“You made the papers, Kane. Congratulations!”
I looked down. “The Beast Of First Base Is Off The Market.”
Below the headline was a full-color photo of my girl and me, the huge ring sparkling on her finger.
We both looked really happy.
I grinned back at Joey. “Thanks.”
***
The guys were as boisterous as usual in the locker room, getting ready for the game. We’d lost twice to these bastards and didn’t want to fall to them again.
My phone pinged just before we headed out to the field. A picture text from Eliana. I laughed out loud when I opened it. Apparently, my fiancée had been in my closet, and the entire group of women were wearing Beasts gear. Nana looked quite fetching in one of my caps.
Eliana: The cheering section is ready.
Me: Four good luck charms. I’m a lucky guy.
Eliana: xoxo
Me: ?
It was lame, but I was still dealing with everything that was happening and had been granted zero time to process it all.
“That the lucky lady?” A big hand came down on my shoulder, giving it a hard squeeze. Rhett Hamilton stood beside me, a society section in his hand and a twinkle in his eye. “Engaged, huh? Son, when I said to work on your public relations, I didn’t mean you had to slap a ball and chain on it.”
I laughed but said nothing.
“I’ve already checked her out. No skeletons in her closet that I can see. You did well.”
“Thank you, sir. She’s special. I’d planned to bring her to the game today, but her apartment complex burned down.”
He looked genuinely concerned. “Shit. I got caught up in that traffic. Is she okay?”
“Yeah, she wasn’t there. Neither was her roommate. Lost everything but their lives.”
He squeezed my shoulder again. “Then they kept the most important thing. Let me know if there’s anything they need. We have some empty team apartments. We could put them up for a few days, or weeks. Whatever.”
“That’s kind of you, sir. She’ll be staying with me for a while, but I’ll let you know if anything comes up.”
He eyed me closely. “You okay to be out on the field? Something like that can shake a man up.”
I shook my head. “I’m good. I’ll be playing in memory of the two people who lost their lives today. Gives me something to concentrate on. Plus, Eliana is watching. We’ve won every game but one since I’ve known her. And that loss was because she wasn’t watching. I blame her.”
Rhett’s brows furrowed. “So you’ve known this woman less than two weeks?”
I felt my face grow red and nodded.
“And for most of that time, you were on a helluva long road trip?”
I nodded again.
“And now you’re engaged?”
I lifted a shoulder. “When you know, you know.”
He looked up at the ceiling and exhaled a long breath. “Alright, son. I’m going to believe that you know what the hell you’re doing.”
I don’t have a clue.
“Thank you. Excuse me, sir. I’ve got a game to win.”
He lifted a brow. “She watching?”
I grinned and showed him the picture she’d sent me. “Yep.”
“Alright, go get ‘em.”
Get ‘em we did.
The first inning didn’t look like much. Calvin started out rusty, giving them two runs. A homer and one that got in from an error on my part.
That pissed me off, and nothing else got by me.
If it was over my head, I caught it.
At my feet, I caught it.
Once I had to practically lay in the dirt with my big toe on base, but I caught it.
For them. Those who perished and those who escaped.
And when I knocked a dinger over the wall… that one was for her.
CHAPTER TEN
Eliana
I didn’t know how it was for most people, but for me, when I slept, a bomb could go off, and I wouldn’t wake. It had been that way all my life. I slept like I was in a coma. I didn’t dream or have nightmares — usually.
I’d lived through nightmares though. I was grateful those deep internal memories didn’t play in my mind on repeat too often.
Sometimes, I woke up from sleep with a jolt, even when I wasn’t sure what had startled me. On the rare occasions I did dream, I’d end up bolt upright in a panic, going from a deep sleep to full wakefulness so quickly my body and brain had no time to process it.
But those times were better than when I became stuck in the darkness, attempting to claw my way back to reality. Then, by the time I finally woke, enough internal chemicals had flooded my system that my fight or flight response was in full gear.
Like now.
Even as I knew I needed to wake up, my eyes wouldn’t open, and I remained lost in the darkness. No, the fire. The heat. The smell. The pain of choking on the acrid smoke.
As I fought my way through the smoke, my fists pounded into something solid, and pain shot through my hands. I screamed as someone grabbed me, tight vices encircling my arms.
“Eliana, it’s me. It’s okay.”
A voice cut through the chaos in my head, and my terror escalated.
I opened my eyes, but could still see nothing but a dark shape hovering over me. He was coming to get me, of that I was sure. Just as he came to get Mamaw and Papaw. I was next…
“Eliana!”
Strong arms wrapped around me and I found myself pinned against a solid chest. I couldn’t breathe. I couldn’t think. My head was pounding as the blood from my racing heart surged through it.
“Please don’t hurt me,” came a small whimper and I knew it was from me.
“Shh, baby. Eliana, it’s okay. Shh. It’s Kane. I’m here now. Everything will be okay.”
The voice was deep and familiar, and the quiet words began to penetrate my panic. When I shuddered in his arms, and my teeth began to chatter, a warm blanket was pulled over me.
“I’ve got you.”
I began to calm. Began to warm as the truth of his words brought light to the dark place I’d been lost in.
“Kane?”
I hadn’t realized how terribly tense he had been until he relaxed when I said his name. His hold on me loosened, and I pulled back, looking up at him, almost afraid of what I’d see.
Would he think I was weak for allowing my subconscious to take over so completely? Would he pity me? Think I was crazy?
I could see none of that in his face. Worry, yes, but there was also compassion. He kissed my forehead and pushed my hair out of my face. “It’s me, baby. I’m here. Everything’s okay. Breathe with me.”
Clutching him, I focused on slowing my breath until it was even with his. As I did, my heart rate slowed too, though not as slow as the one beating under my ear. The sound was soothing. An indication of life, and I found myself relaxing against him.
“I’m sorry,” I said.
“For what?”
“It’s been a long day, and you didn’t need to come home to this mess in your bed.”
He lifted my chin until I was forced to meet his eyes. “I happen to like the mess in my bed. And I’m worried about what happened. Want to talk about it?”
I didn’t but knew I owed him an explanation.
“Remember when I told you about my grandparents dying in a fire?”
He nodded.
“I was there, but I was able to get out.” I swallowed hard. “They didn’t.”