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I didn’t want to even think about that. Instead, I replayed our afternoon together, her office, her bed, and then again, I’d wanted her by the door on the way out. She was sexy and alluring. I couldn’t resist her.
She didn’t seem to want to resist me either.
Brody and I passed the weekend by playing baseball and unpacking the rest of my stuff. Brody’s room was a pale green. I’d checked with the owner, and they were okay with painting it a neutral color. Brody deserved something he liked.
Brody wanted me to paint his room black. I didn’t think the owners would consider that a neutral option, but I wanted him to feel at home. We went to the store to pick out paint samples. I suggested a darker gray, which Brody thankfully agreed to. We brought home the paint, taped the trim, and started on the walls.
I’d encouraged him to bring all his things with him from his dad’s place. I wanted him to feel at home.
We listened to music and joked around while we painted. It was a good bonding experience and took my mind off Abby.
We ordered pizza that night from Giovanni’s, and it reminded me of the night we’d gone with Abby, Hunter, Brooke, Ben, and Cammie.
I had the weirdest urge to invite Abby and Hunter over to help paint, which was ridiculous. Why would they want to help paint? As we worked, the feeling that we were missing something, or someone, increased.
Last night, I’d felt whole in Abby’s home with Hunter. Like we were right where we were supposed to be.
It was Saturday, and she was probably working a wedding. Then I wondered if I should have offered to take Hunter for her. Hunter was close to Cammie, but I suspected he preferred hanging out with Brody. Offering to babysit was beyond our friendship.
On Sunday, Brody and I lazed around in the morning. I made pancakes, eggs, and bacon, which Brody ate like he hadn’t had a meal in weeks. It made me wonder how he survived when his father wasn’t home. I wondered if I should ask the court for full custody of Brody. Right now, I was just his temporary guardian. The more I learned about Brody’s life with Austin, the more I thought it would be best if he stayed with me, regardless of the trial’s outcome.
But I wasn’t sure the court would grant it. Everything I read indicated the biological father had more rights than me, and without a conviction, he’d get Brody back.
Then I felt guilty for hoping my brother went to jail. By the time practice rolled around, I was all mixed up inside. I felt guilty and ashamed for wanting Brody when he was Austin’s. On some level, I’d always been jealous of my brother.
He got my parents’ attention when it was all I’d ever wanted. He’d gotten it for the wrong reasons, but it didn’t matter when you were a kid. I was looked over because Austin was so difficult.
I thought excelling in school and baseball would turn the tables, but it hadn’t. Not really.
Practice started, and a few of the kids were absent because they were on travel soccer teams. I’d gotten the messages earlier that week, saying they couldn’t make it, which I had mixed feelings about. The kids could play other sports, but in the spring, they needed to focus on baseball. Travel soccer was probably the most demanding sport, being truly year-round with tournaments on the weekend.
So I was already on edge when I realized Hunter wasn’t there. He was usually early to get his bullpen in before practice started. I stepped aside to text Abby to ask where they were. Not hearing back right away, I tried to focus on practice and not wonder if everything was okay.
Had they been in an accident? She mentioned they didn’t have events on Sundays. It was her day to spend with Hunter, so where were they?
An hour into practice, Abby’s SUV pulled into the lot. We were the only ones practicing at that time of day. Most coaches worked around the professional football game schedule.
I tried to focus on the grounders I was hitting to the infield and not on Hunter.
When he put his things in the dugout, I barked, “Warm up with Coach Norm in the outfield.”
I didn’t ask why he was late. It wasn’t his fault.
My jaw tightened as I finished the exercise and told the kids to get some water. Abby was leaning on the fence, so I made my way over.
A muscle ticced in my jaw. I couldn’t show any familiarity with her when the other parents were nearby watching our interaction.
“Everything okay?” I managed to ask while my heart beat out of control in my chest. She was clearly fine. Her SUV intact, so it wasn’t an accident.
Her face was apologetic. “I’m so sorry. The bride wanted me to shoot her brunch this morning. I couldn’t say no.”
Why hadn’t she called to let me know? “If you need help, all you need to do is call.”
“I thought I’d be done in time, but it ran over. I couldn’t just leave. Hunter was at home.”
I lowered my voice. It wasn’t that I wouldn’t offer the same to anyone else, but Abby was different. I cared about her. “I could have picked him up.”
Her face pinched. “I know you said that, but I wasn’t sure. I’m not used to people stepping in.”
