AllFreeNovel
Share Us
She’d put a big N on Noah’s, and a P and W on the twins’.
She had them each a water bottle with their names on the bottom, too. They all had a special place in the rear of her van where each of their bags went when they were driving. No one was allowed to keep their bags in the passenger seats, not since Wesley had almost clunked Philip in the head.
She was treating them all like they were her kids. No different because the twins and Becky were hers at all.
It was kind of weird, but nice, too.
Like they all belonged together or something.
She watched the twins. “So uncivilized, my boys.”
“Just excited,” Nick said. He put one hand on Noah’s other shoulder. “So am I. I used to play right there. They were the best moments of my summer. About the only time my dad watched us at all was when one of us was playing baseball.”
“Well, have fun.” Robin snickered at him. Nick just looked at her, that weird look in his eyes again. “I know you have your mitt in Noah’s bag. I saw it when I put a surprise in there for him earlier.”
There was something in his bag, just for him? Why? No one ever gave him surprises. He slipped the bag off quickly. Unzipped it.
She and Nick had already spent so much money on him and Nova and stuff. “You didn’t have to get me anything.”
“I wanted to.” She let go of Becky long enough to pat him on the shoulder again. “You and Nick better hurry. I have a feeling Nick’s going to be bugging Phil to let him play, too. He’s a big kid at heart. I’m almost convinced of it.”
Noah just nodded, pulling the brand-new batting gloves free. They were still in the package and felt so soft. Green ones.
“Thanks.”
“Have fun. Remember: this is a learning league. Everyone starts somewhere.”
Noah just nodded.
What was he supposed to say now?
He just followed Nick to the dugout.
Nick’s brother was there. He smiled at Noah. “Hey, Noah. Glad you could make it—even if you did have to bring Nick. He’s probably going to try to convince me to let him play right field or something. He’s relentless.”
Nick said something to his older brother, ribbing him. Noah grabbed the new mitt Nick had bought him.
Nick had wrapped it around a baseball and tied it all up for a few days while it was all rainy. Said it would break it in and make it catch the ball better.
He’d enjoyed throwing the ball with Nick. He’d never had anyone to throw the ball with him before. Not that he could remember, anyway.
But throwing the ball in Nick’s front yard was a lot different than being on a real field. He didn’t know if he could do this. He didn’t want to look like a loser out there in front of kids he went to school with.
Then again, that’s what he’d felt like at his old school anyway. It wouldn’t be anything new.
“Well, since we have an extra volunteer today…” Phil said. “We’re going to divide into three groups of five and work on different skills. Levi will take one group and work on pop-ups. Nick, I don’t suppose you can handle tee work? I’ll take some on the field and work on fielding—after we warm up.”
“I’m also supposed to keep an eye on Philip and Wesley, if needed,” Nick said. “Will that be a problem?”
“I take it Robin’s given you your orders? No surprise. She’s as good at organizing us Tylers as her sister always was. Bet she had a little list written in tiny handwriting, didn’t she?” Noah almost snorted at that—Robin had. “Just like her sister. Joel’s over there with Parker. Run over and tell him he’s got twin duty as well. Then get your butt over here.”
“Aye, aye, captain.” Nick looked at Noah and smiled. “I’d rather be helping with Noah’s first practice anyway.”
Noah felt tears hit his eyes out of nowhere. Nick had meant it, too. Maybe this was kind of like what having a dad felt like.
