Epilogue

Two weeks later

“Woo-hoo!”

“All right, let’s get one more!”

“You got this!”

The calls from the fans surrounding us rise up as Eve gets the ball back from the catcher and gets ready to face another batter. The Tornadoes are up 6 to 1 in the final inning, and they’re one out away from reaching the Super Regionals, the last step before the College World Series. All Eve has to do is record this final out.

“Go, Eve!” Mo yells, clapping and bouncing in her seat next to me. “Let’s finish ’em off now!”

Grant elbows me from the other side. “You aren’t cheering loud enough for your girlfriend.”

I shove back. “Shut up and kiss your boyfriend or something.”

Our banter is interrupted when Eve whirls the ball toward the plate.

The batter hits it, but not hard, and it’s up into the air on the infield. The Tornadoes call out to each other, making sure one of them catches it, and to my delight, it’s Eve who does, ending the game and clinching their step to the next level.

I jump to my feet and cheer along with the crowd. I might be out and proud these days—with a hot girlfriend, even—but I’m still much more comfortable blending in than standing out.

We watch as the players celebrate on the field, jumping and laughing together in a clump near the pitcher’s mound. Eventually, though, they make their way toward the dugout, waving hands and hats at the people left in the stands. Eve’s head turns as she searches the crowd, and when our eyes meet, she blows me a kiss.

I laugh and blow one back.

“Ugh, y’all are disgusting.” Mo bumps her shoulder against mine.

“Shut up. It’s partly your fault anyway.” I shoot her a look. “Maybe we should shift all those efforts to finding you a hot girlfriend.”

Mo laughs. “Who has the time?”

I’m pretty sure her excuse is just a cover. She used to go out a lot during our first year, but after a while she stopped. I asked her once, but her answer was just as dismissive as now. Maybe she got tired of bad dates or maybe she just needs to be encouraged back into dating again. Eve and I could act as Mo’s wing women.

I snort, put that idea in my pocket for later, and turn toward the steps. “Let’s go,” I tell the others. “We’ve got a victory celebration to get to!”

As it turns out, there was no need to rush.

We end up waiting a solid hour outside the gym for the team to emerge after their own celebration and time to shower and dress. At least I don’t have to worry about running into Naomi. She never did rejoin the team. Eve told me several weeks ago that she’d decided to transfer schools. I didn’t expect that outcome after everything, but considering how word spreads on a small campus, I imagine she wanted to get away from the rumors and start fresh. And that much I can definitely understand.

Eve is one of the last to arrive, and she rolls her eyes as she bounces up to join us. “Media obligations, can you believe it?” She shakes her head. “No one cared until we started winning in the postseason. Guess that’s what it takes for softball to be newsworthy.”

She slides one arm around my waist and gives me a quick peck on the lips before turning to the others. “Hey. Thanks for coming.”

“Great game,” Grant says. “Congrats on the win.”

“Thanks. Oh!” Eve drops her arm and digs into her duffel bag, coming back up with a softball. “Here,” she says, handing it to me. “It’s the ball from the last out.”

My eyes widen. “I can’t take this,” I exclaim. “You should keep it!”

“Nope, it’s yours.” She puts her arm around my waist again. “You’re the best thing to happen to me, better than winning any game, and so I want you to have this.” She grins. “Besides, I won’t have a chance to miss it, since I don’t plan to let you get away.”

I have to kiss her then, because if she keeps talking, her words will turn me into actual mush.

Mo lets out a soft “aww” and Grant makes a retching sound.

I’m laughing when I break the kiss. “So what’s up for the afterparty?”

“It sounds like most of the team’s headed to the Olde Blind Dog,” Eve says, naming an Irish-style restaurant nearby. “Some of the seniors wanted to hit a bar, but they forget over half the team is still underage. This way the grown-ups can have a drink but the rest of us kids can still get in.”

“Sounds good.” I glance at the others. “Y’all coming?”

Mo shakes her head. “I have an early practice session tomorrow and then three classes.” Regret tinges her voice. “Congrats, though. I’ll watch as much of the World Series as I can.”

“Thanks.” Eve smiles at Mo, a little tentatively. Mo and Eve haven’t spent much time together since Eve and I started dating again, and I think Eve has the idea Mo doesn’t like her. Like what happened with Naomi, but from my side now. That’s something I’ll need to work on. I refuse to let any of my friends feel excluded just because I suddenly found a girlfriend.

But tonight, I’m focused on Eve and her celebration.

I turn to Grant and Darryn. “How about you two? Too much estrogen for you?”

Grant snorts out a laugh. “Yeah. Sure. That’s it.” He tightens his arm around Darryn’s waist. “We’ll see you tomorrow, probably.” He smiles at Eve. “Congratulations. Good luck at the Series.”

“Thanks.” Eve smiles again, but it drops away as the others leave, and she turns toward me. She brushes her knuckles along my cheek, and I lean in to her touch. “Thank you. I’m so glad you’re here. I couldn’t have gotten through the past couple of months without you.”

My cheeks heat at the reverence of her words. “I’m glad I could help,” I tell her, my voice barely over a whisper. “Thank you for just…for being you.”

She dips forward to brush a kiss over my lips. “You’re the reason I can just be me. And I love you for it.”

My eyes widen, my heart pounds, and goose bumps break out all over my skin. Our relationship started out intense, and I’ve never doubted her attraction to me, but love? Is this what I’ve been feeling these past weeks? This burst of happiness that runs through me every time she’s near me? Hell, even when we’re apart and simply texting or chatting over the phone, I feel it.

I can barely get the words out. “You l-lo…love me?”

She nods. “You don’t have to say it back. I just wanted you to know.”

I lean in to rest our foreheads together and close my eyes, just breathing in and out, feeling our connection. I pull back a bit so I can look into her eyes. This amazing woman who walked into my lonely and uneventful life and completely rocked my world. “But what if I want to say it back?”

“God.” Eve smiles. “I don’t know if I could handle being that happy all at once.”

I laugh against her mouth. “Well, might as well find out,” I tell her. “Because I love you, too.”

When Eve kisses me, it feels like I’ve won every championship in the world at once.

Like FREE Books?! Download one of Entangled’s bestselling books here!