“She’s a very pretty girl,” Harold argued in his defense.
“Who’s only twenty-three. And my employee. My ex-wife would have a field day with that one.” He rolled his eyes.
“Who cares what that woman thinks? She’s nothing but a giant pain in the ass.”
Harold turned his attention back to me. “So, are you interested in my son? He’s got a great job. Makes a lot of money. Has a closet filled with fancy suits. Drives some expensive, electric car. What do you think?”
“I—”
“I’m sure Julia’s not superficial enough to care about those things,” Carter interjected.
I gave him a smile, then looked back at Harold. “I appreciate the offer, I suppose. But I’m actually seeing someone.”
The words left my mouth before I could really think about them. Was I seeing someone? I wasn’t sure what Lachlan and I were at the moment. But the ease with which I said it reinforced that this was where I needed to be.
“I hope he knows how lucky he is,” Harold said.
“I hope he does, too.”
With one more smile, I turned back around, refocusing my attention on the game just as a Hawks player struck out, bringing the inning to an end.
I squinted at the scoreboard, noting it was going into the top of the fifth. My heart rate kicked up slightly when I saw Lachlan’s form appear on the large screens as he made his way out of the dugout.
The dugout that was mere feet in front of me.
I flung my gaze in his direction, my breath catching at how close he was. Regardless, he still seemed like a world away, the wall separating the stands from the field an insurmountable obstacle.
Would he look into the stands? Realize I was here? He seemed so focused on the game. Like it was the only thing that existed. Maybe this was a stupid idea.
But I needed to at least try to get his attention.
Jumping to my feet, I placed my hands around my mouth, praying he’d hear me over the boisterous noise in the stadium.
“Watch out for jellyfish!”
He stopped abruptly, not moving for several long moments, as if he thought he was imagining it.
“Come on,” I muttered to myself. “Turn around.”
I could sense several pairs of eyes staring at me like I was crazy. Maybe I was.
But this was unlike anything I’d experienced in years.
It made me feel more alive than I had in years.
The butterflies in my stomach steadily increased with every drawn-out second as Lachlan slowly turned and scanned the stands. When his blue eyes landed on me, everything about him shifted. His face lit up, mouth curving in the corners, a weight seeming to lift off his shoulders.
Hi, I mouthed.
He stared, dumbstruck, blinking repeatedly, as if convinced he was imagining this. Then he finally mouthed his reply.
Hi.
He didn’t look away, his stare boring into me, stripping me bare, revealing my truth. The reason for my presence here.
I’ve made my decision. I choose you. More importantly, I choose myself.
Somehow, I sensed he understood all of that without me having to say a word. He treated me to one last smile, then jogged the rest of the way to the mound, glancing my direction after every warmup pitch, as if wanting to make sure I really was here.
I sat back down, exhaling a long breath, small smile on my face.
“So, uh… Lachlan Hale?”
I glanced behind me, meeting Harold’s inquisitive look. I could have brushed it off, told him he was just a friend. But if I was going to jump, I was going to fucking jump.
Beaming, I nodded. “Yes. Lachlan Hale.”
“Nice catch.” He squeezed my shoulder. “Nice catch indeed.”
I turned my eyes forward, watching as Lachlan wound up and threw a strike. “I think so, too.”