AllFreeNovel
Share Us
A souped-up limited edition Ram, with blue metallic paint that glinted in the sunlight, pulled into a reserved parking spot right by the entrance to the field. It sure was one way to make an entrance, and every single head turned in its direction. Logan Hastings got out, adjusting his cap and giving a wave to the crowd. A tall, thickset man got out of the passenger side, looking like a doorman at an upscale nightclub, with dark sunglasses and dressed head to toe in black. Before Logan had taken more than two steps onto the diamond, he was absolutely swamped. Instinctively, I looked for Jesse, not wanting him to get lost in the crush.
My heart hitched a little when I saw him making his way to me and when he got close enough, I pulled him next to me, with a protective arm around his shoulders.
“You wanna at least get close enough to hear him?” Ally asked.
“Yes, please.”
We moved forward to the edge of the enormous crowd. Logan took all the attention in good humor, shaking hands, cracking jokes, signing hats. All the while, his bodyguard did his best to control the crowd.
I saw it the moment it happened, and I braced myself, having no idea how Jesse would react, ready to step in if I needed to. Logan’s eyes landed on Jesse, caught what he was wearing, and widened in surprise. Then he grinned.
“Woah, Slugger! Check out that shirt! Can I see it?” Heads turned to look at Jesse, who looked behind him to see who Logan was talking to.
“He means you, bud.”
Jesse looked at me uncertainly and I nudged him gently. “Go ahead. If you want.”
Logan gestured for him to come closer and the crowd parted, making way for Jesse.
Logan bent down low so he could get a good look at the shirt. “Wow, my dad has one just like it! Where’d you get it?”
Shooting me a look, Jesse straightened his shoulders, and I might have heard a tiny hint of pride in his voice when he said, “It’s my dad’s.”
Ally gasped, the sound punctuating the sharp hit to my solar plexus.It’s my dad’s.
“There you go,” Ally said softly, the smile she sent me so dazzling that my heart did a slow, painful roll in my chest. There was a good chance I’d need a lie down after this. I dragged my gaze away from her to focus back on my son.
“What’s your name, Champ?”
“Jesse.”
“Great to meet you, Jesse. Would you mind taking a pic with me? I’d love to show my own dad.” When Jesse shyly shook his head, no, he didn’t mind, Logan pulled out his phone and handed it to his bodyguard. “Thanks, Hugo.” Jesse smiled hesitantly into the camera with Logan’s arm around his shoulders, bent low so their heads were level. “Like this,” he instructed, giving a thumbs up. Jesse did the same and after the photo was taken, Logan checked it, nodding his approval. “Thanks a bunch, pal. You’ve seriously made my day.”
As he walked back to me, the other kids gave him awed looks and some patted him on the back. He looked a little bit like a rock star.
“Wow, that was amazing,” Ally said, pushing her sunglasses on top of her head and grinning at Jesse.
“Yeah.” He kept his head down, but I noticed the way he leaned into me when I put my arm around him. Progress. Definitely progress.
Logan stuck around for about half an hour, giving out autographs and handshakes. Just before he left, he gave Jesse a salute. “Thanks again, pal.”
“You’re welcome.”
Once he’d climbed into his enormous truck and driven off, I said, “I think maybe you’ve earned a hot dog after all that excitement, if you’d like one.”
“Yes, please.”
“You guys go ahead. I’ll let Ollie and Ben hang here for a bit, then bring them over.”
“Okay.” We walked off and, unable to resist, I turned to look at Ally over my shoulder. She was watching us, biting her lip, a slight frown on her brow. I quirked an eyebrow up at her and when she realized I’d caught her, she hastily turned away.What the fuck was that about?
CHAPTER17
Ally
Tough as it was, I forced myself to look away as Gabe walked off with Jesse. I could tell how hard this was for Gabe and it made me feel all sorts of things I just didn’t want to feel. That moment when Jesse had said the shirt was his dad’s, man, I could have cried. So incredibly sweet.
I let out a sigh. I’d thought I was doing a pretty good job of this wholearm’s lengthdeal. I mean, I guess I was, in that I was steering clear of Esperance as much as possible. But that wasn’t going to work forever, since my best friend lived here. And her husband was best friends with the guy I was so desperately trying to avoid. Another sigh. Jeez, I was sighing so much these days I might need a fainting couch. So much drama, and all of it my own damned fault.
