Page 41 of Coastal Rewind

Goose bumps erupted down her neck but she didn’t flinch as she ate. I smirked and then sat in the chair next to her, satisfied that I could get a reaction out of her without even trying.

“So, Dad,” MJ said in a serious tone. “Since I have Ryleigh this summer, does that mean I don’t get to go on trips with you?”

I sat back and smiled at my little boy who was definitely about to try to negotiate his preferred trips to away games with me.

“Do you want to go on trips this summer?” I arched a brow at him.

He nodded sternly. “Yes, I would.”

I shrugged. “I think we can work something out. You’re out of school in two weeks and that happens to line up for when we leave for Florida. Maybe you and Ryleigh can come with before you start your sports camp.”

“Yes!” He pumped one fist in the air. “This is going to be the best summer ever!”

I took in my beaming son and couldn’t help but agree with him because if MJ was going to be in the stands cheering me on, that meant his nanny would be there, too.

eighteen

Ryleigh

It had been a week since Mason kissed me, and I was going insane.

I was drunk on my birthday, so I understood his reservations about coming into my room that night. But I was stone cold sober when I let him kiss me and I wanted to do it again. I could respect a man who didn’t jump at the chance to sleep with a girl who couldn’t completely consent, but it had been seven whole days. I figured the next day we would talk about it, or maybe kiss some more, but no.

Nothing.

The man didn’t so much as touch me. Not even one lingering graze or hip touch as he moves behind me. The freaky part was that every second he could, he was doing nice things or making comments that made me want to scream.

On Monday, he cooked us dinner. On Tuesday, he put on a marathon of my favorite movies. On Wednesday, he brought home flowers just because. When he declared that he was going to chase me, I thought he meant it in a literal sense—like around the house. I didn’t expect flowers and soft smiles. I didn’t know what to do with that.

We were on two separate pages.

I wanted to fuck Mason, sure, but I didn’t date. That wasn’t in the cards for me and it would only end with one—or both—of us heartbroken and in pieces.

My mind was all over the place. I had a lot of life experience, but this was foreign.

Now, I was sitting behind home plate at a home Sparrows game cheering on Mason with a smiling MJ standing in front of me. His fingers were gripping the hanging net and he had been screaming his head off since the first pitch.

Mason stepped up to home plate as “Fever Dream” by Alex Warren played as it did every time he walked out of the dugout—and goddamn, was he sex in a fucking uniform. His muscles flexed against the short sleeves as he took a practice swing with his bat. Just before he stepped into the batter’s box, his eyes swung to mine and he threw me a wink.

Fuck.

I needed that man to touch me again.

The moment he stepped into the box and held up the bat, the crowd erupted into screams. Women surrounding me were chanting Sexy Saxley and a sudden pang of jealousy ripped through me.

He could have any girl in this stadium that he wanted, why would I think he was trying to date me?

He was just being nice and I clearly had nothing to worry about.

The first pitch was thrown. Strike. Mason took a step back and adjusted his helmet before getting back into position. I held my breath as the pitcher held his glove up and eyed the catcher. It was almost slow motion as he threw the ball and the crack of Mason’s bat ripped through the stadium. The ball went sailing into the upper deck and the crowd sprang to their feet. MJ jumped up and down as Mason rounded the bases and was met by his teammates surrounding home plate.

They all clapped him on the back and shoved him in celebration before they retreated to the dugout.

The energy was electric, and when Mason turned and pointed toward MJ and me, my heart soared.

When the game ended, we walked down to meet Mason outside of the locker rooms with the rest of the family members. MJ wouldn’t stop recounting every play of the game as if we didn’t just watch it together but I didn’t have a single urge to stop him. He loved watching his dad play baseball and I loved supporting that special connection they shared.

Mason stepped out of the locker room and my heart rate picked up as he looked around for us. When his gaze met mine, he smiled ear to ear.