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So I stuck with what I knew. “I used to come here when I wanted to think about things.”
“Is that how you found me? Not that this stupid small town has a lot of hiding spaces.”
It did. I knew that for a fact because Hannah and I would steal time away under the small walking bridge at the park, in the alcove behind the library, and, like a lot of others in our class, in the lot behind the abandoned drive-in theater.
Choosing to not tell him about those places, I addressed his question. “Yes, that’s how I found you. This is where I learned I was going to the pros. A scout talked to my dad and my coach. I threw pitches to my catcher at the time. The scout clocked it while my father and coach preened on the first base line.”
“I’ve always loved baseball. Do you think that’s hereditary?”
I chuckled. “I’m not sure. Maybe. Although I’m the only one in my family who played. Well, except for you.”
His head slowly nodded. “Right. Me. When I woke up this morning, I was Jimmy Hall. Who am I now? Jimmy Jameson? Is that why my name is James?”
“That’s a question for your mother. Maybe when you go home, you can ask her. She loves you, Jimmy. And I know you don’treallyhate her.”
He yanked out a few blades of grass and let them flit off into the wind. “Maybe not, but I’m pissed off. Can’t blame me. So do I want to go home? No, no way.”
Hannah was going to be beside herself. “Where are you going to go?” That question earned me another shrug, this time with both shoulders.
Shit.I had zero knowledge of how to handle this. I couldn’t even pull theWhat would Hannah do?cardsince I had no idea. But I knew that she’d know exactly what to say.
A flock of birds flew by, their chirping filling the awkward silence around us. “Don’t punish your mom, Jimmy. You know, she was my first friend when I moved here.” I laughed in an attempt to lighten the conversation and began to tell him a funny story. Because that would work, right? Wrong. “One day—” I started.
“Can I stay with you, or are you leaving again?”
Again ... like that wasn’t a reminder of how he felt. All I did was blink. Of course he could stay with me, butshouldhe? That was the question. Time with him would be amazing. Time with him and Hannah would be one-hundred-percent better. I thought that maybe it wouldn’t be a bad idea, that while he was with me, I could get to know him. Try to smooth things over between the three of us, especially between him and his mother.
“I’m not going anywhere for a while. I think we should talk to your mom.”
“Why? You’re my dad, right? Unless you don’t want me there, then I can go—”
“No, I want you there. It’s just—”
What the hell was I saying? I had no idea how to be a parent. For once, I was glad I had that house for a few months.
“You want me to ask my mom? Fine. But if she says no, I’m still not staying with her. I’ll go to a friend’s house.”
This hadn’t gone as planned. My intention was to talk and try to explain a confusing situation. Instead, my son asked to move in with me. It’ll be temporary, I told myself.
“Yes.”
“Yes, I can stay?”
Those mirror-image eyes lit up for the first time since I’d sat down. “Yes, you can stay.”
Fuck. I was screwed.
Chapter12
Hannah
The air in the room was heavy with tension, and the echoes of Jimmy’s disappointment still lingered. I couldn’t help but replay everything in my head. How I should have done it differently. I paced the room anxiously, waiting for Jimmy to come home.
After what felt like an eternity, the front door opened, silencing my thoughts. Oh, thank God. I spun on my heel. Jimmy walked in first, Cash behind him with a stiff grin on his face. Something wasn’t right. All I wanted to do was wrap my arms around him, but Jimmy’s rigid posture and lack of eye contact had me rooted in place. Not knowing what they’d talked about or if Jimmy was still upset with me, I defaulted to my normal question: “Hi, are either of you hungry? I can make us something.”
Jimmy looked at Cash, and when I saw Cash’s Adam’s apple bob heavily in his throat, my previous relief of seeing my son vanished.
“I don’t want anything,” Jimmy said when I knew damn well that kid had a bottomless pit for a stomach. “Well, that’s not exactly true. I don’t want anything to eat. Cash and I have something to ask you.” Then he looked at Cash. “Right?”
