Our Love Is Like Extra Innings

This is a hoot. Lily is currently screaming Katy Perry at the top of her lungs, which is something that should honestly be considered a crime against humanity, while my dad drives beside her like he isn’t actively losing his hearing.

His only reaction is the occasional bob of his head to the music and a few quiet complaints under his breath that I’m pretty sure aren’t meant for anyone else to hear.

“Lily Billy, please,” I beg, pressing my fingers against my ears. “My ears need to survive long enough for me to actually hear my future lectures. At this point, I might as well already be deaf.”

Her singing pauses just long enough for her mouth to drop open in offense before she leans forward from the back seat and smacks my arm. A small smirk appears on her face as she looks between me and the car packed with my belongings. She knows.

These are the last few moments where things feel normal.

“You know you’re going to miss this,” she teases, crossing her arms and lifting her chin proudly.

I roll my eyes, but I can’t stop the smile from forming.

Her dirty blonde hair is pulled into a perfect slick-back ponytail, and her blue athletic dress hugs her frame like she stepped straight out of an advertisement. It’s honestly unfair how much we look alike despite being eight years apart. Same blonde hair. Same blue eyes. Same stubborn attitude.

Poor genetics didn’t even try to be creative.

“Elle, do you have your reference letters printed?” Papi asks, smoothly changing the subject as his thumb taps against the steering wheel.

“Mhmm,” I hum, looking out the window at the passing trees. “They’re in my pink folder inside my backpack. The one labeled Elle Jenkins because apparently I’m incapable of losing things when they have my name written on them.”

“That’s my princess,” he says proudly.

The nickname still makes my heart squeeze. I glance over at him, taking in the man who has spent my entire life making sure I never doubted how loved I was. His white hair is perfectly styled upward, a little stubble lining his cheeks, his deep blue eyes focused on the road ahead. Despite the years that have passed, there is still something youthful about him.

A confidence. A presence. He is Arnold Jenkins. The most sought-after defensive attorney in the state of Ohio. A man whose name carries weight. A man who built a life his family could be proud of.

“When is KJ moving in?” he asks after a few moments of comfortable silence.

And just like that, my stomach flips. KJ. A smile immediately pulls at my lips. My KJ. It still feels crazy that we’re going to the same college.

Well… Maybe crazy isn’t the right word. More like planned. Calculated. Expected. Our ten-year plan has existed since eighth grade: Engaged in nine years. Married in ten. A whole future mapped out before we were even old enough to drive. Me, Elle Holmes. Doesn’t it sound perfect?

“They’re moving in too!” I say, unable to hide my excitement. “Student-athletes have to move in early for training camp, and it just happens to line up with rush.”

“Just happens,” Lily sings from the backseat.

I turn around to glare at her. She only grins.

Everyone knows about our plan. The high school sweethearts who leave for college together, graduate together, get married, and live happily ever after. Predictable. Easy. Exactly how it’s supposed to happen.

“I’m glad he’ll be there,” Papi admits. “I know Veronica won’t be moving in for another six days. I tried everything to get the Victoria Dorm situation fixed, but they wouldn’t budge on early move-in.”

“I’ll be okay,” I say quickly.

Too quickly. I force a smile and lift my arms dramatically.

“My next five days are completely scheduled.” I close one eye and point forward like I’m preparing for battle. “Organization is key.”

Lily laughs. Papi shakes his head. But I mean it. I need this to work.

Northridge University comes into view, and for the first time all morning, I go completely quiet. There it is. The place that is supposed to become my new home. The place I spent months convincing myself I belonged. The most prestigious university in Ohio.

And somehow… I’m standing right in front of it. Which is slightly terrifying considering my grades were never exactly “future Northridge student” level.

I’m no Elle Woods getting into Harvard because of a pink résumé and a dream. Although… If she can do it, maybe I can too. I just have to lock in.

The massive brown brick buildings rise above the perfectly landscaped gardens. Roses of every color line the sidewalks, and students already fill the campus, dragging suitcases behind them and laughing with friends. Above the entrance, carved into the brick, are the words: Home of The Legends.

And suddenly, it feels real. I’m here. I’m actually here. A year and a half ago, this was just a dream. Now it’s my reality.

“You want to go where?” Ronnie gasped, staring at the Northridge pamphlet in my hands like I had just announced I was moving to another planet. “You know they actually do homework there, right?”

I rolled my eyes and smacked her shoulder.

“Oh please. They have the best interior design program in the state, and I get my realtor license with it. Boom.” I pointed to myself proudly. “Money-making beauty.”

Ronnie stared at me for a second before slowly nodding. “Oh, I see.”

The sarcasm was practically dripping from her voice as she grabbed the pamphlet from my hands and tossed it onto the table. She picked up her Ohio State University brochure instead. “This is more your speed.”

“Ronnie,” I sighed, crossing my arms. “I want this.” My voice softened. “I think I can do it.”

For once, she didn’t immediately tease me. Her curly brown hair was pulled into a messy bun, but little pieces had started falling out around her face as she tilted her head, studying me. Ronnie had always been able to see through me better than anyone.

Then she smiled. “You’re resilient, Elle.”

She reached across the table and grabbed my hands. “You always get your way somehow. I don’t know how, but you do.”

A laugh escaped me.

“I’m serious,” she continued. “I know you can do this.” Her smile grew. “Let’s do it together.”

That memory makes me smile now. Because somehow… She was right. A year and a half later, the dream that once felt impossible is sitting right in front of me. All four of us are going to college. All four of us- Ronnie, Ross, Kj, and me are starting the next chapter.

Papi looks over at me, and the warmth in his smile says everything he doesn’t. Pride. Excitement. Maybe even a little sadness. His daughter is leaving home. And she’s going to the same university where he made his own memories. His alma mater.

I return his smile, feeling the weight of this moment settle into my chest.

Then I unclick my seatbelt. Time to do this.

I jump out of my fierce pink Bronco—because obviously Papi offered to drive it here, and obviously I wasn’t going to say no.

My pink flare shorts move with the wind as I step onto campus. I place a hand on my hip and look around. The moving truck sits behind us. Students are everywhere. Boxes are stacked along sidewalks. Parents are giving final hugs. Everyone looks like they are standing at the beginning of something new.

And now I am too. This is it. A whole new adventure.

“Elle, you have too much stuff,” Lily complains after what feels like our tenth trip up the stairs.

I drop another bag onto the floor and look at her.

“Don’t start complaining when we move you into college and you somehow have three times more than me.”

She gasps. “Impossible.”

I laugh. “It absolutely is.”

Our Victoria Dorm is everything I imagined. A shared living room. A small kitchenette. Two bedrooms connected by a Jack and Jill bathroom. The location couldn’t be more perfect—right beside the stadium, steps away from sorority row, and only a five-minute walk from the athletes’ dorms.

Basically… A dream.

The walls are painted a soft gray, with white and gold furniture that matches perfectly with every decoration I brought.

Ronnie thinks it’s a little too girly. I think it’s perfect. It feels like me. A little extra. A little pink. A little Elle.

“Need any help?”

The familiar voice makes my heart skip. I freeze for half a second. Then I turn around. Standing in the doorway is KJ.

And somehow, even after five years, he still manages to make my stomach flip.

His wavy brown hair falls perfectly around his face, his black-rimmed glasses sitting comfortably against his nose. His deep chocolate eyes meet mine, and his cheeks are slightly flushed from the heat. My off-brand Shawn Mendes. Only better. Because he’s mine.

“Of course, KJ baby,” I say, walking over to him.

I press a quick kiss to his cheek.

His smile grows. “Feels like you’re moving in here for the rest of your life.”

I glance around at the mountain of bags surrounding us.

“Goodness, you sound exactly like Papi.” I point toward the chaos. “Okay, this bag is my sorority rush outfits for the first two days. This one is preference round. This one is my class outfits. These are my sofa pillows. These are my makeup organizers…”

I continue explaining until his eyebrows raise.

“Elle.”

I keep going.

“Okay, okay,” he laughs. His arm wraps around my waist, pulling me closer.

Then he kisses me. And just like that… Everything gets quiet. The stress. The nerves. The overwhelming feeling that my entire life is changing. Gone. Because KJ has always been my calm.

His lips are warm and familiar, reminding me of every late-night phone call, every football game, every moment where he made me feel like I was exactly where I belonged. He’s steady. Honest. Safe. The person I’ve always imagined standing beside me.

When we pull away, our foreheads rest together.

“Let’s get you moved in,” he whispers.

And I smile. Because of course he does. Even in moments like this, KJ is still KJ.

Between the four of us and the three movers Papi hired, the entire move-in process takes less than an hour. With plenty of snack breaks, obviously.

I look around the room, finally seeing it empty of boxes. Then reality hits. I turn toward Papi.

“Wait.” My eyes widen. “How are you getting home?”

“We’re staying with you, of course,” Lily says immediately, completely serious.

I laugh. “Lily.”

Papi chuckles. “I have a car picking us up in ten minutes.”

And suddenly, my smile fades. Because ten minutes isn’t enough. Not enough time. Not enough hugs. Not enough pretending this isn’t goodbye.

I look at them both, and my eyes start to burn.

These two people have been my home for my entire life. Even when Papi was busy with work, even when his days were filled with courtrooms and impossible cases, I always knew one thing. His love was there. Maybe he didn’t always say it. Maybe he didn’t always show it the way other people did. But it was there. Always.

“You better visit me,” I whisper, wrapping my arms around Papi.

He stiffens immediately. Physical affection has never been his favorite thing. But after a moment, his arms wrap around me anyway.

“You know we will, princess.”

And somehow, that makes it harder.

“See you later, Lily Billy.” KJ picks Lily up into a hug, making her burst into a fit of giggles.

She hugs him back tightly.

“Bye, sissy.” I bend down to her level and pull her into my arms. “Don’t steal too much of my stuff.”

She pulls back with a mischievous smile, even though tears shine in her eyes.

“Oh, your leftover makeup is getting explored the second we get home.”

I laugh, wiping away the tear falling down her cheek.

“I’ll call you with all the outfit updates.” A small smile appears. “I love you, girly.”

She pushes my shoulder lightly. “Love you too.”

Defensive, of course.

Because admitting she’ll miss me would ruin her reputation.

“Goodbye, Mr. Jenkins.” KJ extends his hand.

Papi looks at him for a moment before shaking it. “Good luck, Kaden-John.”

There it is. The full name. Never KJ. Always Kaden-John.

“I’ll be keeping up with the team,” Papi says, his voice protective. “Expecting greatness.”

KJ smiles. “Yes, sir.”

And I can’t help but smile. Because even though we’ve been together for almost five years, Papi still refuses to call him KJ. But I know the truth. He loves him. Maybe he doesn’t say it. Maybe he doesn’t show it. But he does. Who convinced the Northridge scout to come watch KJ play at Canton High School? My dad. Who helped make every interview happen? My dad. Who made sure KJ and Ross had everything they needed moving into the athletes’ dorm? My dad. Love is there. It’s just quietly shown.

KJ places an arm around my shoulder as we watch the black car pull away. And just like that… They’re gone. The people who raised me. The people who knew me before I became Elle Jenkins, Northridge student. I lean into KJ’s side.

This is it. Our new chapter. And just like Elle Woods said… This is going to be like senior year. But better. Well… Funner. Here we go.