Page 22 of Rain Delay

Her entire face lights up. “Well, then we have to make use of the time we have.”

“That could be interpreted a lot of different ways, baby.” I told her.

“I thought I heard a familiar voice!” Eliana’s mom, Flora says as she walked into the living room with a smile on her face.

I’ve always loved Mrs. Romano. She always made you feel right at home. She was practically a second mom to me.

I smile, moving to give her a hug. “It’s good to see you, Mrs. Romano.”

“Honey, how many times do I have to tell you that you can call me Flora?” She chuckles. “I’ve known you for all these years, you’re practically a son of mine.”

“I know, I know. I just am being polite.”

“No niceties here, mi amor. You’re family. And saving the family from dealing with Eliana moping around the hous.”

Eliana’s cheeks go a shade of pink.

“Eliana, you better be nice to your boy, especially if he’s only here for a short time, understood?” She asks her daughter.

Ellie nods. “Of course, Mom. Now, if you’ll excuse us, I only have a few days with him, you two can catch up later.”

Her mom waves a hand. “I suppose. Just be safe, and don’t do anything stupid. Your father and I are heading out in a little bit.”

Perfect. I smile and nod at Flora, mouthing a ‘thank you’ to her before I look back at my girl.

Ellie smiles at me before grabbing my hand, nearly dragging me down the hall to her room. The second we stepped in, she shut the door behind us and wrapped her arms around me again in a tight hug.

“Are you sleeping good? You look tired.” She asks as she looks up at me.

I blinked. “That obvious?”

“I’m serious,” she rolled her eyes. “Have you been sleeping, Wyatt?”

“Not much,” I shrugged. “Schedule’s been busy, baby. We’re getting to regular season and then gotta start thinking about Draft season.”

Her expression softens. “You should’ve told me.”

“I didn’t want to worry you.”

“You know I’m always going to worry about you, Wy,” she rubs my arms lightly. “Even if we’re states away from each other.”

“I know, El,” I tell her as I sit down on the bed.

She smiles small at me. “You’re not leaving after this weekend, by the way.

“If only it were that easy,” I sigh.

“Worth the shot.” She shrugs, moving to stand between my legs before settling on my lap. “I wish you didn’t go to school so far away.”

My hands rest on her hips. “I do too. But, Coastal offered me the best scholarship, and they’ve done a lot to prepare me for the MLB Draft.”

She studies me for a second. “So you’re really gonna do it?”

Entering the draft portal was always part of the plan. No matter what school I was attending, I was going to declare my junior year. Coastal Carolina moved at such an expedited rate, I was feeling more than prepared.

I felt like I was in good hands with them, and I didn’t have anything really to worry about when it came to getting selected by a team.

Being selected by a team wasn’t my worry, it was always what round I would be selected in. The earlier, the better. People focus on that – If you’re picked earlier, it means you have potential to have an impact wherever you go.