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As the hostess led us into the dining area, Nick’s hand rested more solidly on my lower back. The warmth spread throughout my body. I wanted to lean into his solid presence. I wanted to see what could happen between us, but we couldn’t. He was the coach. I was the mother of one of his players. Blurring those lines wouldn’t end well.
Then there was the additional complication of his brother being in jail. When the community put two and two together, our association could affect my business. I didn’t like it, not when we had gotten close this past week, but that was the reality. As a single mother, I had to fiercely protect my reputation. And it didn’t just affect me. It affected Gia and what we were trying to build with Lily and Sophie.
We paused by a few empty tables, and I was saved from having to answer.
Ben talked the hostess into pushing a few tables together along the back wall near the arcade. The boys were excited and immediately ran to the machines to play. We took our seats, with Ben and Brooke across from us, and ordered several pizzas and sodas for the table.
The kids didn’t care about anything other than playing the games, giving us time to chat.
When the waitress left, Ben rested his elbows on the table and asked Nick, “How are you liking Annapolis?”
“I haven’t had much time to explore. I just rented that house, so first, I was busy unpacking, then the team stuff took over.” Nick’s tone was easy.
I wondered if he would mention what we already knew—Brody wasn’t his son. It didn’t matter to me, but it might be something he was worried about revealing.
Nick’s expression turned serious. “I should tell you something. I don’t advertise it because it could blow back on Brody, but I think I owe the truth to you.”
“What is it?” Ben asked conversationally.
Nick let out a breath as if he was nervous. I resisted my urge to cover his hand with mine. “Brody’s my nephew. I’ve stepped in over the years to help raise him, but this time, it looks like it will be for a while.”
My heart hurt for him. It was a huge admission in front of people he didn’t know well. “You’re doing a good thing,” I said.
I knew better than anyone what it took for someone to step up and take care of a child, especially if it wasn’t theirs.
“What you’re doing is commendable,” Ben said as he met my gaze over the table.
As single parents we knew what a sacrifice it was and how amazing it was for the child for someone to step in.
“If you knew the circumstances, you wouldn’t think that,” Nick said, his gaze on Brody. His entire body tensed, and I knew he’d protect that boy with everything he had. He cared about him like a father should.
Ben cleared his throat. “We should be honest with you, too. Ethan told me about your situation. I told Abby. I wanted her to be careful.”
Nick shifted on his seat. “If you don’t feel comfortable—"
Ben held up a hand to stop him. “I wanted to get to know you. All I’d heard was hearsay. What your brother did or didn’t do has nothing to do with you as a man.”
Nick still looked uncertain. I wondered if that was what he’d struggled with over the years. Being associated with a brother who was a troublemaker, who broke the law. Had he felt less than because of it? Or had someone made him feel that way?
“We’re getting to know you and Brody. Not your brother,” Brooke added softly.
“If people talk, it could affect your businesses,” Nick said.
The spot between my shoulder blades tightened painfully.
“We’d weather that storm,” Ben said, interlacing his fingers with Brooke’s.
They were already successful business owners. Brooke had recently rebranded from a coffee shop into a wine market that sold light fare shortly after Ben opened his coffee shop. It had been an incredibly smart and risky thing for her to do. But it had paid off. Both Ben and Brooke owned a corner of the market now and were thriving in their respective businesses.
I stayed silent because my situation was different, and I wasn’t sure how I’d fare if the truth came out. I didn’t own a physical store. There were a ton of amateur photographers out there, stay-at-home moms who offered fall mini pictures on the side. All you needed was a semi-professional camera and an online presence to claim a photography business.
“I appreciate your support. But I can’t anticipate what other people will say and do. If kids cause trouble for Brody at school, I don’t know what I’ll do.”
“You’ll move?” I asked. The words caught in my dry throat.
Nick nodded, not quite meeting my gaze. “I only moved here because the school counselor said it was the best thing for Brody. He needs consistency, and I can provide that for him.”
I wondered why they hadn’t moved into Brody’s dad’s house. Was it not nice? If Austin was committing crimes in the middle of the night while his son was at home alone, then he probably wasn’t providing for him the way he should.
