Love Prevails (Kris Bryant)

17| What Could Have Been

McKayla

"You ready" Kris asks as we pull into a parking space. Apparently my loving boyfriend promised Anthony some time with me in the batting cages but failed to inform me until today. So here we are at a training facility in the heart of Chicago to get some swings in.

"I was born ready" I say grabbing my old baseball bag and following him into the building. We find Anthony already at a cage with David taking swings.

"Hey, theres the woman of the hour" Anthony cheers setting his bat down and coming to give me a hug.

"Hey Tony, hey David" I say giving them both a hug.

"Are you nervous" David asks.

"No way. I might not have swung a bat in a long time but I was kind of made for this" I claim.

"Okay then big shot, show is what you got" he says opening the cage as I step in.

"It's Big Mac to you" I correct and he just laughs at me. Anthony steps into the pitchers box and I pick up my bat taking a few practice swings.

"Aluminum bat, really" he asks and I shrug.

"Yeah, really" I assure him. I set my bat on my shoulder before raising it a few inches. I squeeze my elbows together and keep a eye on the ball. He throws a soft pitch and I line it right back to him.

"Holy shit I'm so sorry" I say putting my bat down and making sure he was okay.

"I'm good. Needless to say for that poor baseball" he laughs.

"Lets try this again" I say returning my spot. I tap my bat on each cleat and loosen my shoulders before placing my bat back to its previous position. He sends another pitch that I connect well with it, finally getting some elevation.

"Damn Kayla, your swing looks just like Kris'" David comments.

"Well his dad was my coach for seven years. He's a smart guy and I would be really stupid not to listen to him" I laugh. We do a few more pitches and each one goes straight into a net.

"Were you ever scouted" Anthony asks.

"Senior year I was. Not as much as Kris over here but they gave me some looks" I explain.

"Hey, you stole some of my scouts" Kris yells and I roll my eyes.

"I did not steal them... they came to me" I reiterate with a smirk.

"So if you would have been drafted would you have continued playing" Anthony asks.

"She was drafted" Kris mutters softly and I shoot him a glare. Anthony stops throwing and I lower my bat.

"You were seriously drafted" David asks and I let out a loud sigh.

"I was... not too long in the draft after Kris was drafted when we were in high school. But as much as I loved baseball, it just wasn't for me. At least not in the sense that it should be my profession" I admit. Kris understood why I didn't continue playing. He wasn't happy, but he understood.

"I feel like if any girl could make it here it would be you. I've seen you pitch and hit and it's like nothing I've seen before, from a guy or a girl. If you trained you would be unstoppable" Anthony says.

"That's what Kris said, and what Mike said and Nick said but it's just not for me. Everyone has a purpose and I believe mine is helping athletes perform to their full potential. Not playing" I reiterate.

"Don't you ever wonder what could have been" Anthony wonders.

"I try not to think about it too much. That's no way to live, but I don't regret my decision. I'm pretty happy here with the love of my life and a few cool new friends" I smile nudging Anthony with my elbow.

"You're sweet. Lets get back to grinding" Anthony says picking up a ball. We all take turns hitting and pitching until it was time to go.

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After the Cubs took care of the Marlins we go over to Lesters house to celebrate the Fourth of July. We all sit out by the pool as he sets up the fireworks a few feet away. As the boys cook up food and talk about baseball I sit with my legs in the pool along with some of the wives and girlfriends.

"How do you have abs" Hyla, Davids wife asks me.

"I was a athlete in high school and it's hard to get out of training and such" I shrug.

"I wish I had your motivation" Darya , Dexters wife, laughs.

"I wouldn't call it motivation as much as I would call it me wishing I was still able to do what I used to" I joke.

"That's right, you played high school ball with Kris" Melisa, Addi's fiancé says.

"That is correct" I nod.

"So you guys were like high school sweethearts" Darya reiterates.

"Kind of. I had a different boyfriend throughout much of high school but I always loved Kris. He understood me on levels no one else did but I wouldn't confess my love because I knew he was going places and I didn't want to accept that he would eventually have to leave me. But senior prom everything unfolded and it happened to be for the best. After being away for five years we found each other again and now here I am" I laugh stringing a pose.

"That's so cute, it sounds like a adorable love movie" Hyla cheers.

"Feels like it. I haven't been this happy in a really long time" I admit.

"Do you think you'll get married soon" Darya asks.

"I don't know. I mean we've known each other for twelve years and it's like we never drifted apart. But we're still young and he's just getting his feet wet in the majors. I'm just happy to be here" I admit.

"Well we're happy to have you here. I know the boys aren't good with their feelings but my husband goes on and on about how easy it is for him to talk to you. He doesn't like to open up but I can tell he feels better now he did, if only you were here years ago when he first got called up" Darya says.

"Dexter just wants to hear he's good every once in a while. With all the one year deals and being traded he forgot what got him here. But I promise you he knows now, he'll be fine" I assure patting her leg. We talk some more until the food was ready.

"Are you having fun mingling" Kris asks handing me a water.

"Yeah, they're all so sweet. I love them" I smile.

"That's great. Glad to see you have some lady friends" he admits.

"Me too. I'm tired of hearing you and Anthony talk about your underwear problems" I laugh.

"Not my fault they ride up" he defends and I shake my head. We eat our food and watch as Jon sets of the mostly legal fireworks and I enjoy them with Kris.

"This reminds me when we came her for New Years" Kris mentions.

"Me too. I kissed you on the cheek and that was the first huge sign my feelings were more than a friendship" I admit.

"I thought I was going to pass out when you did that" he chuckles.

"I'm glad you didn't" I reply patting his chest. The firework show ends and I say bye to everyone before heading home. It's been a long day and I needed sleep.