Do Not Fall For The Baseball Captains (Victoria and Elijah) novel Chapter 202

Dinner With the Ashfields

Victoria’s POV

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The SUV glided to a stop along the curb, the engine idling softly in front of the familiar, imposing house I had spent half my childhood visiting.

For a few seconds, neither of us made a move to undo our seatbelts.

We turned toward each other at the same time.

I just stared at him. Seeing his profile against the darkening sky brought back memories I hadn’t meant to revisit: late nights on his porch, laughing until our stomachs hurt, and the day everything between us fell

apart.

My throat felt tight, and I quickly shifted my eyes toward the window, trying to create whatever distance I could.

Before I could pull away, Caleb’s hand reached out, his fingers closing around my wrist.

I looked down at his grip, my expression unreadable.

Caleb followed my gaze, realizing what he was doing, and instantly released me, pulling his hand back as if he’d been burned.

“Sorry,” he muttered, running a hand over his face. He released a long, heavy breath that sounded like he’d been holding it for miles.

“Tori.”

I didn’t answer. I just kept my eyes fixed on the driveway ahead, watching the twilight settle over the lawn.

“Thank you for coming today,” he said softly. “I really appreciate it. I know a million apologies won’t ever fix how I made you feel, but I’m ready to put in the work.”

He cleared his throat, looking down for a brief second.

“Nova and I settled things–she forgave me. And honestly, having that lifted off my shoulders gives me the space to put every bit of my energy into earning your forgiveness. I don’t have any distractions left. It’s just you.”

I listened to the quiet tremor in his tone, hearing the genuine guilt behind every word.

A few months ago, seeing Caleb this distressed would have made me soften instantly.

I would have reached out, pulled him into a hug, and told him everything was fine just to stop him from hurting.

But that instinct had quietly died somewhere along the way. Sitting here now, all that remained was a cool, distant anger and the lingering scar of deep pain.

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“I really am sorry,” Caleb repeated softly. He turned toward the dashboard, leaning over to pop open the glove

compartment.

He reached inside and pulled out a small, velvet–lined jewelry box, extending it toward me.

I stared at the box, then looked up at his face, my brows pulling together.

“What’s this?”

A small, sad smile touched his lips.

“You don’t have to open it right now. You can check it out when you’re by yourself. But Tori… I mean it. I know things between us might never go back to the way they used to be, but I just want a chance to repair what I broke. To repair your trust.”

He looked away for a fraction of a second, staring at the steering wheel before meeting my gaze again.

“And… when the time is right, I want to sit down with Carter and apologize to him, too.”

I looked into his eyes, but I didn’t give him a single word in return.

I didn’t offer a reassuring nod, nor did I push the box away. I simply took it, slid it into my purse, and unlatched my seatbelt.

We stepped out of the car together and walked up the front steps into the Ashfield home.

The initial start of dinner was undeniably awkward.

The silence hung thick over the formal dining table, punctuated only by the clinking of silverware against porcelain.

But Genevieve and Nathan–Caleb’s oldest brother–did everything they could to keep the atmosphere light and welcoming.

Nathan kept up a steady stream of casual chatter about his work, while Genevieve made sure my glass was constantly filled with fresh juice.

Halfway through the meal, Genevieve set her fork down and looked across the table at me with a soft, motherly expression.

“Victoria, dear, how are you feeling about your postgraduate program? Are you still planning to start this term, or do you think you’ll wait until after the baby arrives and you’ve had time to recover?”

I offered her a genuine smile, grateful for the ordinary topic.

“I’m actually starting on schedule. The program offers a flexible online setup for the first few modules, so I can complete the coursework from home. Once the baby is settled and the new born stage has passed, I’ll transition back to attending campus in person.”

Genevieve’s face lit up with genuine admiration.

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“That is fantastic, Tori. I know you’d find a way to make it work. You’ve always been that girl–smart, remarkably strong, and resilient. I have zero doubt that you’re going to excel.”

“Thank you, Genevieve.”

When dinner was over, I pushed my chair back and started gathering the empty dishes.

Before I could pick up more than a couple, Genevieve reached over and gently caught my hand.

“Absolutely not.” She gave me a firm but affectionate look. “You’re our guest, and you’re eating for two. My sons can deal with the kitchen tonight.”

Her gaze fell across the table.

“Nathan! Caleb! Come clear the table, please.”

As the three of them gathered the plates and vanished into the kitchen, I remained seated at the large dining table.

Sitting directly across from me was Dominic, the middle brother.

He sat back in his chair with his arms folded across his chest, staring blankly at the tablecloth.

The history between us made my skin prickle with discomfort, and I stubbornly refused to make eye contact with him.

Instead, my eyes drifted down the table to Justin. Caleb’s father was watching me quietly, his posture relaxed for once.

Catching my eye, he offered a small, reassuring nod.

“You don’t have to look so tense, Victoria,” Justin broke the silence. “I know this entire setting carries a lot of uncomfortable history, but you are always welcome here. You don’t need to feel awkward in our home.”

I offered a small, polite nod, relieved when Genevieve walked back into the room holding a tray of hot fruit tarts for dessert.

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