Page 134 of The Catch

"I have to go back to LA tonight but—"

"You're here."

"I had to be." She grabs my hand. "I get it. You're with me. I need to be with you, too. We're together. Ihadto be here."

"You will hold my hand."

"Because you're holding mine right back."

My heart. It's fuller than it's ever been, yet so light I have to wonder if her words have bent the laws of physics. Hope and yearning and trust are one and the same.

I smile. "I'm at the top of the world… because you're here with me."

"I couldn't stay away," she says. "I didn't want to be."

I kiss her again. "Take my hand and come with me, then."

Chapter 42

Ames

Saint climbs over the barrier again and helps me across. He jumps down to the field and helps me down to the bench first, then the grass.

I expect him to take my hand and lead me away, but he surprises me with another kiss. Another wide grin and extra glorious dimples.

Whatever anxiety I still carried inside dissipates into the air. It's mist under the noon sun. The warmth of a giant star bursts in my chest, vaporizing everything but knowing that Saint and I are in this together. Nothing else matters but this.

Happiness is too big to contain. I kiss him again. He laughs, the sound echoing my own joy. With crinkling eyes, he takes my hand and leads me to his family.

Belatedly I see the cameras pointing in our direction. Who knows how much of our moment is making the rounds on TV now, but this doesn't matter either. They can show what we feel to the world. Then everyone will know we're this kind of happy.

Some of his teammates pat us on the shoulders. More than one heavy handed congratulation has me shaking, but it's a good feeling somehow. They welcome me with big smiles and more than one joke about catching their receiver.

I would tell them he caught me first, but that's for him and us and the people we love. He squeezes my hand again and leads me deeper into the crowd. He takes me to those who know us best. I don't need him to explain who the four people in front of us are. I smile at his family and study them with the same curiosity they do me.

Saint is a blend of his parents. They all share the same complexion, but the waves in his hair are his mom's, while his dimples are his dad's. The shape of his eyes are the same as hers, while the eyebrows are a carbon copy of the older man. Both smile at me with wide grins, shifting between inspecting me and giving their son a pointed look. I think they're pushing Saint to introduce us already.

He doesn't just yet. Saint puts a hand on one of the twins' shoulders and smiles at them. The two must be identical, though they don't dress the same. One is in jeans and a graphic t-shirt, with her hair in a ponytail. The other wears leggings and a skirt, her hair in a braid. They're wiry and tall for their age, and look at me with shock more than anything else.

I press my lips together to hide a giggle. Glancing to the side is meant to give them some privacy as they pull themselves together. Locking eyes with my brother is an accident.

Pablo stands next to Saint's parents. He's staring at us with a dumbfounded look, worse than the twins'.

I bit my bottom lip. I'm pretty sure it doesn't do anything to hide my grin.

"Hey, so," I start. "I'll say hello first to Saint's family, okay?"

He doesn't respond. Saint glances at Pablo but doesn't do much else.

Saint clears his throat and turns to the twins. "Mis divinas, I'd love for you to meet Ames."

Closer to them now, I catch a few extra details. Both of them already have the marks of dimples on their face, even as they frown at us. They have streaks of blue in their hair, though they have it in different places— one has it at her left temple and up to her ponytail, while the other only shows down the braid. Silver threads mix into them, shining in the stadium lights.

I didn't expect the nerves in my stomach.

"Hi there," I smile. "It's lovely to meet you. Great job with the Hypersquare board, by the way."

"Hi. I'm Aixa," the one in the skirt says. "This is Maribel."