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“I know everyone always saw you as his number one fan. Cheering him on every step of the way, but, honey, he was one hundred percent yours as well… He still is.”
Her words cause the ache in my chest to increase to the point that I feel like I can’t breathe. My mom pulls me into a hug, rubbing my back.
“I don’t know everything that went down and why things happened the way they did, but I think for both of your sakes, you need to work on your friendship again. Get back to those roots. You both seem to be in so much pain. Especially when you are around each other. Everyone can feel the tension and longing… it’s palpable.”
I cry into my mom’s embrace. Something I haven’t done since I was a young child, and even back then, it was a rarity.
A few moments later, once I’ve calmed down. My mom kisses me on the head and leans back. “I have something I want to talk to you about… a proposition of sorts.”
Curiosity marks my face.
“First, let me say, I would never try to put you in a situation that I thought would hurt you in any way.”
Not liking where this conversation is headed, I remain silent.
“Cindy just told me that Cami and Eli had a major blowout on the phone today. She was supposed to head down in ten days and move into the guesthouse so she could watch the girls, but Eli would still be able to see them, and then the plan was to do the same thing back in Carolina. But she is refusing to leave the city.” I stare at my mother in shock. I knew she and Eli weren’t getting along, but part of me wondered if he was telling me that for my own benefit.How can she refuse to come to her children?
“He says he’s going to fight for full custody. He won’t stand for being away from his girls… plus, she isn’t very reliable, and it sounds like she has no desire to raise the girls at all, honestly.” She shakes her head. “The bitch doesn’t have a motherly bone in her body.”
I chuckle.Damn, Ma, tell me how ya really feel.
“He needs help, Q… Cindy and John are considering canceling their thirtieth anniversary European trip so they can stay and help. Of course, Eli shut that down real quick.”
Understanding dawns, and my mind reels with the true question she hasn’t asked me yet.
Could I do it?
“You haven’t found a new family back home yet and the pay would be great. You could save up to not work once you get into a nursing program.” My parents are always supportive of me, but they were super excited when I told them about my aspiration to become a nurse. It doesn’t surprise me that she is considering my future plans every step of the way.
“Plus, those girls gravitate to you. Seriously, they love you and you haven’t even been around them much yet. Children are more intuitive than people give them credit for. I think they can feel the special bond you have with their dad.”
I hop to my feet and pace the sand in front of my mom. All the possible scenarios play through my mind. Is Cami truly not coming to be with her own children? As hard as it is to see her, it breaks my heart for the girls. I would go to the ends of the world for my child.
“You don’t have to decide right this second, Quinn.” My mom interrupts my thoughts.
I turn to her. “I don’t even know that Eli would want me to work for him… I need to discuss this with him.”
She grabs a hold of my shoulders, looking me in the eye. “Honey, he would do anything to have you near him. I can almost bet my life on that. But I agree, you two should talk.”
My mom links her arm into mine and turns toward the house. “Let’s go back up to the house. The boys were looking for you… they wanted to play a few rounds of poker.”
Now that I could get behind.
Eighteen
“That”—one of our rookie pitchers, Dakota, nods his head in Quinn’s direction, eyes wide—“is not what I expected when you mentioned you were bringing your childhood best friend today.”
“Yeah, and if you want to keep that pretty face intact, I suggest you quit looking at her like she’s a piece of meat,” I say, barely tapping his chin with my knuckles.
It’s not Dakota I’m worried about. I’ve been watching our new first baseman, Dylan Andrews, bask in all of Quinn’s praises every time she sets him up and he scores a point. The look in his eyes as he devours her sexy body has me feeling murderous and regretting bringing her with me.
Today was supposed to be about us hanging out like old times, but instead we picked numbers out of a baseball cap to mix it up—Quinn and I got placed on opposite teams.
Every smile she gives him has the jealousy inside me ready to explode. I want those genuine, carefree smiles that she used to give me so freely.
I’ve always loved watching her compete… the devious smirk she gets on her face when she finds her opponent’s weak spot is my favorite little tell of hers.
When her long, lean, yet powerful legs jump in the air and she blocks Santos, our starting shortstop’s hit at the net, the guys go wild.
