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Alright, he scores a point for concern. “Your mom is fine.”
“Then why are you here?” The edge returns.
I get it. I haven’t done things to make him my fan. “Thank me.”
“For what?”
My fingers pinch together. “Your mother wasthisclose to being on that field when you went down. I stopped her.”
Horror rounds his eyes. “No way.”
“Truth.”
“Oh, man.”
“Right?”
His horrified headshaking stops. “Wait. She’s here?”
An elbow on the fence, I pivot, pointing to the stands about halfway up. “That’s her. The wild woman with her hands in the air. Smile big and let her know you’re good, because she could still run down here.”
He cough-laughs, mouthingI’m fineas he waves. “Why’s she here? She’s always working.”
The simple statement grabs me in the gut, even though Jacob’s tone is mostly neutral. “She got the night off unexpectedly. Some plumbing problem at the diner, I believe.”
“Huh.”
I return to field-facing.
“I still don’t get whyyou’rehere.” His deep brown eyes, nothing like his mom’s soft blue orbs, assess me.
Inherited from his jailbird father?
“You twoaredating, aren’t you?”
The pointed question rattles my insides. “No, we are not. Nothing has changed since last night. Your mom was desperate to get here, but the beast wouldn’t start.”
He blinks, and then my meaning registers. “That car is butt ugly, isn’t it?”
“Your words, not mine.”
He sighs. “It’s been getting worse all week. I kept forgetting to mention it.”
Or was too preoccupied with his girlfriend. Make that, mother of his child.
Wow. I forgot about that mess for a hot minute. Speaking of. “Where’s your girl, by the way?” I’m surprised she hasn’t rushed to her man’s side.
His cheeks pinch, his gaze dropping. “She’s been puking near constantly. She decided to stay home.”
Shoot. So much trouble brewing for unaware, undeserving Hollie. “On that subject, when are you going to clue your mother in?”
Ah, now there’s the snarl I’ve become accustomed to. His shoulders jerk with the spread of his palms. “You want to talk about thatnow?”
I stare for a moment. “Fair point—but if you don’t tell her soon, I’ll do it for you.” And pray she forgives me for knowing without her.
He shrugs me off with his eyes. When he starts to turn, I grab his sleeve. “Hold on a sec. How’s the old noggin? Your mom is going to want a report.”
He sighs irritably. “It’s fine. I told coach that, but they won’t let me back in.”
