Page 43 of View With Your Heart

“We’re old friends.”

Theo chuckles harder. “Uh-huh.” His eyes shift to Gee and then back to me.

“Are you that friend?” Gee asks.

“I think I am. Those words were what my dad used to say to me.”

“Wow, that’s cool.”

Yeah, cool. If only my dad had continued to live by them.

“So what about you, Gee? What do you want to be when you grow up?”

He shrugs. “I’d love to play baseball, but I’m just as happy to be a professional gamer.” Britton mentioned his obsession with video games the other night.

“Guess it’s good to keep your options open,” I tease.

“As long as it makes lots of money. That’s what my dad said.” I’m not certain I like that advice. It was never about the money to play professionally. The sport was more about passion until it wasn’t. That’s what filmmaking has become to me now.

“Almost ready to head out, pal?” Theo asks after another toss from Gee.

“I can bring him home if you want to go,” I say, hesitating again as I know how Britton feels. It’s not just that I’m a stranger to her son, but she believes she doesn’t know me herself. However, I’m not really that different from who I was when we were kids. I’m still driven, just in a new career. I’m still passionate, especially about her. I hate how we ended last night.

“Yeah,” Gee offers, and Theo rolls before hopping up to his feet.

“Gather your stuff,” his cousin tells him, walking closer to me. When Gee is out of hearing range, Theo turns to me.

“I saw you guys in the driveway last night. I know you’ll think I’m a kid and don’t know stuff, but I’ve watched my dad go through women. I have no intention of being a player like that, and I won’t let you play with Aunt Brit. She’s doing me a solid this summer, and I’m protective of her and Gee. He doesn’t need some man stepping in and stepping out again. I’ve had that shit with my mom’s husband and my own dad, so just walk away now if that’s your plan, old friend.” His eyes narrow at me, and while I want to laugh at the balls on this seventeen-year-old kid, there’s every bit of seriousness in his warning to me.

“I always cared about Britton, and I still do. I have no intention of hurting her, but you’re right. I’m only here until next week. Your warning is noted.”

Don’t fuck with the single mom and her kid.

Theo nods, turning back to Gee like he didn’t give me an ultimatum.

“Let’s go, little man. Pizza on me.” The implication is clear. I’m not invited.

“Hey, Coach, want to hear a joke about pizza?” Gee asks me, hitching his bat bag higher over his shoulder before Theo takes it from him.

“Sure.”

“Never mind, it’s cheesy.” Gee smiles, and I laugh. I’d really love to spend more time with him, but I have my own dinner plans with my parents. As much as I don’t want to separate myself from Britton, maybe I need a night to cool off and re-evaluate a few things.

+ + +

“Gee’s on Tom’s team?” I say when I notice him on the field the next day.

Tom coaches Holden’s team, and my sister invited me to attend the game as she was at dinner last night as well. Mum and Dad typically attend the games, and after having an awkward dinner with them, I should have declined. However, Mum had another coughing attack, and I’m growing concerned about her health. She had a bout of pneumonia last fall, and she doesn’t look well. Karyn and I didn’t have the chance to talk privately last night. Today, I’d been too busy talking to my sister near the fence line to notice Gee. Karyn has been giving me attitude.

“Oh, nice of the great Gavin to finally show some interest,” she snarked after discussing Mum, and I looked at Ethan for support. He rolled his eyes to commiserate.

“Well, it’s not really Tom’s team. They’re the Tigers,” Karyn clarifies. “It’s Holden’s team.”

She’s on my last nerve, and I scan the space around us, looking for Gee’s mother. She’s walking up to the field when I see her and wave her over to us. Her head pops up, surprise on her face at my presence.

“Hey,” I say as she steps up to the fence line.

I tried to give her space yesterday but seeing her instantly makes me regret giving up the time. Despite Theo’s warning and my own thoughts to put distance between us, the bottom line is, I don’t want to.