by Harlow James
“Sounds great, son. Congrats again,” Jake’s dad voices, his pride in his son clearly visible on his face.
After we all say our goodbyes, Conner, Jake, and I pile in his truck and head for our house.
Shortly after the season started, Jake moved in with Conner and me. He sold his condo and made a pretty penny off of it, so he insisted we invest the money in our childhood home to renovate it and make it ours. We decided to wait until the off-season to start construction, which I guess technically can begin now.
Conner insists on staying the night at a friend’s house, knowing we probably won’t be sleeping much. He’s fifteen and not stupid, but that doesn’t mean he wants to hear us going at it.
“So, baby… how shall we mark the magnitude of this day?” Jake whispers as he stalks up behind me in our bedroom, tracing the soft skin of my arms with his fingers, igniting a flurry of tingles up and down my body.
“I’m not sure. What did you have in mind?” I reply coyly, knowing damn well where this evening is leading.
He turns me to face him, his chest bare as I take in the sight of his strength, his muscles I could get lost in over and over again. He’s freshly clean after his hard-earned win and must have ditched his shirt when he was in the bathroom. My hands caress his torso before weaving up in his hair at the base of his neck.
“I think I just really want to go to sleep,” he jokes as I gasp at his playfulness.
“Like hell, we’re sleeping, Jake,” I declare before smashing our lips together and showing him how happy he makes me, and proud of him I am. I know this is a night we won’t ever forget, and I plan on making sure that never happens… all night long.
Chapter 50
Dani
I wake up the next morning in a fog until the soft light filtering through the blinds in our room reminds me of where I am and what happened the night before.
I stretch my limbs, eating up every inch of space in the bed, until I realize there’s too much space there. Rolling over, I should be greeted with Jake, his bare body lying there in all of his perfection.
But instead, the bed is empty.
I sit up slowly, the lack of sleep I got last night making my head a little woozy. Jake and I went at it until we couldn’t keep our eyes open, passing out in each other’s arms somewhere around three in the morning.
Glancing at my phone on my nightstand, I pick it up and light up the screen, displaying the time of almost ten in the morning. Gosh, I can’t remember the last time I slept this late.
I also see that I have a few missed texts. One is from Conner stating he’s going to stay another night at his friend Alex’s house. Some guys from their team are coming over and they're going to all hang out. The other is from Lochlin, asking how the rest of our night went, which means she’s fishing for details of our sex life. The girl is relentless. I know she gets as much as she wants from Rocky, so I think she just likes to mess with me.
And then there’s one from Jake.
Jake: Good morning, beautiful. Bet you’re wondering where I am right now, huh? Well, I have a little surprise for you. Make your way downstairs to find your first clue. Can’t wait to see you later. Love you.
A curious smirk stretches across my face as I wonder what the heck Jake could have planned for me today. He has to be tired as hell after the seven grueling games he played over the last two weeks, not to mention the almost two-hundred games before that.
I toss one of Jake’s shirts over my head and saunter down the stairs, as my eyes take in the scene before me.
Every surface in our house is covered in vases of white lilies and roses, just like he sent the night of my college graduation to the restaurant.
“Wow,” I gasp, turning my head all around me to count the flowers, which seems like an impossible feat right now.
In the middle of the dining room table, stuffed into one bouquet, is a bright pink envelope with my name scrawled on the outside in Jake’s handwriting.
I pluck the envelope from the arrangement, slide my finger under the flap to open it, and pull out an ivory card with more of Jake’s writing.
Dani,
There are not enough flowers in the world that I could give you to show you how much you mean to me, but this is a start. I never told you why I sent you white roses and lilies in the first place for your graduation. White flowers symbolize purity, innocence, and good, the type of pure goodness that you possess. And let’s face it, I know you’re not that innocent. You have made such an impact on my life through your kind heart. So today, I plan on showing you how much you mean to me and how lucky I am to know that my heart belongs to you. Get showered and ready my love. Your ride will be here at noon.
Love,
Jake
“Oh, this man,” I manage to croak out as tears fill my eyes and I survey the room once more. The open space of the living room and dining room is filled with nothing but goodness, white flowers pungent in the air as I inhale deeply.
I read over Jake’s words once more and then decide I’d better shower and get ready so I can look drop-dead gorgeous for my man if he’s going to all of this trouble.
I take my time to primp myself from head to toe, not missing one minor detail in my appearance. I choose to wear a floor length summer dress that’s white with pink flowers all over it, leaving my hair down in soft waves and light make-up that highlights my features in a classy way. I also grab the cream-colored sweater that Jake bought me on our first date, since the weather is turning and I don’t want to be too cold.
Right at noon, my driver arrives, knocking at the door, just as I fiddle with my compass necklace and bracelet, just like I always do when I’m nervous.
“Miss Peters?” He asks as I pull the door open, revealing a middle-aged gentleman, decked out in a black suit and tie.
“Yes,” I reach out to shake his hand.
“The name’s Wallace. Mr. Calhoun asked me to attend to your needs today. I’ll be whisking you around as needed,” he declares proudly, clearing taking his job quite seriously.
“Okay,” I say a little hesitantly before grabbing my purse and locking the door behind me, following Wallace to a black stretch limo parked on the street.
“He went all out, didn’t he?” I joke as we arrive at the car and Wallace opens the door for me.
“He insisted you deserved the best,” he winks at me before closing the door and taking his spot behind the wheel, pulling onto the street and driving towards our first destination.
“Where are we going?” I ask from the back of the limo, shouting to make sure Wallace can hear me.
“I was told not to say,” he teases with a smile while continuing his drive.
“Oh, come on, Wallace. I won’t tell,” I tease back.
“No can do, ma’am. Just get comfortable and enjoy the ride,” he smirks as I settle into my seat and stare out the window, watching the city of Irvine pass me by.
Only twenty minutes later do we stop, and since I was looking at my phone to pass the time, I wasn’t paying attention to where we’re headed.
“Your first stop, Miss Peters,” Wallace declares from the front seat before exiting the limo and opening my door.
“The Spectrum?” I ask as I stand, my hand in Wallace’s as he helps me up.
“Yes. Follow the trail of rose petals to find your next clue.”
I look down at the ground and notice a smattering of white rose petals on the concrete, the foot traffic from shoppers shuffling them around as they walk, but the path they define is still easy to follow.
My heart catches in my chest when I realize all the trouble Jake must have gone to make this happen. It’s a little after noon, so the crowd isn’t too big yet, but there are enough people that stop and stare as they watch me walk towards my destination.
I pass by the Lululemon store where Jake took me on our first date, then the Haagen Dazs store where I guilted Jake into cheating on his strict mid-season diet. The thought of how easily he gave in to
my coercion makes me laugh as I turn the corner and see the fountain where we made wishes together that same day.
And then I see Conner.
“Conner?” My eyebrows draw together as I attempt to process what he’s doing here.
“Hey, sis,” he greets me, giving me a kiss on the cheek. “You look beautiful.”
“Thank you. But.. uh, I’m really confused right now. What are you doing here?”
Conner laughs. “Jake asked me to help him out today. This is for you,” he says while handing me another bright pink envelope.
“What is going on?” I eye him suspiciously as he grins down at me. I really hate the fact that he’s taller than me now.
He makes the motion of zipping his lips with his hand. “Sorry, sis. I’m sworn to secrecy. Just read your letter. I love you,” he says before kissing me on the cheek and walking off.
I shake my head with a huge smile on my face as I slide the envelope open and start to read.
Dani,
It was at this very fountain where I realized you were different. You weren’t just some girl who loved baseball and had a crush on me because I was famous. You were a woman with a mind and soul that I had to know more about. You dared me to trust where the universe took us that day of our very first date, and boy, am I glad I trusted you. The universe ended up taking us on quite the ride over the past three years, but today I ask you to trust me as I take you on another adventure. Your next clue to get to me resides at the place where we shared our first kiss. Tell Wallace where to go and let the journey continue.
I love you.
Jake
I look up and notice a crowd of people gathered around me, smiling and whispering to one another. I’m pretty sure I’ve been recognized, but I don’t care as I retrace my steps quickly back to the limo.
“Hey, Wallace. Looks like we’re headed to Laguna Beach,” I declare as I settle back in my seat and buckle up for the drive.
“Absolutely, Miss Peters,” he replies, ushering us back on the freeway and towards my next destination.
I know we’ve hit the coast as the salty air filters through the crack in my window. I can hear the crash of the waves hit the shore when we pull up right next to the sand. Traffic moves around us as Wallace exits the limo again and lets me out.
“Looks like you know where Jake is sending you?” He inquires.
“I’ll never forget this spot,” I state confidently as I see a trail of white rose petals again on the sand. The light ocean breeze is splaying them around, but the path again is still easy to see.
“I’ll be waiting for you when you return.”
I nod at him before slipping off my wedges and burying my toes in the cool sand. The air is frigid on the beach this late in the year, goosebumps peaking all over my skin. But I won’t let that stop me as I trudge through the sand to the spot where Jake took me for our picnic and we shared our first kiss.
As I get closer to the spot, I see a woman sitting on a blanket facing the ocean, with food sprinkled on the blanket in front of her.
“Lochlin?” I ask as I make my way around her and take in her face.
“Dani!” She shouts with enthusiasm as she carefully stands and pulls me in for a hug.
“What are you doing here?” I say as she sits back down and I join her.
“Oh, just having some lunch,” she says casually, stuffing her face with a hearty deli sandwich.
“Did Jake need your help today, too?” I ask, while reaching for the other half of her sandwich, remembering I haven’t eaten anything yet today.
“Have you ever been bitten by a pregnant woman, Dani?” She growls at me, giving me a death glare.
I stop mid bite and place her sandwich back on her plate as she reaches into a basket and retrieves another one for me.
“Sorry,” I chuckle as she unwraps my lunch and puts it on a plate for me.
We eat and chat about last night, reminiscing on how crazy it is that the OC Rays won the World Series less than twenty-four hours before. Lochlin also vents to me about all things pregnancy related, which makes me laugh and beam with happiness for my friend. She’s going to be the best mom.
“So, am I just here for a picnic on the beach with my best friend?” I probe, knowing she has another clue waiting for me.
“Yup! I just wanted some girl time!” She declares, sitting up a bit taller on the blanket.
I shove her gently, which makes her laugh, a full deep laugh that makes me join her.
“Give me my envelope, Loch,” I demand, as she grins and pulls the pink envelope from her purse.
“Do you know what Jake is up to today?”
She zips her lips just as Conner did, and just smiles from ear to ear.
“Fine,” I huff, opening his note as a picture slides out and into my lap. I ignore the photograph for a moment and start to read.
Dani,
The meal we shared in this spot is still one of my favorite memories with you. Not only did you prove to me that you weren’t afraid to devour a meal in front of me, but you opened up to me about your past and how it’s made you the woman you are today. That conversation told me that you were the type of person who could teach me more about life than anyone else. You showed your strength and determination, which is something I’ve always admired about you, and still do. Your next clue is at the place where I took this picture of you, a picture that I stared at every day that we were apart, knowing that I could never let you go from my life, and my heart.
I love you.
Jake
I turn the photograph over and know where my next place is within a second. I see my own face smiling back at me, wrapped up in the sweater Jake bought for me on our first date, the playground near our house in the distance. I vividly recall Jake snapping this picture of me and how free I felt at that moment. One stray tear falls down my cheek before Lochlin chimes in.
“Where are you headed next?” She questions with a tilt of her head.
I share the picture with her before answering. “The park.”
“The park?” She teases.
“Yeah, we went there on our first date. In fact, every place I’ve gone so far has been one we visited that day,” I smile, remembering the rush of emotions I felt as we spent that day together. After doing nothing but texting Jake for weeks, meeting him and getting to know him on that level hit me hard in my chest, a whirlwind of emotions swirled through me that day when I realized he was more than just some hotshot rookie in the MLB, but a man I desperately wanted to know outside of baseball.
“Well, get to it. I expect a phone call later to see how this all pans out,” she winks, before standing and gathering the food and blanket.
I help her before following her to her car and saying our goodbyes. I then rush over to Wallace, who’s waiting patiently like he has all the time in the world. The sun is high in the sky, making me wonder how he isn’t sweating while standing outside. I guess the breeze would help keep him cool though.
“Where to next, Miss Peters?”
“The park back in Woodbridge, Wallace. Sorry for all the driving.”
“Miss Peters. You do realize that’s what I was hired to do today, right?” He jokes before driving us back to the park near our house.
When we pull up to the curb, I notice a few families and their children playing on the equipment, running around while screaming of pure joy echoes through the space. And then I see the path of white rose petals, leading over to the swings. I glance over and notice a grown man pumping his legs casually, sticking out like a sore thumb.
“You know, you kinda look like a creeper right now, here without a kid,” I tease Rocky as I come up behind him. He twists to take in my face while grinning from ear to ear.
“I’m observing, Dani. Gotta get an idea of what’s coming,” he winks before standing and pulling me in for a hug.
“I know. I’m so excited for you and Lochlin. You’ve been the best thing to happen to my best friend, Rocky. I hope you kno
w that.”
“She’s the best thing to ever happen to me, Dani. I love that woman with all of my heart. And Jake feels the same way about you,” he adds before pulling a pink envelope from his back pocket.
“I sure hope I get to see him after this,” I sigh, growing impatient at the time I’ve spent away from him. When I went to bed last night, I didn’t anticipate going on a wild goose chase today looking for my boyfriend. I had way different plans for how we would spend today.
“Good luck,” he winks before making his way over to his truck.
I take a seat on the same bench Jake and I sat on that day and snapped pictures of the two of us, memories I proudly display in my office at work and at home, along with new photos we’ve taken together over the past few months.
I open his note and brace myself for his words, knowing they’ll probably evoke tears like they have been all day.
Dani,
The night at this park made me feel like a kid again, the joy of being carefree for once only available because I was with you. Everything I’ve ever felt since this day has been because of you. You have changed my life completely, showing me how precious time is, how vital our words are, and how anything worth having is worth fighting for. Anything I have now and know now is because of you. And none of that would have ever happened without that fateful night when I locked eyes with you in the stands. I’ll never forget that moment as long as I live, Dani. Meet me at the spot that changed both of our lives forever.
I love you.
Jake
I close my eyes and take a moment to compose myself as tears stream down my cheeks. I can’t believe I was lucky enough to steal this man’s heart as much as he’s stolen mine. And all because of one look we shared the night of his first game in the MLB.
“Wallace, take me to the Rays’ stadium please,” I choke out through my tears as he helps me inside and rushes across town.
By the time I make it to the stadium, my heart is pounding with so much excitement to see Jake again, I feel a little lost as I wander the halls of the brick and concrete structure, even though I work here and know this place like the back of my hand. But the anticipation of getting to finally kiss him and thank him for this walk down memory lane is almost too much to contain. I need to feel his lips on mine, to remind me that this isn’t some dream.