by Liz Talley
Hunt sat not far from Summer, and he looked equally enthralled by the boy on the mound. Hunt’s folks sat in front of him, and a pretty blonde woman sat at his side. Rhett assumed she was the kindergarten teacher Summer had told him Hunt had been dating.
Rhett patted his pockets, smoothed his suit pants, and slid onto the bench beside Summer. She gave a start when he brushed against her cheek.
Her eyes went big. “You came! Oh my gosh, I thought you wouldn’t make it.”
“I promised David I would. Wasn’t easy, but I’m here.”
Summer gave him a hard hug, and then redirected her attention to her son warming up on the mound. Rhett chuckled as he slid into the back seat of her mind.
“Hey, y’all, I brought bubble gum,” the blonde sitting with Hunt said, holding out a hand with several pieces of wrapped gum to everyone sitting around her. “My mama used to always bring bubble gum to the ballpark when my brother played. She said it helped her jitters.”
“I’m not nervous, Jenny,” Hunt said, looking nothing but nervous.
Jenny stilled his bouncing knee. “So I see.”
Rhett still didn’t have warm fuzzies for his former best friend, but he’d tried like hell for David’s and Summer’s sakes to get past the anger. The resentment might always be there. Instead of dwelling on it, Rhett took Summer’s hand and turned his attention to David, who stood on the mound wearing the familiar red and gray. The kid looked loose, but every now and then, his eyes darted to where his family sat in the bleachers. Hunt gave his son a nod of confidence, and when David saw Rhett, he smiled.
Rhett gave him a thumbs-up. You got this, kiddo.
Mitchell McCoy leaned back and said, “David’s looking good, but I still think he needs to rotate—”
“Don’t. We talked about this,” Hunt interrupted.
“I know I said I wouldn’t meddle, but—”
“No, Dad. Nothing. You sit and watch. Enjoy watching your grandson play a game. This is not life and death. He’ll be fine even if they pull him in the first inning. It’s a game.”
Mitchell made a face but latched his lips together.
Rhett slid a glance to Summer, who smiled at the firmness in Hunt’s voice. She’d told him Hunt had gone to his parents’ house after he left Summer’s house back in November and confronted them about how they’d treated Summer and David. He’d also broken down and told them the truth about what had actually happened prom night. Eventually, he’d gotten his parents to talk to Summer, to apologize for what they’d done to her family.
The situation was tenuous at best, but everyone agreed to be adult about it and consider David. He was worth biting one’s tongue and pretending to get along. After all, that’s what most families did. Of course, Rhett thought family was a loose term for what they were, but David didn’t seem to care. He’d blossomed into a more confident, outgoing kid.
“After the game we could go to the Rib Hut to celebrate the win,” Jenny said, looking at all of them.
“I’m Rhett,” he said, extending his hand to her.
“I know,” she laughed. “God, I’d have to be dumb and stupid to not know that. I’m Jenny. Hunt’s girlfriend.”
Hunt didn’t flinch at the title she gave herself.
Huh. Interesting.
“But we don’t know if they’re going to win,” Maisie said.
“Of course they will.” Summer smiled at her sister. “David’s on the mound, and he’s a natural.”
“Like his father was,” Mitchell flung back.
“Like his father was,” Summer agreed.
Hunt looked over at her and gave her a grateful smile.
“I didn’t think I’d be so nervous, but I think a hive of bees has taken up in my belly,” Summer said.
“I wasn’t this nervous when I pitched in the state game,” Hunt added.
Grampy Pete slid down and eyeballed Rhett. “Glad you made it. The kid was sure you wouldn’t.”
“Luckily, we wrapped production early. I have to be back in LA tomorrow, but then I’ll be back next week for Easter.”
Summer squeezed his hand. “Shh! Here we go.”
“He’s ready. Don’t worry.” Hunt leaned forward as the batter walked to the plate and tapped it.
The first pitch was a perfect cutter for a strike. Everyone released their breath at once, making Summer laugh.
“Now you know how I felt,” Mitchell said to Hunt.
The inning ended with David retiring two batters before a groundout to short for the third out. As David walked off the mound, he glanced into the stands at his family . . . his very big family. The kid’s smile could have lit up Fenway.
Rhett leaned over to Summer. “This is so weird.”
She nodded. “He went from just me and him to . . . all this.” She jerked her head toward the motley crew to her right.
“No, I meant being at a baseball game, watching your son pitch, sitting here with my fiancée.”
Summer jerked her head around. “I’m not your fiancée.”
“Oh, I was sure I asked,” he said with a wicked smile. “Will David get to hit?”
“What?” Summer said, her attention now all on Rhett. He didn’t mind sharing her with her son, but it was good when her attention was all on him. “Um, no. He’s a PO.”
“Right.”
“That’s pitcher only,” she said, her gaze still on him.
“I know. I played ball.”
She was waiting on him to clarify the fiancée thing, but he let it sit for a while. A few long seconds ticked by as the other team trotted onto the field. Maisie fussed at her twins, Grampy Pete moved down to talk to the McCroys, and Jenny tapped on her phone.
“Rhett,” Summer said.
“Yeah, babe?”
“You said fiancée. I’m not.”
“Oh, well. I must have forgotten to give you this.” He reached into the jacket pocket and drew out a small box.
The way she sucked in her breath made his heart smile.
“What’s that?” she said, sounding shell-shocked.
“Check it out,” he said, keeping his eyes on the field. He couldn’t look at her and hold it together. This was probably the worst time to do this, but once he bought the ring, he had to get it on her finger. David wouldn’t mind sharing his special night with his mother. The kid could have his baseball diamond, and his mother could have hers.
“Oh my God,” she breathed as she opened the box to the ring sparkling inside. “Are you . . . is this . . .”
“Yes and yes,” he said, finally looking at her. He wanted to laugh and cry at the same time. Her face was comical, but the tears welling up in those beautiful hazel eyes made his heart clench. “I know things are crazy right now, but I want you to be mine. We’ll work around recording your album and my work schedule, and find the perfect date.”
She couldn’t seem to take her eyes off the diamond. Okay, so he went overboard with a six-carat, emerald-cut diamond, but he wanted to spoil Summer a little. Someone should spoil Summer. More than a little.
“It’s huge,” she breathed. “I can’t possibly—”
Maisie leaned over and looked at it. “If you don’t want it, I’ll take it.”
Summer snapped the lid shut when her sister reached for it. “No, you won’t.”
Maisie laughed and elbowed Summer’s mother. Carolyn, who’d been talking to Jenny about kindergarten, turned around. Her face shone with pure love.
In fact, everyone stopped what they were doing and watched Summer.
She turned to Rhett. “You’re serious?”
He tapped the box. “That says I am. Oh, wait.” He slid off the bleacher and got down on a knee. “Funny Valentine, will you do me the honor of becoming my bride?”
Summer covered her mouth with her hand as tears dropped onto her cheeks. She nodded. “Yes. A thousand times yes. A million times yes.”
Everyone in the stands started clapping. A few had started filming the proposal with their phon
es, but Rhett didn’t care. He wanted the world to know he was in love with this woman. The baseball team on the field ceased their warm-ups, and the Mangham High School Bucs leaned out of the dugout, curious why everyone was applauding. Seeing Rhett on his knees in the stands and Summer crying, David came to the fence.
“Sorry to steal your thunder, Ace,” Rhett called out, after sliding the ring on Summer’s hand. “I couldn’t wait any longer.”
“Does this mean I get to meet Selena Gomez and Lil Wayne?” David asked, laughing.
“I’ll invite them to the wedding,” Rhett said, rising and kissing the starting pitcher’s mother.
David’s laughter rang out above the buzz of the crowd surrounding them. Women flocked to Summer’s finger like bargain shoppers rushing a sale on Black Friday. He moved back, catching his grandfather’s eye. Grampy Pete winked at him.
At that moment, Rhett Bryan knew he’d found the meaning of life.
It was in the curve of her cheek, the touch of her lips, and the hope she brought for a new future.
This Carolina boy had found his home.
With his Carolina girl.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Photo © 2017 Courtney Hartness
A finalist for both the Romance Writers of America’s prestigious Golden Heart and RITA Awards, Liz Talley has found a home writing heartwarming contemporary romance. Her stories are set in the South, where the tea is sweet, the summers are hot, and the porches are wide. Liz lives in North Louisiana with her childhood sweetheart, two handsome children, three dogs, and a naughty kitty. Readers can visit Liz at www.liztalleybooks.com to learn more about her upcoming novels.