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Chapter Four
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Drew looked in the mirror again. Cargo shorts and a golf shirt were okay for a picnic lunch, right? Not too casual. He’d gone for a run that morning and although it was cool when he first set out, the sun came up and the day was warm.
He shook his head at his reflection. “You’re acting like a friggin’ girl, MacIntire. Get your head together.” Besides, it wasn’t like a date or anything. She was bringing her son. It was an outing among friends. A friend he’d dreamt about all night, curves and all. He woke up more frustrated than rested. A long run had helped to clear his head a bit but now he was tired and his shoulder ached. A constant reminder of the crap storm that was currently his life.
Drew sat on the edge of the bed to pull on his socks and shoes. Baylee had a son. When she’d said so the day before, it had thrown him, but only for a second. He liked kids. A lot. They were one of the things he loved about his job. He made sure he stayed after each game to sign autographs. Wide-eyed toddlers looked up at him from under the visors of their ball caps, grinning as if he were some kind of god. Ha! If they only knew how human he really was. But he had been the exact same when he was young. Begging his dad to take him to games and idolizing the players on the field. That was one of the things that motivated him– kids looked up to him. He didn’t want to let them down.
Maybe Baylee’s son liked baseball. That would be cool. Give them something to talk about. Drew frowned. Maybe her son already knew who he was. Not that that was a bad thing, but he was enjoying living under the radar here in Silver Bay. He didn’t want to disappoint the kid either, have him see Drew… broken. His throwing arm not what it was.
“You’ve got some deep thoughts going there, son. You need to me to remind you how to tie your shoes? Or should I just do it for you?”
His mother’s teasing brought him back to the room. She stood in the doorway, leaning against the frame, her arms crossed in front of her. The twinkle in her eye was one he recognized all too well. Rose MacIntire was the epitome of a sassy woman, but loyal as hell and a fierce mama bear when necessary. His love and respect for her knew no bounds.
“Sorry. Just lost in thought.”
“You’ve been lost quite a bit lately.”
He nodded, only then seeing he had one shoe still in his hand. It hadn’t made it to his foot yet. His mind did wander more than normal these days.
The mattress beneath him moved a bit as his mother sat beside him.
“Don’t say it, Mom.”
“Say what?”
“That you’re worried about me. I get enough of that from my siblings.”
“Oh, poor you. You have two siblings who love and adore you and are concerned for you.”
One corner of his mouth tilted up. His mother was also tough as nails. She was good about letting him and his siblings feel what they needed to in life, but pity parties weren’t allowed. Ironically, she’d given him some space to have one since he arrived last week. She’d push him now and then to get out of the house beyond his workouts, but otherwise, she let him brood. Hadn’t bothered him much.
“Where are you off to today?”
Her subject change caught him off guard. He hadn’t mentioned Baylee to her, to anyone, but he hadn’t exactly been Mr. Social since he’d arrived in Silver Bay. He’d attended the wedding events Kate had asked him to, but beyond that, he’d kept to himself. Well, until he met Baylee. Now all he could think about was when he’d get to see her again.
“Hmmm, I recognize that look. Something tells me a woman is involved in you actually leaving the house.”
Drew leaned forward and put on his shoe. He tied it, avoiding his mother’s eyes.
“Ah, your silence is telling me all I need to know.”
He sat up again and laughed. “How can silence tell you anything, Mom?”
“I’ve known you a long time. All your life, quite frankly…”
Drew fought the urge to roll his eyes. She used that line on all three kids their entire growing up. And even still.
“People used to say to me, ‘Drew is so quiet. Mellow.’ They assumed you were just daydreaming, not paying attention. But I knew better. You missed nothing. You still don’t. Something is always spinning in that head of yours; it just doesn’t come out your mouth all the time like it does with your sister.”
They laughed. Kate did have a knack for speaking her mind. Drew eyed his mother, sure of which parent his sister gained that trait from. His father had been more of an observer like himself.
“What’s her name?” His mom nudged his shoulder with hers and smiled. His good shoulder.
There was no use in trying to be coy with her. She’d find out some other way and with the way she and her friends jabbered, she’d get some story that wasn’t true, or a blown out of proportion version.
“Baylee.”
