Total pages in book: 28
Estimated words: 26448 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 132(@200wpm)___ 106(@250wpm)___ 88(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 26448 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 132(@200wpm)___ 106(@250wpm)___ 88(@300wpm)
He points at me. “You've always had a knack for these things." He brushes hair off my face. “You make things beautiful, Izz."
The stomping on the ceiling and then the stairs lets us know Brock is coming back.
Ryker kisses me. “I'm going to clean up. Be right back."
I am about to get up when he picks me up off the floor and deposits me on the couch like I don't weigh anything.
“Sit. I know you didn't get much rest last night," he whispers to me.
As he walks out, Brock tells Ryker, "Ollie is excited. His mom said he can go."
Ryker fist-bumps him. “Good deal.”
Brock comes and sits next to me. “Mom, there's something I need to tell you."
Ryker walks back in, sees us talking, grabs the glasses, and then walks back into the kitchen.
"What is it?" I ask Brock.
He's looking down at his hands, and I touch his shoulder. "Son, what is it? You can tell me anything."
He nods. “I know, Mom, but well... Dad kept saying that he wants you back." He lifts his eyes to look at me. “He said you two are getting back together."
There's no way in hell. That's what I want to say, but I remind myself this is his dad we’re talking about. “Honey, I'm sorry if he got your hopes up. Your dad and I are not getting back together."
He rubs his hands together. "Mom, he cheated on you. I don't know if I'll ever forgive him for that."
I sigh because I know that even though he's been through a lot, he's a good kid, and he's going to be a good man. I brush my hand through Brock's hair. “I know it's hard, son. You've been through so much. I’m not defending your dad, because you should never cheat. But also, our marriage had been over for a while. We were not good together. We should have ended it before that.” I sigh. I never know what is too much to say, so I just go with my gut. “I'm here for you if you ever need to talk."
He nods. “I know." He reaches out to hug me. “I love you, Mom."
I hold him tightly. “I love you, too."
He pulls away, and as he walks back upstairs, he hollers goodnight to Ryker and me.
"Night, Brock," Ryker calls.
“Night, son.”
Ryker comes to stand in the doorway of the living room and leans against the wall. He heard. I can tell by the look on his face that he heard what Brock said.
He crosses his arms over his chest. “So he wants you back."
I stand up. “Uh, yeah, he said that on the phone the other day, but I never thought he'd tell Brock or that he meant it."
He shakes his head. “I'm not giving you up."
I walk over to him and put my hands at his waist. “Are you sure about this?"
He rears back as if I sucker-punched him. “Why would you ask me that?"
I shrug. “Because we're a package deal."
He nods. “You think I don't know that?"
I shrug again. “And I have baggage. An ex-husband and—"
He puts his hand under my chin and lifts my head. “You're mine, Izzy."
I go to my tiptoes and lean into him. “I'm yours."
He leans down and kisses me. He holds me possessively, and I wrap my arms around him. I want to be with him, but I just hope he doesn't regret his choices.
CHAPTER 15
RYKER
My phone rings again, but I ignore it.
“Should you get that?” Izzy asks me.
We’re standing in her kitchen on Christmas Eve. She’s been cooking since early this morning, and I’ve been doing what I can to help. Tonight, my dad and Caroline are coming to eat dinner with Izzy, Brock, and me, and then Brock is going to his dad’s tomorrow for Christmas. I know this will be the first Christmas Izzy is going to be away from her son, and she’s struggling with it.
“Nope. It’s Christmas Eve. My agent can wait.”
She looks at the phone curiously and then frowns. Izzy and I have gone back and forth on me retiring from baseball. She worries that I’m making the wrong decision, but I haven’t had one second thought about it.
Brock runs into the kitchen, smiling and holding up his phone. “Oh my God, Ryker, is this for real? Fifty million dollars a year in a new three-year contract? That’s awesome, dude.”
He’s holding his hand up, waiting for a high-five. I can see the shocked look on Izzy’s face, and I realize now that I should have talked to her about this. I slap hands with Brock. “I turned it down.”
Brock is shocked. I swear the boy turns green. “You turned it down? That’s crazy. Do you know how much money that is? How? Why? It says it’s the most that a designated hitter has ever been offered.”