I shake my head, wishing he were wrong. “I regret leaving her, not lovin’ her.”

“Brother,” he says as he runs his hand down his face, “I warned you years ago that you need to stop this shit. You pining away, thinking that one day she’d show back up and love you again. You blew that chance a long time ago.”

“I know.”

“Do you?” He pauses, and I could punch his smug face. “She was married and has twins. Did you know that?”

“Yeah,” I inform Wyatt. “I saw him.”

“Who?” he says confused.

“Her son, Logan.”

That name. Of all the fucking names she picks. And then for her not to remember . . . crushed me. She ripped my heart out, and she doesn’t even know it.

“They’re good boys. Been through hell,” he says pointedly. “They lost their father and everything they’ve known, so you can’t be fucking with their mama’s heart.”

Wyatt is usually pretty quiet about other people’s business, but he has no issue when it comes to mine. He loves Presley. He always has, but he’s protective of her too. She’s family to all of us. I wanted her to be a different family member for me.

“She slapped me!” I yell.

“Well, from the look on her face you deserved it.”

I hate my brother. “I kissed her.”

He laughs and rolls his eyes. “Of course you did. She’s Presley, and you damn well can’t help yourself. You want to be with her.”

“I’m with Felicia,” I remind him.

“Sure, you are.”

“What the fuck does that mean?”

He shakes his head and sighs. “You’re going to sit here and tell me you love her? The way you love Presley?” He pauses, and I don’t say a word. “I didn’t think so.” I open my mouth to argue, but he goes right back into his monologue. “You never stopped hoping she’d come back. Hoping she’d give you a second chance. But so help me God, Zach. If you hurt her, I’ll fuck you up. I don’t care if we’re brothers, I’ll beat the ever loving shit out of you.”

“I’m not going there again,” I state. There are some things people can come back from, but not sixteen years of anger. That’s a lot of forgiveness, and there are things I’m still pissed off about too.

“Right.”

“Get out of my truck,” I demand. “Why aren’t you in there telling her all this shit?”

Wyatt throws his feet on the dash. “What makes you think I haven’t?”

“I need to get home.” I’m done with this conversation. “Leave.”

“I’m telling you to be careful, Zach. Not just because of her, but because you were a miserable son of a bitch too. I’d be willing to bet a lot of your injuries, and the reason you came back home, was for her.”

“What?” He’s way off. I came home because of our parents. I got hurt because that’s what fucking happens in baseball.

“You heard me.”

“I swear to God if you don’t get out of this fucking truck right now . . .” I let him figure out the rest.

“Tell Felicia I said hello.” He climbs out of the truck. There’s no love lost between those two. She hates him as much as he despises her. It’s why my brother is the foreman here and not at our own ranch.

I flip him off and get the hell off Townsend property. I decide my head is too jumbled to go back home. Felicia isn’t dumb. She’s been watching me since Presley returned. Her timing though, who the hell could’ve planned it? The day I’m going to propose to Felicia, she returns to Bell Buckle.

I love Felicia, but it’s not fair to her. Not when I look at her and wish she were Presley. I have to figure out what the hell I want to do. So, I head to the one place that I can always feel at home—the field.

I step out of my truck, smell the fresh cut grass, and I relax. There’s no one here but me. I walk to my position and step over a puddle. “So much of my life was spent right here,” I talk to the baseball gods. They’re real in my head. “I asked you to let me play in the majors, but at what cost? I had to lose her? You couldn’t let me keep both?” I walk in circles. “You had to make me choose, and now look where I am. No baseball. No Presley. And no answers.”

My mind fills with memories. But one that I’ve fought back for so long, hits me like a ball to the face.

Holy shit. Holy fucking shit! I’m going to play in the major leagues. I can’t believe this. All these years are finally paying off. The money, the traveling, the life I can give her is at my fingertips. Presley. I have to tell her.

“Just sign these papers and we’re all set.” The team manager is already sliding the contract over.

“I need to talk to my fiancée.” I hesitate for a second.

He sighs. “I’m sorry, son. You need to sign now or the deal is off the table. If we come back.” He pauses. “I won’t be able to get you as much.”

I’m not letting this pass. I’m going to play in the majors. It’s all I’ve ever wanted, and it’s here. Presley would slap me for letting this much money go. I reach for the pen. “I’ll sign.”

“Well, Zach.” The team manager stands and smiles. “We’re happy to have you as a member of the Dodgers organization. You’ll need to report to LA by the end of the week.”

“The end of the week?” I clarify.

“Yes, the season is already in full swing. The coach wants you there as soon as possible.”

I finish with the papers and rush out to find her. I can’t wait to see her face when I tell her all our dreams are coming true.

“Pres!” I yell as she’s exiting her class.

“Hey.” Her smile is bright as she walks toward me. You’d think after all this time she’d be less beautiful to me, but she’s not. I don’t even notice the girls that pass by. None of them are close to what I have. “You okay? You never meet me outside of class.” Her green eyes are full of concern.

“Darlin’,” I say, stopping right in front of her. “It’s happening.”

Her eyes widen and her lips part. “What’s happening?”

“I got offered a deal!”

“Zach! That’s amazing!” She leaps into my arms as I fall back a little with a laugh. “Where? What team?” she asks with excitement. “Oh, my God! What are they offering? Wait, who offered?” She shoots the questions off in rapid fire.

She steps back and takes my hand. I can’t believe this is really happening. “LA for the Dodgers.”

“California?” she gasps. “That’s the other side of the country. I . . .” Her breath hitches. “When do you have to give them an answer?”

And it hits me—I’m going to leave her again. After we spent the last two years apart.

“I already signed the contract.”

Presley steps back and clutches her stomach as if I’ve just punched her. “You already signed? I thought we were going to wait. I didn’t think you’d take it, especially without talkin’ to me.”