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It was an interesting part of growing up in a tourist trap. You saw all kinds, but especially the personalities that could only exist in a group for so long before everyone caught onto their bad behavior and moved on. Where better than a place where the groups were always changing? And if you ran a business you had to be good at parsing out how critical a problem really was.

I’d bet money that Beth sent nearly every meal back in hopes of getting it comped or left bad reviews to get free products in exchange for rewriting her review.

“It’s been years,” Patrick raged. “You could have just stayed gone!”

I felt Willa cringe. Which made me want to move in front of her and keep her safe. Instead I held her tighter.

“So good to see you too, Pat.” Beth rolled her eyes.

Oh, she was definitely a master manipulator.

“Why? Why would it ever be good to see you? I want nothing to do with you.”

She arched an eyebrow. “It’s a good thing I’m not here for you.”

Patrick surged forward, his finger in her face. “There is no one for you here.”

“This overprotective act was tired when Willa was a child but now? It’s boring and pathetic.”

Her carefully planned blows landed. Patrick’s anger jumped several notches and I began to wonder if the person I really needed to protect was Willa’s dad. While they traded insults I sized up the distance, their body language, and the closest exit.

The maintenance crew kept shooting glances our way, trying to look busy when really they were watching the show. Even the medic stuck around.

“I should talk to her,” Willa whispered, tugging on my shirt. “The quickest way through this is to hear her out.”

“Babe?” I really didn’t want to leave her alone with that woman.

“Can you handle Dad?”

It went against every instinct I had. “Are you sure? I will happily drag them both out to fight in the parking lot.”

Willa smiled. “I’m sure you would but that won’t solve anything. I’d rather get this over with.” There was a conviction in her eyes I couldn’t deny.

So even though it killed me to do it, I would. “Done.” Dealing with Patrick wouldn’t be easy.

“Thank you.”

I caressed her cheek, hoping when this was over she’d still be able to smile.

She’d better be able to smile. If Beth tore her up I’d have no choice but to return the favor. “Get on with it before I change my mind.”

Willa nodded once, took a deep breath, and stepped forward. “Dad.” She placed a hand on his arm. “Why don’t you let Everett show you…something cool about the stadium while I talk to Beth.”

The only reason I was calm about this at all was that Willa really seemed confident. Very different from the day Beth blindsided her.

“Don’t give this parasite blood,” Patrick spat.

He wasn’t wrong, but neither was Willa. “Come on Patrick. The groundskeepers are just down this way.” I shot Willa a look. “Scream and I’ll be back in a flash.” Then I glared at Beth who unsurprisingly smiled.

I nudged Patrick towards the entrance that would lead us up the field to where batting practice was probably well underway. “She’s got this.”

“I don’t care if she’s got it. She shouldn’t have to have it.”

“I agree. But Willa doesn’t want this hanging over her head any longer than necessary. Beth wants something. Let her find out what it is.” Patrick grumbled but didn’t argue. So I pushed him towards the field. “We can watch some batting practice or we can head up to the suite where the party is.”

His lip curled. “I’m not exactly in the mood for a party at the moment.”

“Batting practice it is.”