Page 38 of Playing Hard to Hate

GRIFFIN

PRESENT

Tate hadn’t called after the interview, and I knew she watched all the games and interviews.

It hadn’t been enough to sway her decisions, and I was getting fucking sick and tired of this cat-and-mouse game.

I had made my intentions clear more than once, and she was choosing to live in the past. I wasn’t the same stupid kid anymore. I would never hurt her like that again.

The silence between us was fucking up my game. I was trying to prove to my team manager and leaders that I was good enough to be a starting pitcher, and so far, all I’d done was show them why they shouldn’t renew my contract for a second year.

I needed to fix this shit between Tate and me this morning before our game tonight.

I couldn’t afford another loss, and my team was starting to put the pieces together.

It was now when I finally realized why the team manager advised against relationships, practically forbidding starting a new one while in the middle of a season.

I never thought I’d be one of those guys.

I thought I loved the bachelor life, but it was empty.

None of those women knew me. Hell, half the time they couldn’t even remember my first name .

“Sort your shit out with Tate,” Hunter had grumbled last night when we finally landed at the airport. We’d trudged to the team bus the airport well after midnight, all three of us exhausted from the rigorous schedule. The adrenaline rushes from the games and traveling never seemed to help.

“Dude, you know I love her, but either cut her off or find a solution because we’re about to be eliminated in the fucking playoffs.” Graham dragged a hand down his usually freshly shaven face that was covered in a five o’clock shadow. The last seventy-two hours had been hard on all of us.

I chose to ignore them both because I didn’t have the right answer for them.

Cutting Tate loose seemed like the right choice.

She hadn’t called or texted. The ball was in her court, and she wasn’t making a move.

But now that I’d had a taste of her, knew how sweet her lips were and how she felt tucked against my body while she slept, I craved so much more.

The next morning, I woke up with a plan.

I had a few hours to either convince her to be at my game tonight wearing my name, or I had to let her go once and for all.

I grabbed one of my jerseys that had my number and last name on it along with an extra ball cap.

I wanted her at my game tonight, and if she came, I would win.

I just knew she was my good luck charm. She had to be the reason behind everything that was going right in my life.

I stopped at a grocery store outside of town for her favorite flowers and to grab a few of her favorite things that I’d noticed over the last few weeks.

I pushed the cart around the store looking for the protein shakes I’d noticed she loved, then the protein bars, and even the dark chocolate.

I was in luck when I found two bouquets of pink peonies and started heading for the checkout counter when I saw her.

She was pushing a cart through the produce section, extremely skittish as she checked over her shoulder every few seconds.

I changed direction, heading toward her, and wrapped a hand around her bicep to get her attention. She instantly tensed before shrieking and jumping in fright.

“Hel—Griffin?” She was about to scream for help before looking up at me and instantly going limp in my hold. “Oh god, it’s only you.” She raised a hand to her chest and took a few slow breaths.

“Everything okay?”

She nodded but her eyes darted around like she half expected someone else to jump out and grab her.

“You should probably let go before you cause a scene,” she suggested, looking down at where I was still holding her. I let go and pulled my ball cap down further, hoping to hide my identity. I was not in the mood for there to be any pictures or questions asked. I needed this moment to be private.

“Right. Are you sure you’re okay?”

She nodded, looking down at her feet before finding my eyes again and then darting them over to my cart that I had forgotten about. She was lying through her fucking teeth.

“Griffin, why do you have my favorite flowers in your cart?”

I was about to answer when someone cleared their throat.

“You two done?” a young woman asked, glancing at us and the strawberries behind us.

Tate darted out of the way with a quick apology before turning to look at me, narrowing her eyes.

“I was going to come see you,” I admitted after moving over to the side where she was currently crossing her arms and glaring up at me.

“Uh-huh. Well, you’ve seen me now. No need to get the flowers. ”

“You never called.”

“Neither did you.”

“Oh my god, it’s them! ” A teenage girl squealed, and I glared down at the ground. She came running over with her boyfriend in tow and started gushing at Tate, who was stunned. It must have been the first time someone approached her in public.

“I’ve been following you for years. You are so much prettier in person. And your arms are so not too muscular. I want to look just like you. Do you have any tips? What about training? Could you train me?” The girl was rapidly firing questions at Tate, who appeared to be completely overwhelmed.

“Tate.” I slipped my fingers through her hand, and she instantly clutched it like a lifeline, looking between me and her very excited fan.

“And you’re Griffin Silver. Oh my god. In my grocery store.

No one is going to believe me. Chester, can you believe it?

” She slapped her boyfriend’s chest who seemed he couldn’t care less.

“Oh, take a picture of us. Wait. Is that okay?” She was shoving her phone in her boyfriend’s hands before looking toward Tate and me.

I nodded before squeezing Tate’s hand, and she also nodded. We posed for a picture with the excited girl who turned to us after examining her picture.

“Hold on. Is this the first time you’ve seen each other since you publicly claimed her? Good move by the way. So hot. Definitely book boyfriend material.”

“Hailey, you’re overstepping,” her boyfriend whispered, attempting to pull her away.

Tate still hadn’t uttered a word, and I was worried she had gone into shock.

“Are you okay?” Hailey asked Tate, completely ignoring her boyfriend.

“Just shocked. You really want advice from me?”

I saw the uncertainty flash in Tate’s eyes, heard the fear in her voice. She truly didn’t believe in herself, and here was a teen girl freaking out over her.

“You’re Tatum freaking Grace. Have you looked in a mirror? I would do anything to look like you,” Hailey gushed, oblivious to all the turmoil flashing over Tate’s expression.

I pulled out my phone after glancing around and noticing we were drawing a crowd. A few people had their phones out recording, and that was not what either of us needed right now.

“Why don’t you give me your Instagram username, and I’ll make sure she follows you back later. Maybe you two can message about her favorite splits and meals.”

Hailey squealed, grabbed my phone, quickly typed away, and then handed it back.

“This has been a dream. I hope you two make things work. You’re a total power couple, and I’m so here for it.”

Her boyfriend finally managed to pull her away, and I turned to Tate.

“Cat got your tongue?”

“How do you handle that all the time?”

“It gets easier. You should be excited. You have your first real-life fan.”

I shielded her from the view of people behind us. I felt their curious eyes and cameras watching our every move. I was sure there would be another article later tonight, but I wanted Tate to enjoy this moment. It was important.

The overhead lights buzzed, a cart squeaked down the aisle, and somewhere near the registers, a kid whined about candy. None of it mattered.

Tate was standing in front of me, our chests practically brushing as she looked up at me, every emotion possible swirling in the depths of her green eyes. Fear, anxiety, excitement, frustration, anger, and something else. Could it be love ?

She reached for her cart, fingers curling around the handle, knuckles turning white.

“Why are you here, Fin?” she asked, her voice barely above a whisper.

I exhaled, shifting my weight. I could try to be funny. Here as in the grocery store or here as in the grocery store by her home? It was stupid. I could’ve called. Could’ve let her have space after I’d put her name in every headline with one damn sentence.

But I couldn’t wait. I needed to know if she was going to finally let me back in.

“Because I meant what I said, Tate.” I stepped even closer, watching the way her chest rose with a sharp inhale. “And I needed to see if you did too.”

She swallowed, her green eyes flickering with something I couldn’t quite place. Hope.

A cart rolled past, an elderly woman glancing between us with mild curiosity before moving along. Tate didn’t seem to notice.

It was just the two of us in this moment.

She opened her mouth, bit her bottom lip, and then shut her eyes before opening them and glancing around us. She tilted her head back, crossing her arms. “I’m surprised you’re not busy with your biggest fan.”

My brows pulled together. “What?”

She shrugged. “You know. The one who practically climbed you like a tree after your last game.”

“There’s nothing between me and that fan,” I said, voice firm, steady. “Never was.”

Tate swallowed, forcing herself to keep her expression neutral. “Good to know. ”

“I just want you, Tate. I wouldn’t let anyone come between us. You have to trust me. I’m not that same teenage boy. I’m a man now, and I’m not prepared to lose you a second time. ”

She scanned the store again, deliberately avoiding my eyes. What the hell is she looking for? I glanced over my shoulder, half expecting a crowd or some kind of distraction pulling her focus—but there was nothing. Just us.

“Tate?”

“What do you want from me, Griffin?”

“Be my girlfriend.”

“Okay.”

I opened my mouth, ready to argue, my points lined up like a perfect play. But then it hit me.

Her answer.

The smallest smile tugged at her lips, hesitant but real, and suddenly, nothing else mattered. Because I finally won the biggest game of all.

In the parking lot, I helped load her bags into the trunk of her car. I convinced her to wait before going home. I ran over to my SUV, grabbing the hat and shirt for her, hoping she would come to the game tonight. I had two tickets.

I handed over the items, seeing the surprise cross her features when she read my name on the hat and jersey. I saw the questions churning in her mind, so I handed her the two tickets.

“Need my good luck charm at my game tonight.” I don’t ask. I hope she hears the subtle question.

“We’ll be there.” She smiles hesitantly, and I bend down, pressing a quick kiss to her lips before she can object and jog back over to my car and head to the stadium. It was going to be a good game.

Spotted: Griffin Silver’s Love Life Takes Center Stage in Grocery Store Showdown

Looks like Griffin Silver isn’t just making plays on the field. He’s making headlines off it too.

The Atlanta baseball star was spotted at a local grocery store this morning, and while a quick snack run isn’t normally newsworthy, what went down inside definitely is.

Eyewitnesses report that Silver was seen with none other than fitness influencer Tatum Grace, the same woman he recently named in a post-game press conference when he admitted he wanted her in his life.

Eyewitnesses report that Tate seemed completely shell-shocked when approached by an overenthusiastic fan, who was eager to shower her with praise.

While most influencers might bask in the attention, sources say Tate looked overwhelmed and caught off guard, struggling to respond as the fan continued gushing.

According to those nearby, the star athlete stepped in, steadying Tatum, offering quiet reassurance, and making sure she wasn’t left floundering in the awkward situation.

And while that alone was enough to raise eyebrows, the real shocker came next because, in the middle of it all, Silver was overheard asking Tatum to be his girlfriend.

That’s right. One minute, he’s her anchor in a sea of chaos. The next, he’s shooting his shot.

Her response? Witnesses say she didn’t exactly give him a straight answer, but there was a smile, however small. Could it mean she’s considering it? Or was she simply too stunned to process what just happened?

With Silver’s high-stakes playoff run and Tatum’s name already dominating headlines, this unexpected grocery store moment has only added fuel to the fire.

So are they officially an item? Or was this just another near-miss in their complicated history? One thing’s for sure. Griffin Silver isn’t just playing for a title. He’s playing for Tatum.

So will we see Tatum in the stands tonight, cheering on Silver as he fights to keep his playoff dreams alive? Could she be the Braves’ new good luck charm?

Stay tuned to find out.