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“He has players who can play shortstop and outfield.”
Hunter grinned. “He hasn’t seen me yet.”
“You tried out for him.” I didn’t want him to be overly cocky.
“You can’t see everything in two hours.”
“Are you saying you’re better than your other teammates?” I asked, wanting to keep him in check. Confidence was good, but comparing yourself to teammates wasn’t.
Hunter shifted on the couch. “I’m good, Mom.”
I ruffled his hair. “You’re part of a team now.”
He pointed at the TV. “In the movie, the dad said if you aren’t practicing, someone else is. And if you meet them on the field, they’ll beat you.”
I raised a brow. That sounded a little intense.
“Will you catch with me? I need to practice.”
“You already played for hours at the tryouts. And when you came home, you threw against the pitch back.”
“I want to get better.”
I should encourage his attitude. It was the same one I tapped into when he had homework he needed to do. “I’ll get my glove.”
It wasn’t that I didn’t enjoy baseball or playing with him, but at times, I wished there was another adult or even a sibling to help out. I always had photos to edit and dinner to cook. There was never anyone else to step in to lighten my load.
I sighed, letting any irritation slip away. It was just Hunter and me. That had been our truth for eight years, and it wasn’t going to change. Besides, I liked being the person he counted on.
Six
NICK
Ifilled the roster with eleven players. Hunter was the first call I made as the most talented pitcher who’d tried out. He threw hard and accurately. It was his mother who might cause some trouble.
I needed to get that night we shared out of my head. All I could think about was her lips on mine, the softness of her skin, and her moans as she came. I was her son’s coach. Abby was clear that there was no room for anything between us. No matter how much I wanted there to be. I had no idea how involved Hunter’s father was, or if Abby was seeing someone else.
Thinking Ethan might know something, I asked him to meet me at Max’s Bar & Grille. His friend, Max, had opened it some time after I’d moved away.
When I arrived at the bar, Ethan was already seated on one end, fingers wrapped around a beer.
“Thanks for meeting me.”
“I’m just happy we can meet like this.”
“Wish it were under better circumstances.” I was a little worried that people would give Brody a hard time for his father’s mistakes. But when I met with his school counselor, she assured me that staying in the town he was accustomed to was the best solution for now.
I’d left my hometown when Brody was two, wanting to get away from Austin’s reputation. The town tended to think I was like him. I moved a few towns over, far enough away to be anonymous but close enough to help Brody.
“You’re doing the right thing.”
“I love that kid.” It wasn’t even a question that I’d step in. I’d left my minor league baseball career behind to help when Brody was born after his mother had left him with Austin.
But how many times over the years had I wished Brody was mine and not Austin’s? My brother had been given a gift with him, and he didn’t appreciate it. He was still getting into trouble, and every time I thought about the possibility of him being put away for ten or more years, I got a stabbing pain in my chest.
“How’s the team?”
“I have eleven kids on board. They have potential.”
