“Okay, if you need to talk, you know I’m here. I’ve been through my fair share of woman problems.”

Yeah, you could say that. Knox is married to Emory, whom he met back in college, but their relationship was one hell of a roller coaster.

“Thanks. I’m just trying to focus on the game and then figure things out off the field.”

Knox catches the long toss from Carson, who is now jogging in from all the way out in the center field. “Good. On the field, get the job done. Off the field, you let me know if you need to talk.”

I give him a fist bump, grab my glove from the turf, and head to the stands where people are lined up, waiting for any interaction with the players. I make sure to interact with the fans because they spend enough money to come see us. It’s the least that I can do. Recently, they’ve put up protective netting from foul pole to foul pole all along the backstop. It has limited our ability to sign things for the fans, but it was put up to protect them from foul balls. Oddly enough, the Bobbies staff gave us some training on how to sign balls through the small holes, so I quickly sign a few as well as take a few selfies, despite the netting, and then head toward the dugout.

As I approach the dugout, fans cheer, wave, and take pictures. I wave back, smile, and then I feel my heart stop as I spot a familiar face.

A familiar smirk.

A familiar pair of eyes that have captured my attention from the first moment I saw them.

Myla.

She’s in the stands.

What the hell is she doing at the game?

Chapter Eleven

MYLA

Present day . . .

Myla: I wish you didn’t have to leave.

Nichole: I know, but I have that appointment I can’t miss. I’ll try to find some time after the wedding to come visit you.

Myla: I should have gone with you.

Nichole: No, I told you it wasn’t necessary. Just a routine checkup.

Myla: If it’s routine, then why did you tell me it was really important?

Nichole: Let’s not get into this right now, okay? Focus on you. Focus on getting through these next couple of weeks.

Myla: Just tell me, Nichole. Is the cancer back?

Nichole: As I said, worry about you right now. After the wedding, you and I will go somewhere fun. Maybe pick out your next project. That lake house up on Fox Lake could be perfect.

Myla: You’re not answering the question.

Nichole: Because I don’t know the answer. For now, let’s not freak out. Let’s focus on what we can control. And what we can control is the path you’re going to create for yourself after all of this. You’ve been taking those design and woodworking classes, and you have the tools and the capital to have options. Why not pick out the house you want to renovate?