Page 44 of Curve Balls and Second Chances (Pickwick Pirate Queens #1)

T Two months later

The leaves had turned gold and copper, and Rose could already smell apple butter and firewood in the air. Autumn had settled into Pickwick Bend like a favorite sweater—warm, a little worn in, and exactly right.

The moon hung low over the lake as Rose and Acen sat side-by-side on the porch swing.

“I’ve been thinking,” he said, nudging her shoulder. “ We should have a fall softball scrimmage. Co -ed. Costumes optional.”

Rose laughed. “ Only if Cindy agrees to dress as a catcher again. That chest guard changed her personality.”

Acen chuckled, then grew quiet.

“I’ve also been thinking about something else,” he added, reaching into his jacket pocket.

Her heart skipped. “ You’re not pulling out jewelry, are you?”

“Nope.” He held up a folded piece of paper.

She opened it. It was a lease.

For a little blue house on Elderberry Lane .

“You want to move in together?” she asked, heart thudding.

“I do,” he said. “ Eventually , maybe we’ll build something bigger.

But for now, I want you and me under one roof.

Shared coffee mugs. Morning walks. Pillow -stealing arguments.

All of it.” He looked around the porch where they sat and smiled.

“ I know this is where you grew up. That your parents left it to you. But maybe we could start fresh in a place we create together.”

Rose hesitated. He was right about her feelings for this place. They ran bone deep. But maybe Acen was right. Maybe they needed a place with no ghosts.

“Riley would love to take over this place. I think he was a bit jealous when Mama and Daddy left it to me. But he was living in Knoxville back then and didn’t need a place here like I did.”

As soon as the words left her mouth, she knew it was the right thing to do. Riley could sell his new build house that he’d bought when he moved back to Pickwick Bend and take over their family home. Who knew? Maybe Riley would find someone to share his life and make it into a family home again.

She smiled at Acen and rattle the paper in her hand. “ So … we sign this?”

“Only if you want to.”

Rose leaned in, kissed him soft and slow.

“I want to.”

He tucked the paper back in his jacket, and they settled into the swing, the world quiet around them.

And somewhere between the rustle of wind in the trees and the warmth of their joined hands, Rose realized:

This was the kind of story she never thought she’d get.

And she’d written every page herself.

Thank you for reading Curve Balls and Second Chances .