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Drew was absolutely up for that. He couldn’t think of a better distraction from Baylee, spring training, his injury– all the stuff swirling around in his head– than talking about his favorite sport all night with a group of guys. It had actually been a long time since he had friends who weren’t guys on his team. Hearing about Josh and Jack’s architectural firm as well as the glory days in Silver Bay was a welcomed way to spend the evening.
It wasn’t until they’d said their goodbyes at the door of the saloon and Drew glanced at his phone that it all came flooding back. A text from Kate that said, “Meet me tomorrow at Meg’s for breakfast,” tossed him right back into the whirlwind that was life.
Bull dog was right. The woman was relentless. It wasn’t even a question or a request. Just a demand to meet her. Man, he loved her. But her love for him gave him gray hair. He chuckled as he tucked his phone in his pocket and walked to his car.
*
“I thought youmight not come.” Kate sat in a corner booth at Meg’s Diner.
Drew sat down across from his sister. “Well, your invitation was so sweet and generous, how could I refuse?”
“Your sarcasm won’t get you out of talking, ya know?”
“Oh, I’m aware.” Drew turned the coffee mug over in front of him, holding it up for the waitress to fill it. “Please make sure it’s leaded. I have to deal with this one this morning.” He motioned to Kate with his other hand.
The waitress laughed. “You got it.”
Kate ignored the jab. “So? What are you going to do?”
What was he going to do? Drew had tossed and turned all night. No, more like laid on his back and stared at the ceiling all night. His mother hadn’t hounded him, but did ask the same thing and hell if he knew what to say. Unlike Kate, his mom let him be and he spent the rest of the night, well, staring at the ceiling. He’d tossed a baseball in the air over and over and over again above his head, something that usually helped him think. But even that brought little insight.
“I hate to say it out loud, but I can’t help but think the best thing for Baylee would be to just go.” He’d hated thinking it. Saying it to his sister was even worse.
“Is that what you want?”
Of course it wasn’t what he wanted. He wanted to be with Baylee. Period. End of sentence. But it wasn’t that simple.
“No. But that might be what’s best for her. My job comes with a lot of baggage. She’d be better off without me.”
“That’s not true and you don’t believe that for a second.”
He didn’t. Although he’d sure as hell tried to convince himself of it since the other night. All the mess that came with his life couldn’t even be called baggage. Baggage could be unpacked, dealt with. The stuff he had to put up with followed him wherever he went. It was more like a crazy, rabid dog that went wherever he did and he couldn’t put down.
“She loves you.”
Boy if those words didn’t slice right through him. “I love her too.”
“Then you two can figure this out.”
He quirked an eyebrow at her. “I would think you’d be waiting for me to say, ‘You’re right, sis. You told me so.’”
Kate looked down in her lap. “Am I really that bad?”
He reached across and lifted her chin with his hand until their eyes met. “No. And you know I was teasing.”
“Sort of.” She rolled her eyes.
“Ah, that’s better. Stick your tongue out at me and I’ll know we’re all good.”
“I’m saving that for when I really need it.”
Of that, he had no doubt. “What can I say, Kate? You did warn me.”
She opened her mouth to protest, but he stopped her with a hand up.
“No. It’s true. You did. And I didn’t listen. I tumbled right into this and now it’s my job to get myself… figured out.”
“And you really think just leaving is the answer?’
“I have to leave, Kate. There’s no question about that.”
“But you’ll talk to Baylee first.”
“Of course. What kind of jerk do you think I am?”
“I’m sorry. I don’t. I know you wouldn’t leave without saying goodbye. But… what if she wants this? Wants to make it work?”
If that were true, then Drew would go back to baseball, skipping like an idiot. But something in his gut said to prepare for the worst. He and Baylee loved each other, but they both questioned if that could weather the storm. And he loved her enough to walk away, if that was what was best for her and Casey. But he prayed for a different answer, one that would come to him, and come to him fast.
