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“But—“ I swallowed, unsure of what to say. I couldn’t tell him he’d knocked me up with the entire world watching, could I? “What if it’s just a little more complicated than you think?”

“Doubt it,” he answered. I pulled back but didn’t open my eyes, too afraid of the tears that would roll down my face. “Look at me, Rox,” he ordered gently in a tone I was more than familiar with.

His daddy tone. This shit was supposed to stay behind closed doors, yet it trickled out into our real life. And I let it when I opened them slowly. His eyes were full of love and hope. I frowned when Dave let go of my body and took a step back. With one hand still in his, he pulled my palm up to his lips and pressed a kiss to it.

“There isn’t a thing I wouldn’t do for you, Roxanne Marquez.” I pressed my lips together, unable to ignore the collective sounds from the bleachers.

“I’d lie, steal, cheat, bully.” He winked, and that’s when my breath hitched in the middle of my throat. Dave Ferguson kneeled down, but not before slipping something out of his pants pocket.

Not that I could tear my eyes from his to confirm it was what I thought it was.

“Holy shit,” I gasped, and he chuckled.

“We might not have started off like other people, but I think it’s what gives our story some… character.” I sniffled. “I used to think the one and only purpose in my life was playing.” He pointed at the diamond behind us. “That was what I was put on this earth for. And maybe it was selfish or self-centered of me to think that, but playing baseball was all I ever wanted to do with my life. And like you know… I can be a little stubborn when I set my mind to something.” This earned him an eye roll that only seemed to fill his gaze with more love.

“But then I met a girl who couldn’t seem to stand the sight of me and somehow, she got under my skin, under my bones, and straight into my marrow.”

“Jesus, that’s a little graphic,” the big guy sitting next to Callie muttered.

“Graphic but kinda sweet,” my best friend replied.

“I know you thought you were just about to get rid of me, but I have another deal for you.”

“You do?” He nodded and reached forward to wipe the tears off my face with the pads of his thumbs.

“I don’t want what we have to end.” He kissed my left hand again. “I’m not ready to say goodbye, and honestly, laying my cards on the table, I want to spend the rest of my life with you.”

“Dave—“

“I promise I will do my damnedest to be the kind of man who even comes close to deserving you. I will love you with every breath I take and work nonstop to make you happy, honey bun. Be mine. Be my wife.”

“Get up,” I ordered, and when he did, I stood on the tips of my toes and leaned in, so I could whisper in his ear. Thankfully, he got the idea and leaned in closer.

“I’m pregnant,” I abruptly shared. If I had been able to focus on anything but the galloping in my chest, I would have noticed the way his body relaxed and his grip on my body changed into a possessive one. “Do you still what this?” I asked, feeling like the last remaining leaf on a tree at the end of autumn, shaky and scared.

“Fuck, yes,” he rasped, and that’s when I thought I noticed just a hint of what I could only call relief in his dark gaze. He pulled back and was smiling brighter and wider than I’d ever seen.

“Will you marry me, Roxanne?” The stadium was so quiet I could have sworn you could have heard someone cough in the parking lot.

“Yes!” I nodded as happy tears streamed down my face. Dave slipped something on my ring finger, but I didn’t get a chance to see it when he picked me up in one of his huge daddy hugs and the crowd erupted with joy!

He swung me around, and I laughed as I buried my face in the crook of his neck. Holy shit! Dave and I were knocked up and engaged! And I still hadn’t told him I loved him.

EIGHT

DAVE

“Ican feel you staring,” Roxie complained, her eyes still shut, her soft pliant body warm and tucked into my side.

“I can stare as much as I want to, wife,” I mumbled. Her lips twitched slightly, but she didn’t let me have even a glimpse of her green eyes as she snuggled in closer.

“Not wife yet,” she said, her voice still sleepy.

“Baby mama?” This made her eyes pop open. “There are those eyes I’ve been waiting to see,” I rumbled, flipping her over onto her back so I could hover over her, half my body on her, the other half on the mattress to try and not squish her.

“Are you really okay about this?” she asked. I pulled the sheets down to reveal her naked body. My hand moved down between her breasts and didn’t stop until I rested my open palm over the tiny swell of her belly. “You know that’s all the food from yesterday, not the baby showing yet.”

“I know,” I chuckled, pressing my lips to her cheek before pulling away, my hand still resting on her stomach. “I’m more than okay. I knew.”