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His heart is pounding beneath my ear, and the warmth of his body seeps into me while I wait with bated breath for his response.
Is he, or isn’t he, going to agree with me?
Chapter Nineteen
Jace
The softball field is where I feel most at home. It’s a place that’s helped with my rehabilitation, or rather it did once Ryder got on my ass and refused to let me give up.
The open space has been where I’ve let out my anger at the cards I’ve been dealt. When I’m pissed and having a really bad day, nothing releases the tension and stress like the feel of the bat in my hands and the sound of the ball as it makes contact before it’s carried with speed, and the wind, across the field to land with a thud to the ground.
It’s therapeutic to me and something that I’ve always held on to, and doubt I’ll ever let go of. Not only that, but it keeps me fit and in top condition.
The other thing I like is being in charge, something I’m not when I play on the academy’s team. They’re a good set of guys and I have a lot to thank them for. There was no reason for them to give me a shot on their team, but without question they did.
Breathing the fresh air into my lungs while I’m standing on home plate fills my stomach with excitement.
Today is a scrimmage between the academy and the sheriff’s department, a warm-up done in fun to unite the two teams before the charity event, and Ryder has told me to expect my redhead.
I haven’t seen Savannah in three days. After I’d come clean with her about why I haven’t been spending the night, I’d needed space and I also wanted Savannah to think long and hard about what she wanted. I didn’t want her making a split second decision. PTSD isn’t something to take lightly and it’s something that she needs to understand I’ll probably always have.
Her reaction had surprised me in a way because I’m so used to people running in the opposite direction, but not Savannah. She’d asked me to trus
t her and that she’d show me I wouldn’t hurt her. I just wish it were easier said than done.
Savannah is inside me, and although it’s killing me to stay away from her with no contact, I’m hoping that it’s helped her have a clear head to think. And, hopefully, she’ll be thinking in my favor. Like Dahlia said, I need to have faith in Savannah and stop thinking the worst. I happen to agree—most days.
“That,” Ryder claps me on the shoulders, “can’t be a good daydream as you have a terrifying scowl on your face.”
“I don’t scowl.”
He shakes his head. “I’ve just been introduced to Richard.”
Now that gets my attention.
I meet his gaze and then follow his finger to the side of the bleachers.
“He has a friend with him,” Ryder adds. “A very pregnant friend.”
“Shit. Is Savannah with you?” I slowly walk toward where Richard is standing talking to a guy I don’t recognize but who is on the sheriff’s team.
“No.” Ryder falls in step beside me. “Dahlia dropped Faith at Mom and Dad’s, and then went to collect Savannah. She mentioned they were having lunch first…and I wasn’t invited.”
I snicker with him sounding so disgruntled.
He carries on moaning, “I’m only her husband.”
I stop and smack my glove into his chest. “So you don’t have guy only time?” He starts to shake his head when I raise a brow.
“Occasionally,” he agrees reluctantly. “It’s not the same though. I mean, what do girls want to chat about that her husband can’t be there? Huh?”
“You’re being stupid. They’ll be talking girl stuff. Dahlia will be moaning about your bad habits.” It’s difficult to hold my laughter in with the horror on his face. “Savannah will be singing my praises…”
“Bastard,” he mutters, walking off toward his truck.
Hope he isn’t going to go and find his wife.
Shaking my head, I carry on toward Richard. I’m more than curious as to the woman with him. Is she Erin, the woman he was seeing while engaged to Savannah?
