Total pages in book: 103
Estimated words: 98697 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 493(@200wpm)___ 395(@250wpm)___ 329(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 98697 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 493(@200wpm)___ 395(@250wpm)___ 329(@300wpm)
“Are ye guys sure ye be okay to babysit?” I ask for the millionth time.
“Aye, lass, between the two of us, we’ve enough babes for our own softball team. Ye get out of here and show yer lad some love,” Laoise says with a smile.
“Aye, she does not tell a fib, she doesn’t. Seven lads hell-bent on outdoing me and Joe. We can handle these wee angels. Go on,” Cass adds.
I go over to kiss each of the girls. They are so quiet and well-behaved. They took to Laoise and Cass right away.
“DJ,” Cole groans.
“What is it with ya? Why are ya rushing me?”
He throws his arms up in the air. “We have shit to do. I don’t want to be late. Can ya bring yer pretty ass on?”
I smile and roll my eyes at him. This better be a good date. Only an hour’s notice to get ready and now he’s rushing me like an impatient child.
Brooklyn
I’ve been planning this date for a month. We’re running late and it’s all my fault. I was up all night with the girls so DJ could get some rest.
Then I got up early to make her breakfast in bed. I didn’t mean to fall asleep with the girls when I put them down for a nap. I woke with less than two hours for us to get here.
I’m so grateful to Aunt Cass and Granny McGowan for babysitting while I got dressed and during the time we’ll be on this date.
I’ve never been this nervous about a date in my life. I feel like I’m fifteen all over again. After almost losing DJ in that fire, I can’t put this off any longer.
“I can’t believe we’re late,” I murmur to myself.
“Is it really that big a deal? I’m sorry. Ya didn’t give me much time,” she pouts.
I pull into the parking spot and turn to kiss her lips. “It’s not yer fault. It’s mine. Come, we need to go.”
“Wait, Field of Dreams. What are we doing here?”
“I called in a favor. That’s why we need to be on time,” I say before climbing out of the car.
I should have known she would recognize the softball field right away. How could she not? This used to be her dream.
Now I’m starting to sweat as I mumble to myself while rounding the car to let her out. I can’t believe I almost fucked this up. She takes my hand as she gets out of the car, but her attention is on her phone.
“It says here there aren’t any games this evening, but there’s one in the morning. Are you sure our date is here?”
“Give me that,” I huff and snatch her phone from her to shove in my back pocket.
She looks up at me with the cutest smile on her face. It takes my breath away. In this moment, I know I’m here to do the right thing.
We get to the field and Seán is standing there with his cousin Connor, who helped make all this happen. My heart is thundering. DJ places her hand on my back as if she knows I need her touch to calm down.
“Okay, I’m about to burst with curiosity. What are we doing here?” she says.
“Do ya think ya can still knock one out of the park?” I ask with a grin on my lips.
“Did ya eat all my favorite crisps and couldn’t find them anywhere after to replace them like ya promised?”
I burst into laughter. “Shut yer little ass up. I learned to bake them myself and made ya some, ya brat. It’s been almost a year, get over it.”
“I’m not over it, Cole. Still not over it,” she taunts.
I pull her into my arms and kiss the top of her head. This is why I love her. Swaying her in my arms, I breathe her in.
“Yers were better, but ya didn’t have to eat all of my crisps in the first place,” she says into my chest.
“Whatever, come on. Yer up.” I slap her ass and release her.
“Yer pitching?” she scoffs.
“No, smart-ass.”
She’s been following a new up-and-coming pitcher. I grin as the pitcher comes out on the field, holding a ball and mitt. She walks over to DJ and pulls her into a hug.
“Ya were amazing. I remember watching ya hit when I was younger. Yer the reason I play,” Niamh says to DJ.
“Thanks. Yer amazing yourself. It’s so nice to meet ya. I’ve been rooting for ya.”
“That means a lot to me.”
“Shall we, ladies?” Connor says.
Seán hands DJ a bat and Niamh heads to the mound. Connor and I step off the field out of the way and Seán jogs after us to follow.
Once we’re in the dugout, I stand with my arms folded across my chest as I watch. This is all about timing. I want it to be perfect.