Page 67 of Habibi: Always and Forever

GRAND SLAM

STETSON

W here the hell were they?

With a deep breath, I searched the stands one more time.

During warm-ups, Barrett apparently took a spill, falling on his elbow and injuring himself out of the game.

I’d been distracted at the time, so I hadn’t seen him, or Levi for that matter.

Even though they assured me that they would both be in the stands, right behind home plate where Levi always was, they were nowhere to be found.

Something was weird.

But I had to shake it off. Even though this game wasn’t being televised, I knew I had eyes on me—forty thousand of them, including reporters.

I ripped my gaze away from the seats that my men should have been occupying, trying to forget the fact that they were empty.

The last year had been a total whirlwind. It all started with that World Series win, where I leapt into Barrett’s arms instead of celebrating.

Barrett didn’t retire after all. Instead, the Thrashers gave him an offer he couldn’t refuse.

So after ten years of catching for the Hellbenders, he hung up his orange cap and traded it for a navy one.

Our chemistry on the field was electric, almost as much as it was in the bedroom.

Our communication during a game was the kind of connection that most players could only dream of.

And Levi? Fuck, I never knew a Daddy was something that I needed, but I wouldn’t trade him—either of them—for the world. I’d gotten extremely lucky, earning a Sir as well as a Daddy.

We were living together full time now. With Barrett not being consistently on the road, things were incredible .

Except for the fact that they seemed to have dipped out of the game that could send us straight into another World Series.

I shivered. It was nearing September and even in Georgia, the temperatures were starting to cool. So much so that I’d had to dig out a thermal for tonight’s game.

My walk-up music played, and I cast one more glance over my shoulder at the empty seats. Maybe something was wrong…

No… I couldn’t think that way. If something serious had happened with Barrett’s elbow, someone would have told me—would have told the team.

Shaking my head to clear it, I stepped up to home plate and locked eyes with the pitcher on the mound. I studied his facial expression, the way he twisted the ball around in his glove. His attention flickered behind me, and he gave the catcher a clipped nod.

My eyes narrowed, the evening sun threatening to obscure my view of the ball. Wind blew, kicking dust into my eye. I made the mistake of blinking…

And the ball was flying at my face .

With no other option, I ducked to avoid being hit.

“Strike!” the umpire called.

What the fuck? But like Levi had taught me to do, I closed my eyes and took a deep breath. It was a bad call. It wasn’t my first, and it sure as hell wouldn’t be my last.

When I refocused on the pitcher again, I shook it off and raised my bat.

This time, he shook his head twice before the catcher made a call that he approved of.

He wound up and pitched.

Fastball . And I didn’t react fast enough .

I leapt out of the way to avoid a bruised rib. I wanted the run, but not if I ended up injured along with Barrett.

“Strike two!”

Instead of taking my anger out on the ump, I whirled to face the pitcher. “Are you trying to kill me?”

The bastard smirked at me. I couldn’t see much from fifty feet away, but I didn’t need to in order to know that his eyes sparkled with mischief.

Was… No.

It felt like he was trying to rile me up, and as I glanced over my shoulder at the umpire, that theory was only confirmed. He didn’t realize I was watching him, immersed in having a silent conversation with the one standing at second base.

What the hell is going on ?

“ Remember, what happens when you act up, sweet boy—even if someone is doing it on purpose.”

Levi’s words echoed in my head… and I squirmed as I remembered he’d uttered them while delivering a punishment because I’d lost my temper…

Again.

I took another series of deep breaths. A hand landed on my shoulder—it was the umpire. “Are you alright, kid?” he asked.

“Fine,” I spat. “Just make sure he doesn’t shatter my face, got it? This is my moneymaker.”

The umpire rolled his eyes, but laughed anyway.

I was already on two strikes. Even if they were ones that I didn’t deserve, I only had one shot left to take this fucker down.

He was still giving me that cocky-as-fuck grin.

I returned to home plate, I rolled out my neck, trying to figure out exactly what his endgame was.

Striking me out—or injuring me out—wouldn’t guarantee their win.

The Thrashers were already up by four, and we were in the final inning.

It would take a miracle for us to lose at this point.

He squared his shoulders, locking eyes with me. The motherfucker’s grin widened into a full smile. He shook his head and threw the worst pitch I’d ever seen in my fucking life.

It was sloppy, but fast, and would have smacked into my leg had I not already dropped my bat and stomped in his direction, cursing and swearing up a storm.

“What the fuck is your problem?” I shouted, throwing my batting helmet to the ground. “Seriously? You almost shattered my nose with that first pitch and—why the fuck are you laughing at me, you bastard!”

The pitcher’s smile hadn’t faded, and now he kept glancing over my shoulder. He took a step, backing me off the mound. I waited for the inevitable arms that would pull me away from him, but they didn’t come, so I continued, backing up as the guy stalked toward me.

I moved until I felt home plate beneath my feet.

Stumbling, the pitcher wound an arm around my waist to hold me upright.

I planted both hands on his chest and shoved with everything I had.

He was bigger than me—as most men in the league were—but he still wavered on his feet.

He only laughed harder, peering over my shoulder again.

“You were right. He’s a little spitfire. ”

“Wh—” I tried to look at who he’d be speaking to, but he shocked the hell out of me by reaching into his back pocket and pulling out a… red rose?

What. The Fuck.

“What the hell is going on?”

He only shook his head. “Turn around, Holloway.”

“No! I protested, shoving the rose into his chest. “Not until you explain what the hell is— shit !”

The guy had grabbed my shoulders and whirled me around on the spot.

When my head settled, the breath whooshed from my lungs, like someone had reached into my body and pulled out every ounce of oxygen I possessed. My eyes welled up with tears, and I squeezed them shut, only to open them again a moment later to make sure this was what I thought I was.

The rose appeared over my shoulder, and this time I took it.

I’d apologize to him later.

Stetson and Barrett stood behind home plate, both wearing number twelve jerseys. Murmurs started up throughout the crowd and all of a sudden, a sea of rainbows lit up the evening sky. “What are you two doing?” I asked, my voice little more than a whisper.

Levi watched me, brown eyes glossy with unshed tears. He rolled his bottom lip between his teeth, glancing at his boyfriend. A reassuring smile, and he stepped forward. “Did I ever tell you about the time I proposed to Barrett?”

What ? He wanted story time now ?

Instead of arguing like I truly wanted to do, I zipped it and shook my head.

“It was a much smaller affair than this.” He waved his hand around the stadium.

I took a look around, taking in all the pride flags and the lights.

The fans were eerily silent. “He said no, that it wasn’t time.

At the time, I was confused, but I get it now.

We weren’t ready. Not until you came along. ”

That invisible fist punched me in the gut again. My chest tightened. I couldn’t breathe. For the first time in my life, I was… speechless.

“Stetson, you blew into our life like a tornado with no warning, but we wouldn’t have it any other way. You complete us in a way that we never knew we needed.”

He glanced over his shoulder, and then it was Barrett’s turn.

“Stetson, I’ll be the first to admit that I was unsure in the beginning, but all it took was one day with you, and I knew I was all in—I am all in.

I’ve said it once and I’ll say it again: You’ve taken the most amazing love story, and given it a beautiful epilogue.

And now, Rookie, it’s time for your happy ending. ”

The two men in front of me shared an intimate look…

And then dropped to one knee.

Tears flowed freely now, faster than I could blink them away. The thorns of the rose dug into my fingers, but I couldn’t find it in me to care. I was sobbing now, and tried to ignore the tens of thousands of cameras capturing the moment.

My Daddy and my Sir knelt in front of me, a black velvet box held between the two of them. The stacked diamond band sparkled in the evening sunlight. Levi’s brown eyes, and Barrett’s hazel ones were both watery. They each took a deep breath. “Stetson Alexander Holloway, will you marry us?”

“Yes, of course I’ll fucking marry you!” I blubbered, rushing forward and hauling them to their feet before they could make a single move. The ring fell to the ground, but I wasn’t worried. I was more concerned with them .

The crowd roared so loud that my chest vibrated. I hauled Levi into a kiss first, quickly switching to Barrett and back again. Damn it, why couldn’t I kiss them both at the same time?

I still tried my best. They had their arms around my waist, holding me close. Tears rolled down our cheeks, tinting the kisses with salt. Clicks and shutters echoed around us.

Eventually, my lungs burned for oxygen, forcing me to pull back and settle on my feet.

Levi knelt to retrieve the ring box from where it landed at my feet, brushing dirt off the band before removing it from its pillow.

I lifted my left hand, fighting to hold still.

Now that the adrenaline coursing through my veins had begun to fade, I trembled like a leaf.

Barrett took my hand, holding it in place while Levi slid the ring onto my finger. I tugged them both down to my level this time, and Levi threaded his fingers through my hair to hold me in place. “Turn around and apologize to Joseph, please.”

I assumed that Joseph was the pitcher I’d nearly pummeled.

Sheepishly, I spun to see him smiling and applauding with the rest of the players.

Now that I was close enough to take in his appearance, his eyes were blue, so light that they appeared gray, and they were filled with tears just like everyone else’s. I took a step toward him. “I’m sorry.”

He took my hand, giving it a firm shake. “Don’t be. Just save me a seat at the wedding.”

The league gave me the option of being exempt for the rest of the game, but I didn’t want that.

Just like last year when I took the field with Barrett, I played my best. This time, when I struck the winning home run, he wasn’t standing alone at home plate.

With multi-colored confetti raining down on us, I leapt into Levi’s arms this time, reaching out to bring Barrett close.

“I love you,” I murmured, kissing them both while the crowd went wild . “I love you both so much.”

I didn’t even care that millions of people had now seen me ugly crying.

“We love you too, Rookie.”