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“Did you take Ryle to the batting cages?”
His question throws me off. Yes, I took Ryle to the batting cages. I have no idea why that’s a problem for Truman.
I nod when he glances at me and wait for him to say more.
“Seriously?” He spins around and throws his hands up. “Do you know how hard—”
“Wait.” I shake my head and put my hand up to stop him. When he stays where he is, I cross the porch to stand closer to him. “Really? You’re judging my parenting?”
“Jules, that’s hardcore—”
“He didn’t bat, Truman!” I snap, indignant with anger. How dare he question anything I do with my son? Truman might be his father, but he didn’t want him in the early days, and I am Ryle’s custodial parent.
“What?”
“Do you really think I would put him in a cage with a fastball coming at him at ninety miles per hour?” I tip my head and study his face. “Did Ryle tell you I let him get in a cage?”
Truman’s hesitation only makes me madder. “No.”
“So, you just assumed I would do that? Because what? I’m too dumb to know how hard the machines throw? Or I’m neglectful and don’t care?”
“Whoa, whoa, Jules.” Truman shakes his head and steps back. “It’s not—”
“It is like that. You just came at me, guns blazing, for something you assumed.”
He’s frustrated—with me, yes, but now, more with himself.
“How dare you judge my parenting.”
“Julie—”
I’m spoiling for a fight. The realization almost knocks the wind out of me. It’s been years since I’ve been on the receiving end of Truman Woolff’s passion, and even if it’s anger now rather than love, I like it. I’ve missed the way he’s looking at me right now.
“If it were up to you—”
He cuts me off with a growl. “Yeah, yeah, I know. If it were up to me, Ryle wouldn’t be here. Will you ever let that go?”
“Let it go?” I step closer to him, and even I hear my voice jump an octave and a decibel or two. “Let it go? When have I ever brought that up—”
“You ended everything we had because of that!” Truman yells loudly enough that I wonder if anyone in the back can hear him. He doesn’t look angry, though. Not anymore. His face is a mask of pain. I recognize it, because it’s a look I see in the mirror now and then.
“I did,” I agree quietly. “But I’ve never brought it up again.”
Truman takes a deep breath, and all the fight goes out of him. His shoulders slump, and he ducks his head.
“You’re going to Florida?”
“What?” Confused when he changes the subject, I can only stare at him and try to catch up.
“With Dani and Eric?”
How does he know that? I know for a fact Dani didn’t tell him. Dani wouldn’t blow him off if she saw him, but she certainly wouldn’t share the fact that we’re going to Florida, either.
“Yeah.”
“And Eric’s cousin?”
Truman’s voice breaks the slightest bit, and it hits me that Harper has been at the house a few times recently. It’s usually under the guise of getting the boys together, but I wonder now if there’s more to it. I mentioned to her once or twice about going to the beach now since Dani won’t be free to do that for a while once the baby comes. I don’t remember saying anything about Jerad going, but I suppose I might have referenced him at some point.
