I take a few more rounds, then my pitcher calls me out for warm-ups. Even though I tell myself I’m not going to look, the row of seats right behind the dugout is the first place my eyes go to when I jog out on the field. Ty’s always the first thing I see—probably because my eyes are trained to look for him after so many years of having him come to my games. But then they fall immediately on Rowe. She can’t see my eyes clearly through my mask, so I take this opportunity to really stare—long and hard.

God, I’m an idiot. If I could get one redo in life, it would be to go back to that moment outside the Thunder’s stadium—in that very second when I realized it was Sadie standing behind me. I wouldn’t even bother to turn around. Instead, I’d just grab the sides of Rowe’s face and kiss her, like one rude show-off in front of my ex-girlfriend. And not because I give two shits how it would make Sadie feel. Actually, I don’t like the idea of making her feel bad. But if it would wipe away all doubt in Rowe’s mind and make her realize how much she means to me, then I’d kiss her for hours right in front of Sadie just to prove my point.

“Preet! You ready?” Cash is tossing the ball, playing with his grip, ready to warm.

“Yeah, sorry. Just waiting for someone to show up. But it’s all good. She’s here,” I say, sliding the mask up on top of my head so we can throw for warm-up.

“Which one, that sexy little blond thing next to your brother?” he asks, and I smile and shake my head.

“No, that’s my brother’s girlfriend. But feel free to tell him you think his chick is hot—he likes that. Mine’s the other girl, darker hair, long-ass legs,” I say, waiting for him to throw back to me so I can turn around and take her in one more time.

“You mean the one that dude’s hitting on right now?” he says, and I just hold up my hand to halt his throw. What. The. Fuck?

“Oh, you have to be kidding me,” I grit through my teeth. Cash walks up next to me, putting his elbow on my shoulder.

“So, I’m taking it—he’s not supposed to be here?”

“No. And in a few minutes, he won’t be breathing,” I say, tossing my mask from my head, and dropping my glove to the ground before I break into a jog.

Rowe doesn’t see me coming at first, but Ty does. I make eye contact with my brother, and mouth a few choice words, but he just shakes his head and laughs. Without even hesitating, I hop the small wall in front of the seats and climb up the two rows to the dugout row where the big bodybuilder man is now sitting way too f**king close to my girl.

“Hey, who the f**k are you?” I ask, unable to stop myself. I passed civil and polite twenty yards ago, and I’ve gone straight to crazy.

“Nate!” Rowe says, her arms out like I’m the one who’s out of line here.

“Dude, I’m sorry…I was just visiting with Rowe. I’m Tucker,” he says, reaching out a hand, which I slap away instantly.

“Tucker? You know what rhymes with Tucker? I yell, igniting a round of laughter in my brother.

“Nate! That’s enough,” Rowe says, standing in between her new friend and me. “Tucker, I’m sorry,” she says, showing me her back while she talks to…this dude!

“No, it’s okay. I get it. I’ve got things to do, so no worries. Just thought I’d stop by. I’ll…I’ll just see you Monday,” Tucker says, pulling his hat a little lower on his brow. The dude is big—I mean, wide! And I’m already feeling like an ass from the scene I caused, but he’s leaving, and that’s what I really wanted. “Nate, man. Heard good things about you. Really, nice to meet you—maybe next time it’ll be in better…well, circumstances,” he says, reaching his hand out toward me again. I just look at it and laugh once before looking away.

“I’m sorry,” Rowe says quietly to him again as he leaves.

“What the hell, Rowe?” My entire body is tingling with adrenaline, and I’m still pissed as hell, so yeah, I’m taking it out on her.

“Nate, go play your stupid game, or I’m going home,” she says, sitting back in her seat and pulling her knees up, her feet propped on the top of the dugout. “Go on. Run along,” she says, waving me off. I’m so pissed; all I can do is run my hand over my face to keep myself from saying a slew of more things I’ll undoubtedly regret in the next twenty minutes.

“Shut up, f**k nut,” I say to Ty as I walk by and flip his hat from his head. “Your head looks stupid in that hat. It’s too big.”