AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“I don’t know why I didn’t get picked for the other team.”
“I told you things happen for a reason. Maybe you didn’t make the other team because there was a better one out there for you.” A better coach. The only thing was that none of the parents seemed to know who Nick was. Where he’d come from or if he’d coached before.
I told myself I wanted to know for my son’s sake, not because I wanted to know everything about my one-night stand.
“Yeah, maybe.”
It still hurt Hunter that he wasn’t chosen for the other team. But there could have been another reason besides he wasn’t good enough. It was obvious the coaches’ kids made the team, and maybe friends of theirs had, too. That was the harsh reality kids didn’t understand yet. Sometimes it wasn’t your ability, but who you knew that mattered.
“Some of those kids had played the year before.” We didn’t know we were supposed to try out for travel the year earlier. Even so, Hunter hadn’t been ready then, and I probably wouldn’t have considered it. I knew it was expensive and time-consuming. I was only considering it now because he was showing potential, and he was eager to learn more.
But I was still worried about how I’d pay for it and swing the schedule. If he got in, I’d need to ask those questions. I hated feeling like I couldn’t provide for my child. I wanted to give him everything. Whether it was a new glove or bat or placing him on the best team. But the reality was, my business wasn’t at that point yet. I needed to reinvest most of my earnings back into the business.
“Hopefully, I get a spot on this team. I liked the coach.”
“I think you have a good shot.” The problem was—I liked Nick. I hadn’t forgotten that night. I replayed it in my mind when I had a quiet moment or was alone in my bed. One night was supposed to be enough, but I longed for more. I’d never wanted to stay in someone’s bed like I had the night he’d asked me to stay. But I wasn’t looking for a relationship or another guy who had the potential to walk away. I couldn’t handle that, and neither could Hunter.
The attractive thing about our night together was that I’d never see him again, and I was free to remember every tantalizing detail. But now that he might be Hunter’s baseball coach, it created a whole host of issues. Would we ignore what happened between us? The only conclusion I came to was that we’d have to.
I couldn’t even say he was a jerk because he’d asked me to stay, and I’d been the one to sneak out.
I drove Hunter to the pizzeria, Giovanni’s, and got a pie to go. Then I drove us home. I was proud of the small house with a yard I’d bought for us with the money from my divorce settlement. Hunter enjoyed playing baseball and camping in a tent in the backyard. It was sufficient, but it could be bigger. Our neighbors probably hated all the balls that ended up in their yard.
But I had to remind myself it was good enough for now. I tried not to give in to the single mom guilt that I wasn’t giving him enough. That I couldn’t be the momandthe dad. I was enough. I had to be because there wasn’t another option.
After we ate, I cleaned up and Hunter searched for the movie Nick recommended. Hunter said it was their homework, so I couldn’t possibly refuse.
When I walked into the living room, Hunter said, “I told Coach I’d already watchedThe Sandlotmovies, so he told me to watch this one.”
We’d searched for every baseball movie we could find, but we hadn’t seen this one. Hunter had even watchedA League of Their Own.
My phone rang with an unidentified number, and I wondered if it was a potential client. I had my work number forward to my cell since I was always on the go.
“Hello?” I asked as I moved out of the living room.
“Abby?”
“Nick?” My heart rate picked up.
“I’m calling to offer Hunter a spot on the team.”
It took a few seconds for his words to register. He wasn’t calling for me. He was calling for my son. “Are you serious?”
We’d waited weeks to hear from the other travel team, only to get the “Sorry you weren’t picked” email.
“He’s got talent. I was really impressed with his skills and his attitude today.”
Thinking about how devastated he was not to be picked last time, I said, “He just wants to play baseball.”
Nick was silent for a few seconds before responding, “Not everyone gets to do that. Only a lucky few.”
And I assumed he meant playing in the majors. Hunter wanted that, too, and I had no idea if that was a feasible dream for him. “I know.”
“I’m hoping Hunter thinks this will be a good fit because I’m excited to coach him.”
“I need to talk to him about it. I think he’ll accept, but I wouldn’t feel comfortable accepting on his behalf.”
“Of course. I understand. Call me when you know.”
