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“That’s actually how I met Hope.” He looked at me with a sweet smile that melted my insides.

“The doctors had cleared me and supposedly I was good to go, except my fastball was garbage. So my mom just went ahead and booked me a Reiki appointment. I only went to shut her up.” He shrugged, and everyone laughed.

“But I’m glad I did. Not just because I got to meet you,” he winked at me, “but because it helped. I don’t know how, but something just shifted and I got my rhythm back. ”

Before anyone could ask more questions, the DJ’s voice crackled through the speakers.

“Alright folks, let’s get moving after that amazing dinner. We’ll start off with something slow. This one’s an oldie but a goodie.”

The first soft notes of Unforgettable by Nat King Cole floated through the ballroom, and Sam looked at me, his hand held out.

“Dance with me?”

I nodded and slid my hand into his. We both stood and he led me to the dance floor.

As soon as we reached the center, he pulled me gently into his arms, one hand at my waist, the other holding mine with quiet care.

I fit against him like we’d done this a hundred times before, even though it was our first.

His touch was confident, unhurried, and grounded in something that felt like more than just attraction.

And his mom hadn’t been kidding, Sam could dance.

He moved with ease, like he was completely in tune with the music and with me.

As we swayed together under the soft lights, something settled in my chest. Being in his arms didn’t just feel good, it felt right.

When that song faded into something faster, we got caught up in the moment, laughing, spinning, and getting breathless.

Some of his teammates made their way to the dance floor too, and were trying to one-up each other with the most over-the-top dance moves, which only made us laugh harder.

Honestly, I don’t think I’d ever had that much fun dancing.

I Got a Feeling by The Black Eyed Peas ended and the DJ spoke again.

“Ladies and gentlemen,” he said, “it's time for our happy couple to cut the cake!”

We headed back to our table and I grabbed my water and took a long sip, thankful for the excuse to sit for a minute. My cheeks were flushed, my feet slightly sore, but I couldn’t stop smiling.

I watched the staff wheel out an elaborate cart with the wedding cake—a three-tier masterpiece covered in cascading sugar flowers.

The room erupted in applause as Leo and Anjannette made their way to the cake, fingers intertwined.

The photographer circled them, capturing every angle as they picked up the silver cake server together and made the first cut.

They fed each other a bite, all smiles and no smooshing in the face, just pure joy.

Everyone clapped and cheered, and the newlyweds laughed as they made their way back to their seats, hands linked once again.

As we waited for the cake, servers brought out silver platters piled high with sweets and set one on each table.

Sam leaned over and said, “Leo’s family owns a deli in New Jersey. They make the most amazing food and even better desserts.”

He grabbed a piece of baklava, took a bite, and let out a low, appreciative moan. Once everyone had sampled something, the conversation picked back up.

Rusty leaned in, tipping his beer toward Sam.

“I’m just glad you’ll be back in the rotation. It wasn’t the same without you.”

The other guys agreed and started rattling off statistics that flew right over my head.

“Just think,” Trey said. “In just six more weeks, we’ll be heading down to St. Pete.”

The women had started their own conversation about the upcoming season, and I found myself caught between both discussions.

“I always forget how fast the offseason goes,” Nori said, taking a bite of the cake that had just been set in front of her.

“I know,” Abby added. “Pretty soon it’ll feel like I’m living out of a suitcase again.”

“At least we get to go to some fun cities,” Nori added.

“Do you go on the road with them all the time?” I asked.

“No, my business keeps me pretty busy, so I can’t.” Nori acknowledged with a small shrug.

“And I have the bakery, so my time on the road is limited, too,” Chloe said.

“I can travel more because I work remotely,” Ivy chimed in, “but sometimes it gets to be too much and I stay home.”

“How do you manage it?” I asked, genuinely curious. “Being apart so much, I mean.”

“We all live in Myrtle Beach, so it’s not so bad since half their games are at home,” Nori said. “And the rest of the time, we just deal with it.”

Ivy added, “Yeah, it kind of goes with the territory.”

"True, but I do hate when they're gone for those long West Coast trips," Abby chimed in. "Two weeks feels like forever."

“Spring training is the best though. I always make sure I don’t book a lot of commissions so I can go down as long as possible.

” Nori’s eyes lit up. “It's so much more relaxed than the regular season.

The pressure isn't as intense, and we get to spend weeks in St. Pete together. It's like a vacation.”

Ivy smiled and said, “We meet for breakfast at least once a week at this amazing hole-in-the-wall spot that serves the best food. You’re officially invited, Hope.”

“Oh, I don't know…” I trailed off, not sure how to answer her, but Sam had turned from his conversation with the guys.

“You should definitely come,” he said, his voice hopeful. “I'd love to have you there.”

“St. Pete is gorgeous in February and March,” Jimmy added.

Everyone started chiming in then, talking about their favorite beach bars. I smiled and nodded along, only half listening. The rest of my mind was somewhere else entirely.

I smiled and nodded, making noncommittal sounds of agreement, but inside, my stomach was tying itself in knots.

The conversation continued around me with talk of road trips and game schedules, of counting down days until the guys came home, of planning their lives around a baseball calendar that stretched from February to October if they were lucky enough to make the playoffs.

I knew this was Sam’s life when we got involved. I knew it came with travel, distance, unpredictability. But now that I was seeing it up close—the team, the schedule, the time apart—it made things feel more real. More complicated.

These women had made their lives fit around baseball season, but even they admitted how hard it was sometimes. At least they live in the Waves’ home city, which meant they got to be together for home games and off days. But it still came with its own challenges.

I live in Starlight Shores, an entire state away. I have a life there, a business. Clients who depend on me. Friends. Roots.

How could I just give up everything I’ve wanted my whole life?