Do Not Fall For The Baseball Captains (Victoria and Elijah) novel Chapter 165

The Exception.

Nova’s POV

:

86

55 vouchers

“Why is it,” I began quietly, letting my words float out over the water, “that it’s so easy to walk straight toward someone when you already know they’re bad news? Like… you can see the warning signs, you know the history, you know they’re looking right past you at somebody else… but you still stand there waiting for them to turn around?”

Leo didn’t interrupt. He listened, his head tilted slightly, letting my words float out into the quiet night.

When he realized I was done talking, he took a slow breath, his eyes fixed on the horizon where the dark water met the shadowed treeline.

“I think it’s because people naturally want to be the exception to the rule,” Leo said, his voice dropping into a thoughtful tone.

“We like to believe that if we stay patient enough, or care hard enough, we can be the person who changes the outcome of a story that’s already been written. But the truth is, if someone keeps walking in a circle, you can’t save them by standing in the middle of their path. You just end up getting dizzy watching them run.”

I turned my head to stare at him, genuinely struck by the wisdom in his words. It was framed so simply, yet it cut straight to the heart of what I was feeling.

Then I chuckled, shaking my head.

“You know, I have to confess something.”

He tilted his head toward me, a curious smile playing on his lips. “What’s that?”

“I kind of had a stereotype in my head about you and the rest of the guys,” I admitted, staring down at the pebbles by my feet. “Handsome, popular baseball players… I guess I assumed that was all there was.”

I glanced up at him with a sheepish smile.

“I didn’t expect you to be this emotionally intelligent. Or this self–aware.”

Leo let out a rich, quiet laugh, shaking his head gently.

“Ouch. So you thought we were all just dumb jocks who only knew how to throw a leather ball around?”

“No! Not dumb,” I corrected quickly, my cheeks warming. “Just… I didn’t expect this level of depth. It’s really refreshing. You’re all just… really good men.”

Leo laughed softly, the sound carrying easily over the water.

“Well,” his expression softened, “I guess we were lucky enough to grow up in environments that forced us to learn how to be.”

His gaze drifted toward the water as he thought, his teeth catching his lower lip for just a second.

1/5

14:45 Tue, Aug 18

Do Not Fall For The Baseball Captains

The tiny, absentminded gesture caught me off guard.

A strange little flutter stirred in my chest.

I blinked, quickly looking away before lifting my eyes back to him.

થ

55 vouchers

“Honestly,” Leo continued. “All the guys on the team came from pretty solid foundations. Different backgrounds, sure, and everybody carries their own baggage. But we all had people in our corner who made sure we grew up learning how to be decent men.”

I smiled softly. “Your parents did a really great job with you.”

The moment the words left my mouth, I knew I’d said the wrong thing.

The smile faded from Leo’s face. His jaw tightened, and his eyes drifted away from mine.

My stomach dropped.

I’d said something. Something I hadn’t meant to.

“I’m so sorry,” I stammered quickly, my hands coming up in regret. “I didn’t mean to-”

“Hey, don’t apologize,” Leo interrupted, his voice returning to its gentle tone as he shook his head. “You didn’t know. It’s totally fine.”

“I shouldn’t have assumed,” I murmured, feeling terrible for breaking the light atmosphere we had built.

“It’s really okay, Nova,” he reassured me, offering a soft, genuine smile to settle my panic. “My parents passed away when I was really young.”

The confession made my chest ache. “Leo…”

“Don’t give me that look,” he chuckled softly, nudging my shoulder gently with his.

“I promise you, I had a good life. I was raised by my aunt and uncle, and they became my parents in every way that mattered. My aunt is actually my mom’s twin sister, so growing up, it was almost like having a piece of my mother right there with me every day.”

He looked back out at the lake, his eyes reflecting the soft moonlight.

“My uncle worked so hard to fill the gap,” Leo added, his tone filled with deep respect. “I love him to death. But… I think everyone has those specific spaces in their heart that just can’t be replaced by anyone else, no matter how hard they try, you know?”

I nodded in understanding.

“Do you have siblings?” I asked softly, wanting to give him space to steer the conversation wherever he wanted.

“Yeah,” he smiled. “I have siblings, and a bunch of cousins. Though I don’t really use the word ‘cousin‘–to me, they’re all just my sisters. We grew up under the same roof, fought over the same remote, ate at the same

2/5

14:45 Tue, Aug 18

Do Not Fall For The Baseball Captains

table.”

“That sounds cozy,” I smiled.

:

“What about you?” he asked, turning the question back to me. “Any siblings?”

I nodded.

86

55 vouchers

“So… tell me. I’d love to know where Nova comes from. What was growing up in your family like?”

A genuine smile touched my lips as I thought of home.

“Pretty simple, honestly. I have a younger sister and a little brother. My parents are still together too.”

Leo smiled.

“You guys close?”

I nodded without even thinking.

“Very.”

“What are they like?”

I smiled to myself.

“My dad tells the same terrible jokes over and over, then gets offended when nobody laughs.”

Leo chuckled.

“Classic dad.”

“The worst part?” I laughed. “He still laughs at his own jokes every single time.”

“And your mom?”

“She has advice for everything.” I shook my head fondly. “Take a jacket.‘ ‘Drink more water.‘ ‘Don’t skip breakfast. I’m twenty–two, and she still reminds me to wear sunscreen.”

Leo grinned.

“Sounds like she loves you.”

“She does.” My smile softened. “All of us.”

“And the siblings?”

I let out another laugh.

VERIFYCAPTCHA_LABELVerify