Page 34 of View With Your Heart

Her mouth is lush like I remember, and she tastes every bit the same. Britton was so sexual. Nothing makes sense.

When I meet her in the living room, I’m thrown back in time some more. The paneled walls. The stone fireplace. The rug and couch have been updated, and the two reclining chairs that belonged to Gertie and Leo are gone, but the aura feels the same. The room is small. The entire cottage is tinier than I remember with its simple layout of the kitchen, living room, and two bedrooms joined by a bath. The bedrooms face the water, but any position in the house has a view of the lake.

Britton is standing by the front door, and the implication is clear. Time to go. Only I don’t want to walk out that door without a promise she’ll see me again—man in her life or not. When the film festival ends tomorrow night, I have another week to hang out before Jess and Emily’s wedding, and I want to spend time with her. We don’t have to consider things a date. We can just be together, but I already know it’s not really that simple.

As I stand in the living room, staring back at her, Gee enters the room.

“Hey, Coach, I didn’t know you were here.” He looks from his mom to me and back at her. If he’s questioning her attire, he doesn’t say anything. Her rosy nipples are not disguised behind the faded material, and the sharp nubs give away her reaction to my body. Her short shorts expose tan dance-muscled legs, and one barefoot rubs up against her ankle with nerves.

It’s late, and I don’t know anything about children and bedtimes. Still, shouldn’t Gee be sleeping?

“Mr. Scott was just leaving,” Britton says.

“You wouldn’t want to pitch to me again, would you?” Gee addresses me, ignoring his mother. His voice is hopeful, and something about him gazing at me has my heart racing.

Britton hisses his name, but I slowly smile. “I’d love to pitch to you. When’s a good time?”

“Gavin,” Britton cries to me next, but I ignore her myself.

“Tomorrow is Harbor Days, but I could play on Sunday. I want the practice before my game on Monday.” I admire his drive at such a young age, and it reminds me of when I was twelve.

“Perfect. Want me to meet you there? I can drive us to the field.” My eyes look up at Britton because I suddenly feel a temperature change coming from her direction. Maybe it’s not appropriate to take the kid to the park as I’m essentially a stranger to him.

“Or we could hit here?”

Gee shakes his head. “There’s not enough room. I don’t want to hit someone’s house.” He smirks, exerting confidence in his ability.

“I need to work on Sunday,” Britton says, but I’m not certain what that has to do with pitching to her kid.

Gee’s shoulders visibly fall. “I can ride my bike to the field.”

“Not alone,” Britton admonishes. “I’ll talk to Theo. Maybe he can take you.”

I’m not liking how complicated she’s making this, but I understand. If Gee were my kid, I’d be overprotective too.

“We gotta do what Mom says,” I tell him, and his head snaps up.

“You sound just like my dad.” The comment makes me smile, but the color drains from Britton’s face.

“Okay, well, Sunday then. Let me give you my number.” Gee disappears for his phone in his room, and Britton glares at me.

“Not cool, Gavin.”

“What did I do?” I smile innocently, and Britton shakes her head.

“Don’t do this.” I don’t even know what she means, but her eyes are full of caution while the color slowly restores to her face.

“It’s only batting practice,” I tell her, uncertain what she’s so afraid of happening. She shakes her head as if disagreeing with me and Gee returns to the room with his phone in hand. I give him my number and then tell him to text his mom mine, so she has my number as well. I want her to be able to reach out to me. I won’t risk losing her again.

Gee lingers, and I realize Britton and I aren’t going to have another alone moment.

“I guess I’ll be going,” I say, stepping up to the door, and Britton steps aside.

“Will you be at Harbor Days tomorrow, Coach?”

My gaze lands on Britton before shifting to Gee. “I’ll be at the beach during the day with my family, but tomorrow night is the final night of the film festival. I have a dinner to attend.” I glance back at Britton. “In fact, I’d like your mom to attend the dinner with me.”

Britton’s eyes widen.