Do Not Fall For The Baseball Captains (Victoria and Elijah) novel Chapter 200

12:31 Fri, Sep 11

Do Not Fall For The Baseball Captains

Give Us a Chance

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Victoria’s POV

“Are you sure you’re not mad at me?” I asked, looking up from my tea at my parents sitting across the kitchen. table.

My dad let out a soft laugh, shaking his head as he set his mug down.

“Mad at you? Honey, why on earth would we be mad at you? You’re giving us a grandchild.”

He leaned over and patted my hand, his eyes warm and devoid of the judgment I had spent the entire drive over worrying about.

“Things didn’t happen in the exact order we expected, sure, but a baby is a blessing. We love you, and we’re behind you one hundred percent.”

A small breath slipped out of my chest, relieving a knot of tension I hadn’t realized I was holding.

Elijah sat beside me, his hand resting warm and reassuring on my knee under the table.

Standing by the refrigerator Willow, popped a grape into her mouth and grinned.

“I still can’t believe it,” she teased, crossing her arms. “Out of the two of us, I definitely had money on myself being the first one to make mom and dad grandparents. But look at you! I’m actually going to be an aunt.”

I couldn’t help the slight laugh that escaped me. Right on cue, my stomach let out an embarrassing, loud rumble, instantly cutting through our laughter.

I winced, pressing a hand to my middle.

“Mom, what do we have to eat?” I asked, resting my elbows on the counter.

My mom opened the refrigerator door, peering inside before sighing softly.

“Uhh… nothing actually! We ran out of groceries yesterday. Your dad and I were planning on heading to the supermarket later this afternoon to restock.”

“Don’t worry about it,” I said, grabbing my purse from the entry hook. “I’ll just walk down to the corner store at the end of the street and pick up whatever you need for dinner.”

Willow perked up, grabbing her sweater off the back of a chair.

“I’m coming with you. Let’s make it a stroll, just like when we were kids running around the neighborhood.”

“I can drive you girls,” Elijah offered, already reaching into his pocket for his car keys.

“It’s fine,” I smiled, leaning down to press a soft kiss against his cheek. “It’s only two blocks, and the fresh air will do me good. We’ll be right back.”

1/5

12:31 Fri, Sep 11

Do Not Fall For The Baseball Captains

:

The autumn air was crisp as Willow and I stepped out onto the pavement.

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Sunlight filtered through the changing leaves overhead, painting the quiet suburban street in shades of orange and gold.

For the first few minutes, we just walked in comfortable silence, our shoes crunching against the dry leaves on the sidewalk.

“So,” Willow started gently, bumping her shoulder against mine. “How are you really feeling about all of this? About keeping the baby?”

“I’m happy, Willow,” I said, my voice steady and certain. “I really am. Elijah and I are in this together, and I want this child more than anything.”

Willow chuckled quietly, shaking her head as she looked out at the road.

“It’s just so ironic, you know? You were always the reserved one. The quiet, organized sister who had her entire ten–year plan color–coded in a binder. And now here you are, jumping into motherhood first. I guess love really does something strange to people.”

I went silent, my boots scraping softly against the concrete as her words hung in the air.

Noticing my sudden quietness, Willow stopped dead in her tracks, turning to face me with a crestfallen look on her face.

“Hey… did I say something bad? Tori, I’m sorry-”

I stopped a step ahead of her, shaking my head and offering a faint, reassuring smile.

“No, no. Not necessarily. You didn’t say anything wrong, Willow.”

Willow reached out, taking my forearm in a gentle touch.

“I really didn’t mean to make you feel bad. I was just poking fun at the irony of it all. I swear I wasn’t trying to be insensitive.”

“I know you weren’t,” I sighed softly, squeezing her fingers before pulling my hand back.

“I didn’t take offense, I promise. It just… made me think for a second. The thought pops into my head every once in a while, out of nowhere. I had this absolute, perfect vision of how my life was supposed to go. Finishing my degree, establishing my career, getting married, and then maybe, years down the line, starting a family.”

“And now everything is scrambled,” Willow murmured sympathetically.

“A little,” I admitted, looking down the street toward the red–and–white sign of the grocery store.

“But I’m still going to finish my postgraduate studies. It might take me a little longer, and the timeline is completely wild now, but I’m not giving up on my dreams. I’ll get there. I’m just taking a detour.”

Willow smiled proudly, wrapping an arm around my waist for a quick side–hug as we resumed walking.

2/5

12:31 Fri, Sep 11

Do Not Fall For The Baseball Captains

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“That’s my girl. You’re going to be an amazing mom, Tori. And a brilliant scholar.”

“Thanks, Wil,” I whispered.

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We reached the neighborhood market a few minutes later, pushing through the glass doors into the warm, brightly lit interior.

The familiar bell jingled overhead as we grabbed a basket and moved down the aisles, picking up fresh fruit, milk, bread, and a few snacks.

With our basket filled, I led the way toward the checkout registers at the front of the store.

I was busy checking my phone to see if Elijah had texted when my shoulder clipped against a tall figure turning out from the pharmacy aisle.

The collision knocked a small bottle of vitamins right out of my hand, sending it clattering onto the polished floor.

“Oh, I’m so sorry,” I muttered automatically, stepping back and bending down to retrieve the fallen item.

“No, it was my fault-” the man’s deep, measured voice cut off abruptly.

I picked up the bottle and stood up, reaching out to hand it back. But as my eyes tracked up his dark coat to meet his face, the air in my lungs evaporated.

It was Justin Ashfield. Caleb’s father.

My throat closed tight, an immediate knot of discomfort twisting in my stomach.

The Ashfield family was a chapter of my life I had desperately tried to seal shut. Justin had never liked me.

Throughout the years Caleb and I were best friends, his father never saw me as anything more than a distraction from Caleb’s future; a girl he considered beneath the image their family worked so hard to

maintain.

“Mr. Ashfield,” I mumbled, my voice barely above a whisper. “I’m sorry. Excuse me.”

I lowered my head, clutching the grocery basket tightly against my side as I tried to brush past him toward the register.

“Victoria, please. Wait.”

The sound of my name on his lips made me freeze in my tracks. My heart beat erratically against my ribs.

I glanced quickly at Willow, whose brow had furrowed in confusion, her expression already turning protective.

I took a deep breath, forcing myself to turn around and face him properly.

Justin stood in front of me, looking older than I remembered.

3/5

12:32 Fri, Sep 11

Do Not Fall For The Baseball Captains

The cold, distant demeanor he usually wore so effortlessly seemed less convincing tonight.

There was something strained in his gray eyes, something I had never seen there before..

“Yes?”

Justin set his shopping basket on the floor, his hands resting casually in his coat pockets.

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“I won’t take up much of your time,” he began. “I know this is unexpected, but I was actually hoping to speak with you. Caleb is starting professional therapy next week.”

I blinked, taking a small step back.

“Okay… I’m glad to hear that. But what does that have to do with me?”

“His therapist suggested having someone from his past–someone he hurt deeply–attend an initial family session,” he explained, his face devoid of any warm emotion.

“To help establish accountability. I was wondering if you would be willing to come with him.”

A dry, incredulous laugh escaped my throat before I could stop it. I tilted my head, looking at him with disbelief.

“Are you serious?” I asked, my voice trembling slightly. “You never liked me, Mr. Ashfield. For fifteen years, you made it abundantly clear that you looked down on me and my family. Why on earth would you suddenly ask me to do something like that for Caleb?”

Justin didn’t blink. He just stood there, letting my words hang in the space between us.

“Caleb hurt me deeply,” I continued, my voice growing stronger as the anger pushed through the surprise.

“He tried to ruin my relationship. He manipulated my trust for years. So no, Mr. Ashfield. I’m sorry, but I can’t grant that request. I have nothing left to give your son.”

Justin released a long, slow exhale through his nose, his expression remaining completely unreadable.

For a second, I thought he was going to turn around and walk away, indifferent as always.

Instead, he took a small step forward.

“Then come over for dinner,” Justin said quietly. “At our house.”

I swallowed hard, my head throbbing as painful, unpleasant memories rushed back: dinners where I felt invisible, subtle barbs disguised as etiquette advice, the cold atmosphere of the Ashfield household.

“What?” I whispered.

“I want to properly apologize for my shortcomings as a father, and for how my family treated you.”

“I… I can’t,” I stammered, shaking my head as my vision began to blur slightly. “I’m going to think about it, Mr. Ashfield, but-”

4/5

12:32 Fri, Sep 11

Do Not Fall For The Baseball Captains

The cold, distant demeanor he usually wore so effortlessly seemed less convincing tonight.

There was something strained in his gray eyes, something I had never seen there before.

“Yes?”

Justin set his shopping basket on the floor, his hands resting casually in his coat pockets.

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