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Scrolling through, there had to be a hundred videos all from different angles of the same thing – ESPN, FOX Sports, NBC Sports, random fans uploading their own takes – and me leaving as I gripped onto the stretcher. Then there was the commentary-

“I tell you, Steve, if Tanner Simpson ever gives up baseball, he could compete in hurdles. That was some leap.”

“I hope she’s okay. I think that looked like Tanner Simpson’s girlfriend, who’s expecting their first child.”

“I’d be leaping over the dugout too.”

“I think if you were leaping over anything, Mike, we’d need two stretchers.”

I switched it off and passed it back to Holiday.

“You guys won tonight, that’s all Shepherd will care about.” She said, misreading my expression. “Don’t worry.”

“I know, but that’s not it. Watching that, see Millie collapse. I’ve never been so terrified of losing something...” I tried to make it through, but I failed.

My voice broke and I dissolved into sobs as Holiday wrapped her arms around me, like she’d done a million times over the years.

“I know, but she’s okay and the baby’s okay.”

I peered up at her, wiping my eyes with the only clean part of my shirt I could find, and grinned. “ He . We’re having a boy, the doctor told me.”

“A boy.” Holiday gasped. “Ohmygod. I’m having a nephew. This is the best news.” She pulled me into another bone crushing hug, before letting out a peel of laughter. “You know what this means?”

I glanced at her, eyes wide with excitement before letting out a chuckle. “Yeah, new favorite grandson.”

“ T anner… Tan?”

Lifting my head from the pillow on the couch, it took me a second to realize where I was and that Millie was staring at me. Then another second to stumble off the couch and rush to the bed.

“Heyyy.”

“What happened?” she asked, her fingers brushing over the band-aid before focusing on the drips sticking out from the crook of her elbow. “Where am I?”

Taking her hands, I kissed the tips, “You don’t remember?”

She shook her head.

“You collapsed at the game. Your appendix nearly burst, and you were rushed to hospital. You had surgery this morning to remove it, and then you were in recovery for a while.” I glanced at the clock.

“You came back here a couple of hours ago and you’ve been asleep ever since.

Your mom’s just left but she’ll be back later.

Radley was here too, but she had to go to class. ”

“I’ve been in surgery.” She whispered, her hand darting to her bump. “Oh god, I thought it was all a dream.”

“Not a dream, babe. All real.”

“And we’re having a baby? ”

My hand slipped over hers still cradling her belly, and I laced our fingers together. “We are.”

A fat tear appeared out of nowhere and rolled down her cheek before her face dropped, and a loud garbled sob burst from her throat.

“Hey, don’t cry. It’s okay.” Moving to sit on the bed and taking care not to jolt her, or cause her further pain, I held her as tightly but as gently as I could.

“Mills, everything’s fine and the baby’s great.

Strong , the doctor said. We have a strong baby, just like you, and in a couple of days we can all go home together. ”

“I thought it was a dream,” she repeated through a wail. “I thought I’d woken up and imagined everything we’d done together, and for a terrifying second it was all gone. I didn’t know what to do. My life flashed before me.”

“Hey,” I wiped away her tears and refrained from telling her I knew how that felt. “Don’t cry, it’s all real. I’m here, the baby’s here. In fact, I have some news that will make you happy, if you wanna hear it.”

“You do?” she sniffed, “Good news?”

“Yes, the doctor told me what we’re having.”

Her eyes immediately dried as she gasped. “You know the sex?

I nodded.

“What did he say?”

“A boy.” I grinned, though Millie started crying again, harder still when I said, “Brady.”

“Brady Simpson.”

“Sounds good, don’t you think?”

“Yes,” she nodded, “It sounds amazing. We’re having a boy. ”

“We are. Need to get some blue added to the nursery now.” I laughed. “What was that color we vetoed?”

“Corduroy. We could add some baseballs… Oh! The game. Last night, who won?”

“We did.”

“Oh babe, that’s amazing.” She smiled, but then her expression fell in a wince. “Shit, did I puke on Josh and Matty.”

“You did. But they were here earlier, I’d say they’ve forgiven you.” I nodded to the bouquet of flowers and giant box of jellybeans they’d left on the table, at which Millie rolled her eyes.

“They probably just want to stay on your good side for tickets to game five…” she stopped speaking and her mouth dropped open. “Tanner! Game five. What time is it? You have to go.”

“Nope, I’m not going anywhere. I’m staying right here.”

“Tanner, you should be there. I’m fine.”

“I should be here. I’m right where I’m supposed to be. Baseball is my job, but you’re my priority, there’ll be other world series games and who knows,” I shrugged, “maybe they’ll lose tonight. Doesn’t matter anyway, I’ve already told Coach and Shepherd.”

“You did?”

“Yes.”

“Were they mad?”

I shook my head. I’d expected the conversation to be way harder than it had been, but by the time Holiday had retrieved my phone from Lux and brought it back, I’d been too focused on Millie’s surgery to care.

In the end both of them had told me to take all the time I needed, a gesture that rooted my unwavering loyalty in the Lions for life.

“No, they were surprisingly understanding. It probably helped that you collapsed on live television.”

“Oh no,” she groaned, dropping her face into her hands. “If they lose tonight then you’re going tomorrow if I have to drive you myself.”

I wasn’t going to tell her it would be a few weeks before she’d be doing anything.

T he Lions didn’t lose.

For the first time in history The New York Lions had won the World Series.

I suspected if I looked out of the window I could probably see the black and gold glitter being fired from the canons.

On the television right now, Jupiter Reeves was lifting the Commissioner’s trophy into the air – the crown of gold flags glinted in the lights of the stadium.

The game had been textbook – we’d definitely had much more exciting ones this season - and the Yankees had seemed a step behind all night. In the end we were too strong for them.

For three hours Millie’s room had been a thoroughfare of doctors and nurses popping their heads around the door to find out the score, only to stay until they were paged.

The other draw to Millie’s room had been Holiday parked up on the couch watching with us and since she’d gone home this place had been much quieter .

“You should have been there.” Grumbled Millie for the fiftieth time.

“I’ll be there next year.” I replied, just like I had every time.

I couldn’t even say I was mad I’d missed it when I got to be here with Millie and the bump. Though I’d have preferred to have watched it at home.

“And next year Brady will be watching with us.” I grinned.

“He will, cheering his daddy on.” She replied, as her hand eased into mine and squeezed. “Hey Tan, ask me the question.”

My eyes flicked away from the screen where baseball analysts were dissecting the past season.

“What?”

“Tanner, ask me the question .” She pressed, though I had no idea what she was talking about.

“What question?”

“The one you always ask me.”

It must have been the lack of sleep, because it took me a second. Then a huge smile spread across my face, “Hey Mills, you fall in love with me yet?”

She nodded, her eyes twinkling as her smile grew. “Yes, Tanner I did.”

“You bet your ass you did.”

“And you still don’t care about being conventional?”

I shook my head, “Nope. Don’t care one bit.”

“Okay, then I have a question.”

“Oh really? What?” I asked.

She was silent for a moment and all I could hear was the sound of the sports reporters discussing Penn Shepherd’s story, the journey of the club, and what an incredible achievement it was for everyone involved.

I was about to ask her what she wanted to ask me, but then she spoke.

“Will you marry me?”