back into the family room, Cason says, “I got a meeting with the Angels tomorrow.”
My stomach drops, but not necessarily in a bad way. This is what he’s worked so hard for all his life, and for me not to be excited for him because I’m being selfish isn’t fair to him. “That’s huge!” And sucks for me and the kid. “My dad signed with the Angels right out of high school.”
His eyes widen. “Did he play in the majors?”
“No. Sadly he was in a horrible car accident before he could. That’s why he turned to coaching.”
“That sucks.” He shrugs one shoulder, keeping his eyes on mine. “I’m not going to get my hopes up. It’s just a meeting.”
I think back to what his dad told me during the game last week—the one where Cason pitched a no-hitter. Luke told me they called Cason the natural when he was younger. Baseball never took much effort for him. And it didn’t. Which is why it’s more than a meeting. Any club would be stupid not to take on his talent. “But it could be more,” I hedge.
“I don’t want to get ahead of myself. I’ve been…” His eyes find mine. “…disappointed before.”
With the way he’s staring at me, I think I know what he’s talking about. Us. Or whatever we are. “Cason, I really like you, and I know you want more from this… and I might even be falling in love with your stupid, charming ass.” His lips quirk into a smile. “But, I do have a daughter to think about, and falling for you might not be right for her. Or you.”
“She loves me,” he adds, a certain amount of annoyance held in each word. “And I know you love me. There’s no might about it.”
My cheeks bloom with heat, knowing he’s right. I do. I just haven’t brought myself to say the words to him.
“Listen.” He holds my face in his hands. “I’m well aware of the fact that this won’t be easy. When I’m drafted, you, Tatum, there’s so many unknowns, but we’ll do what we can and make it work.”
He’s absolutely right. That’s exactly what we were doing now. He graduates in two days, the draft following soon after.
And me? I can buy my own coffee now. So there’s that. Though I’m still working out of the garage, my business is going crazy. Financially, I recovered from where I was three months ago.
Emotionally, I have no idea how to describe where I am now. Scared. Nervous. Happy. All part of my daily spectrum of emotions.
My biggest fear? Tatum. She knows Cason is a part of my life, she’s seen us kiss, lays in bed with us in the mornings, yet we still haven’t told her that in a month, he will be leaving. I’m not sure how to have that conversation with her. Taking away her boy? Um, I don’t want to be the one to do that.
I mean, look at them. We’re having a heavy conversation about where our relationship is going, and they’re torturing the kitten together.
“Stay for pizza?” I ask Cason as he lays on the floor and wrestles with Tatum.
“I’m starving,” he says and then proceeds to take a playful bite out of Tatum’s belly as he traps her on the tile floor.
“Boy! No!” She smacks at him, wiggling around. “I’m not food!”
God, could they be any cuter together?
LATER THAT NIGHT, after pizza and watching Frozen, I’m lying in bed with Cason, and he rolls over to face me. We’ve been sleeping in the same bed for over a month, though I refuse to acknowledge we’re dating. We totally are, but I can’t play all my cards that soon. I have to keep the guy guessing a little.
“Are you nervous?” he asks, his voice low and rough.
“About?” I touch my hand to his cheek, loving the way the moonlight hits his shoulder and outlines the definition, the power in that right arm that’s going to take him so many wonderful places. And does so much for me too. Wink wink.
“Me leaving.”
The corners of my lips twitch. “I wouldn’t say nervous. More like terrified.”
Sadness marks his features, his lips pressed into a flat line. “I wish I could take you both with me, wherever it is I go.”
“We’ll be right here, waiting,” I whisper, trailing my fingertips over his bicep and to his chest.
His dad told me the one piece of advice he ever gave Cason and hoped he remembered. And now I