Page 28

February before spring training.

Evan

I kneel down to Nolan’s size after we just finished getting dressed in his room. “Okay, little man, you ready?”

I had to hide everything I needed under his bed while I planned and prepared for today.

He gives me a big thumbs-up. “ ‘Aye, aye, Captain,’ ” he shouts, mocking the SpongeBob SquarePants intro.

I can’t help myself when I join in, deepening my voice as I sing, “ ‘Ohhh, who lives in a pineapple under the sea?’ ”

He shouts, “ ‘SpongeBob SquarePants,’ ” and then we fall into laughter.

I bring him into me in a big hug.

Who would have thought I’d become a father figure to a now-eight-year-old boy? He’s been the light of my life ever since I met Christy. It doesn’t matter that I’m not his biological father; I’ll claim him as mine until the day I die.

For his birthday, Christy and I decorated a bedroom in my house just for him, and we surprised him with it and the news that the two of them would be moving in with me. That day, seeing the excitement on his face, is still one of the best days of my life, baseball be damned. Hitting home runs or making that diving catch is something, but it’s nothing compared to seeing the joy on this little boy’s face.

Since October, when the season ended, it’s been me and him hanging out after school while we wait for Christy to get off work. I’ve loved every second of our time together, playing ball or video games or just hanging out and watching cartoons after his homework is complete.

When I asked him to keep a secret, I halfway didn’t think he could, but here we are, on the big day, and he’s been right by my side the entire time, helping me plan and tight-lipped about our surprise for Christy.

“Do you think they suspect anything?” he whispers, leaning in, even though I’m the only person in the room.

I shake my head. “Nope. You’ve done well, Daniel-san,” I say in my Mr. Miyagi voice from The Karate Kid.

We have a lot of sayings like that, which we probably do way too often, but I love the small things we share together.

“Well, here goes nothing. Give me one more hug to pump me up.”

I open my arms to him. He jumps into them, squeezing me tightly as he places his head on my shoulder.

“I love you, buddy.”

“I love you too.”

“I love you more.” I start our game that makes me smile and tear up every time we do it.

“I love you to infinity,” he says without skipping a beat.

At the same time, we both hold up one arm, like Buzz Lightyear, and say, “And beyond!”

I laugh as I release him. I look at him one more time as I run my palms over his shoulders, smoothing out the jacket of the tuxedo I rented him, then give the lapels a slight tug. “I think you look pretty handsome.”

“So do you!” He jumps up in excitement when I stand, fixing my own tuxedo jacket.

He grabs the roses I bought—his idea, not mine—and holds them proudly. “Do you think she’ll like them?”

I smile down at him. “I know she will. Let’s do this!” I say, ready to get this show on the road.

We exit his room, walk through the house, and head out to where both of our families are. We told everyone we wanted to have a family barbecue before I left for spring training, but I had other motives for getting everyone here today.

We step outside, and instantly, everyone looks our way with a gasp.

I have to seriously hold my laugh in when Nolan whispers to me, probably a little too loudly, “Do you have the ring?”

My eyes meet Christy’s as I respond, “Yeah, bud. We’re all good. Go ahead and start like we practiced.”

Christy covers her mouth in shock as tears well up in her eyes.

“Ladies and gentlemen, can I have your attention, please?” he says in his big-boy voice, bringing tears to my eyes, too, at how cute he is. “Mommy, can you please come forward?”

Everyone chuckles at the way he’s talking as Christy slowly steps toward us.

“I think she’s surprised,” Nolan whispers to me.

“Yep, we did good.” I high-five him, making him almost drop the roses, which gets a good laugh out of everyone.

Once Christy is in front of us, I reach for her hand. “Christy, the first day I met you, I knew there was something different about you, something special.”

“You’re welcome!” my sister yells out, making us all laugh again.

“Thank you,” I respond, trying to spot her, then looking back at Christy. I take the ring out of my pocket and slowly make my way down to one knee. “I love you and Nolan more than I love baseball.”

She lets out a surprised laugh, which makes me smile because that’s the exact reaction I was going for to help ease the moment.

“I want us to truly be a family, forever. Will you marry me?”

“Say yes, Mommy! Say yes!” Nolan says, jumping up and down beside us.

I look at him, then Christy and raise my eyebrows as I wait for her response.

She nods, more tears falling down her face. “Yes! Yes, Evan, I’ll marry you.”

I stand and lift her up in my arms, hugging her tightly.

“I want a hug too!” Nolan says, so I lift him up and hug him between both of us.

“I love you, Christy.” I give her a quick kiss.

She smiles at both of us. “I love you both so much. But y’all suck at trying to hide things from me.” She giggles.

I look at Nolan, then her, confused. “You knew?”

“Yes, I knew. But I have a surprise for you too.”

I pinch my eyebrows in question. “What?”

“Hey, Dad. Catch!” I hear Sasha yell out.

When I look up, she throws me a ball.

I look at Christy, then at the ball, then Nolan, who seems just as confused as I am.

“Read what it says,” she whispers.

I spin the ball around until I read, I’m pregnant.

I instantly lift my eyes back to her. “You’re pregnant?”

She nods with a big smile on her face.

“Did you hear that, Nolan?”

“I’m going to be a big brother?” he asks in absolute surprise.

“You are, buddy!” Christy says.

I wrap my arms around both of them again, then pull back and turn to everyone as I shout, “We’re having a baby!”

Everyone cheers, and I turn back to Christy, hugging her tightly once again.

“Congratulations, Dad,” she says.

“Can I call you Dad too?” Nolan asks.

I can no longer hold back, and tears flow down my face. “I would love it if you called me Dad.”

He wraps his arms around me, and I hold them even tighter—my forever family.

Thank you for reading the first book in the Tennessee Terrors series!