself into our conversation.

“Mind your own business, Tris.” Jenna elbows him in the ribs.

Tristan puts his arm around my best friend’s shoulders. “You know I can’t do that, J-bird. Your business is my business.”

He stares down at her with so much love; I can’t help but smile. Finding out my best friend and brother were together was a shock at first. They hid their relationship from me for a really long time. But anyone could see how happy they made each other, so who was I to protest, especially when Tristan convinced Jenna to move to Los Angeles for him and her career.

Now I get to see her just about every day, and I couldn’t be happier.

“You’re lucky I love you,” Jenna croons before Tristan kisses her on the mouth.

“Tris, did you come over here for something or just to steal my bestie?” I tease.

“Always both, Gwenny.” He chuckles, wiggling his eyebrows. “Want to head down to the field level for the celebration, or are you staying up here because …?” My brother points and swirls his finger at my swollen stomach, making me frown.

“No way am I missing the celebration just because I’m pregnant.”

“I figured. Since the inning isn’t over yet, I thought we could head down now and avoid the crowd.”

“You’re such a thoughtful brother.” I pat his cheek, turning on my heel and marching out of the family suite.

By the time I get to the field, metallic blue and silver confetti falls from the sky, swirling around in the fall breeze.

I walk toward the designated spot Lance and I agreed to meet: first base.