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“I miss her so much, but there are days when I don’t believe it’s real. It’s easier when I’m at college because I can pretend she’s at home. But when I’m back, the house is too quiet.”
“Losing a parent is one of the hardest things to go through.” Even though my mom didn’t die, it still stung when she left without so much as a goodbye. I suppose losing someone to an illness is different—less resentment. “I wish I could say it gets easier, but it doesn’t. It just gets more tolerable.”
The silence stretches between us as we watch the warm water circulate in the pool. Bellow joins us, plopping down beside Cassie. I entwine our fingers, noticing how my hand engulfs her tiny one.
“You should’ve reached out to me. I would’ve been there for you.”
“I wanted to. You have no idea how badly I wanted to talk to you, but I couldn’t. Aunt Jan found the cell phone under the bed before we left, and Dad was livid. He figured out I was talking to a boy, but Jan didn’t tell him who the guy was. Dad didn’t yell too much since we needed to get back home.”
I nod, trying to understand where she’s coming from, but her lack of communication was total hell for me during that time. Iachedfor her. There’s only one other woman I ever ached for, and that’s my mother. My temper flares, getting the best of me. “A message from Nicole would’ve been nice.”
She flinches from the bite in my tone. “I know, and I’m so sorry. I thought a clean break would be best. I figured the goodbye would be easier. It killed me not being able to tell you.”
“Did it? Because it sure never seemed that way from my side.”
“I deserve that. But I had my reasons. I’m serious, Dalton. If my dad found out who you were and that you played baseball, he would’ve ended your college career.”
“I’m sure he doesn’t wield that kind of power.”
“Trust me, he does. He knows people in high places, and you don’t want to get on his bad side.”
I let out a humorless laugh. “That ship sailed the moment I got off the plane.”
“He’s judging you right now, but your talent will win him over.” She lifts her chin to look into my eyes. “Just don’t do anything to make him upset.”
“You mean like sit next to his daughter by the pool?”
A pinkish tinge coats her cheeks. She sits up straighter and pulls away but doesn’t go too far. We’re still close. Although, I’d prefer to close the gap completely.
I brush my leg against hers, causing tiny ripples. I study them as I ask, “What about your boyfriend?”
“Bobby has been my friend since I was little. He was there when Mom got sick, and I guess dating made sense.”
My hands clench into fists as that statement shoots right through me, but when those eyes that hold so much sorrow turn to look at me, I let it go. This girl turns me to mush with just one look. I don’t know how she does it.
“And now?” My voice is barely over a whisper. I gravitate a little closer.
“I’m ending things between us.”
I feel her warm breath on my face. My gaze drops to those pouty pink lips. My tongue slips out and licks my bottom lip. “So no more boyfriend.”
Her gaze hoods over as her lips part. Her breathing ticks up a beat. “No more boyfriend.”
Warmth invades my body, which I’m pretty sure has nothing to do with the heated water on our legs. I move to close that gap, which seems to spook her. She rears back and stands up.
“I have something to show you, but first, let me put Bellow back inside.”
Once we have our shoes back on and the dog put up, I follow her to the outbuilding. When she opens the door and clicks on the light, my mouth drops open. In the middle of the building sits a ’57 Chevy.
“Oh sure, you show me this when we’re getting ready to leave for an away game.”
Her laughter makes me smile. It’s the first time I’ve heard her relax, and the angelic sound warms my heart.
“The thing doesn’t run.”
“Yeah, trust me. I know.” This was her Aunt Jan’s car. She’s the reason our business took a nosedive. She had Dad look under the hood. The woman hadn’t had an oil change in forever. He warned her about the sludge buildup, but she wouldn’t let him do anything. She would hire a professional mechanic, meaning one with a fancier building, in the next town over. Except she didn’t. She continued to drive it until the engine seized. She turned around and blamed everything on Dad, not claiming any fault. People believed her, and our customer base shrank.
Her eyes cut to mine. “Feel free to tinker around with it.”
