Chapter 11

Eleven

Abby

M y plan was to get through practice without interacting with Nick. However, I’d failed miserably. But it was Ben’s fault. First, Ben insisted on confronting Nick about Hunter’s pitching, and I felt like I needed to be there to run interference. Then, Ben invited him to play baseball with us, and now he’d invited him to dinner. Was Ben concerned about Nick, or did he suspect something happened between us?

Nick and Brody arrived first and were ahead of us as we crossed the parking lot.

“Why did Ben invite them?” I asked Brooke as we headed toward the front door of Giovanni’s. “I’m not saying it’s not a nice thing to do, but I was hoping for more separation with the coach.”

Brooke smiled softly. “I think he wants to get to know him better. Then he won’t worry about you.”

My heart pinged that Ben was so protective of me. “It’s sweet he worries about me, but you know, he doesn’t have to. I can take care of myself.”

Brooke’s smile faded into an expression of concern. “He knows you can. He’s close to Hunter—almost like an uncle, and you’re my sister. We’re family.”

“He’ll be his uncle soon enough,” I said, nodding toward her sparkling diamond.

Brooke smiled with happiness. “Ben feels an extra kinship with you since you were both single parents. He knows how hard it is do everything yourself, to rely on someone else. He’s just looking out for you.”

I lowered my voice, not wanting Cammie to overhear. “My situation is different, though. Cammie’s mother died. Hunter’s father is still in the picture.”

“Let’s be honest; Seth is gone.” Brooke gestured around us. “Do you see him coming to his practices? Throwing a ball with Hunter?”

The truth settled like a rock in my stomach. “No.”

“And you won’t ask him to step up. You don’t expect anything from him.” Brooke’s disappointment hit me hard.

Her opinion on how I dealt with Seth was a source of contention between us. I didn’t expect much from him because I was insulating Hunter and myself from the inevitable disappointment. Brooke couldn’t possibly understand what it was like to expect something from someone and have them let you down over and over again.

“You don’t know how he is. It’s too much, and I hate listening to him grasp for excuses. Or tell me how hard it is. I know how hard it is. I’m doing it all myself.” Whenever I talked about him or the situation, I felt oddly vulnerable. As if admitting the truth made it more real.

“I’ve been here through everything. I know.” Her voice was gentle.

My ex left around the same time that Brooke’s asked for a divorce. Her ex, Levi, left her soon after he got his green card, blindsiding her. She’d thought their marriage was real. Devastated, she’d moved home to be closer to me and to help with Hunter. I could never repay her. She’d always been there for us. “And I’m grateful for that.”

Brooke shook her head, her lips pressed into a straight line. “I’m not looking for thanks. I just wanted you to acknowledge that Hunter’s dad should step up.”

“He can’t.” I couldn’t explain it to other people. Expectations made him pull back and do less. I’d learned that the hard way.

“You could at least go after him for financial support.”

I wanted to do everything on my own, but I wasn’t stupid. “He carries his health insurance. That’s huge since I’m a business owner.”

“It’s not enough.”

My ex would never be what Hunter needed.

We arrived at Giovanni’s at the same time as Nick and Brody, and Nick opened the front door to the pizzeria for us.

My gaze fell on him as my family filed in ahead of me. I wondered if a man would be there for us, and it wouldn’t be so hard. He’d just step in and be exactly what we needed. Tingles traveled over my body. The thought made me feel lighter, happier. Hopeful. The man who popped into my head was Nick.

I walked in last, and Nick shut the door behind us. Every nerve was on high alert as I swore I felt his hand ghosting over my lower back, guiding me through the restaurant.

“Thanks for inviting us,” he said into my ear, his masculine scent, leather and sweat, washing over me.

I smiled at him, reminding myself to maintain my distance. “Ben and Brooke want to get to know you better.”

He lowered his head to whisper in my ear, “And you don’t?”

Goose bumps erupted over my skin. His eyes held a challenge. The words caught in my throat. What could I say? That I was attracted to my son’s baseball coach? One night wasn’t enough. He’d incited a fire that was raging out of control, and only he had the power to douse it.

As the hostess led us into the dining area, Nick’s hand rested more solidly on my lower back. The warmth spread throughout my body. I wanted to lean into his solid presence. I wanted to see what could happen between us, but we couldn’t. He was the coach. I was the mother of one of his players. Blurring those lines wouldn’t end well.

Then there was the additional complication of his brother being in jail. When the community put two and two together, our association could affect my business. I didn’t like it, not when we had gotten close this past week, but that was the reality. As a single mother, I had to fiercely protect my reputation. And it didn’t just affect me. It affected Gia and what we were trying to build with Lily and Sophie.

We paused by a few empty tables, and I was saved from having to answer.

Ben talked the hostess into pushing a few tables together along the back wall near the arcade. The boys were excited and immediately ran to the machines to play. We took our seats, with Ben and Brooke across from us, and ordered several pizzas and sodas for the table.

The kids didn’t care about anything other than playing the games, giving us time to chat.

When the waitress left, Ben rested his elbows on the table and asked Nick, “How are you liking Annapolis?”

“I haven’t had much time to explore. I just rented that house, so first, I was busy unpacking, then the team stuff took over.” Nick’s tone was easy.

I wondered if he would mention what we already knew—Brody wasn’t his son. It didn’t matter to me, but it might be something he was worried about revealing.

Nick’s expression turned serious. “I should tell you something. I don’t advertise it because it could blow back on Brody, but I think I owe the truth to you.”

“What is it?” Ben asked conversationally.

Nick let out a breath as if he was nervous. I resisted my urge to cover his hand with mine. “Brody’s my nephew. I’ve stepped in over the years to help raise him, but this time, it looks like it will be for a while.”

My heart hurt for him. It was a huge admission in front of people he didn’t know well. “You’re doing a good thing,” I said.

I knew better than anyone what it took for someone to step up and take care of a child, especially if it wasn’t theirs.

“What you’re doing is commendable,” Ben said as he met my gaze over the table.

As single parents we knew what a sacrifice it was and how amazing it was for the child for someone to step in.

“If you knew the circumstances, you wouldn’t think that,” Nick said, his gaze on Brody. His entire body tensed, and I knew he’d protect that boy with everything he had. He cared about him like a father should.

Ben cleared his throat. “We should be honest with you, too. Ethan told me about your situation. I told Abby. I wanted her to be careful.”

Nick shifted on his seat. “If you don’t feel comfortable—"

Ben held up a hand to stop him. “I wanted to get to know you. All I’d heard was hearsay. What your brother did or didn’t do has nothing to do with you as a man.”

Nick still looked uncertain. I wondered if that was what he’d struggled with over the years. Being associated with a brother who was a troublemaker, who broke the law. Had he felt less than because of it? Or had someone made him feel that way?

“We’re getting to know you and Brody. Not your brother,” Brooke added softly.

“If people talk, it could affect your businesses,” Nick said.

The spot between my shoulder blades tightened painfully.

“We’d weather that storm,” Ben said, interlacing his fingers with Brooke’s.

They were already successful business owners. Brooke had recently rebranded from a coffee shop into a wine market that sold light fare shortly after Ben opened his coffee shop. It had been an incredibly smart and risky thing for her to do. But it had paid off. Both Ben and Brooke owned a corner of the market now and were thriving in their respective businesses.

I stayed silent because my situation was different, and I wasn’t sure how I’d fare if the truth came out. I didn’t own a physical store. There were a ton of amateur photographers out there, stay-at-home moms who offered fall mini pictures on the side. All you needed was a semi-professional camera and an online presence to claim a photography business.

“I appreciate your support. But I can’t anticipate what other people will say and do. If kids cause trouble for Brody at school, I don’t know what I’ll do.”

“You’ll move?” I asked. The words caught in my dry throat.

Nick nodded, not quite meeting my gaze. “I only moved here because the school counselor said it was the best thing for Brody. He needs consistency, and I can provide that for him.”

I wondered why they hadn’t moved into Brody’s dad’s house. Was it not nice? If Austin was committing crimes in the middle of the night while his son was at home alone, then he probably wasn’t providing for him the way he should.

“I think when people get to know you, you’ll get their respect,” I said.

“Thankfully, my job won’t hinge on their opinions of me. I’m employed by a large company that doesn’t care where we work as long as it gets done.”

Unfortunately, that wasn’t the case for me. People did care about the businesses they chose to support. I’d had some people refuse to use me because I was a single mother. Like it was something I chose or could do anything about.

The waitress placed the pizzas in front of us, and Ben passed around the slices. Cammie, Brody, and Hunter returned to the table, and we dug in.

Our conversation was a good reminder that Nick and I wouldn’t work. We didn’t have a future. We were only meant to have one night together.

When we finished eating and drinking, the kids returned to the arcade while the adults relaxed in our chairs.

When the waitress cleared our dishes, Nick asked, “You want to play a game?”

“I’m not that into arcade games.” At least I hadn’t been since I was a kid.

Nick stood and held his hand out to me. “Come on. It’ll be fun.”

His body language was so relaxed compared to before. His smile was eager, and his gaze was imploring. I couldn’t say no, and Brooke arched a brow at me when I took his hand and followed him to the game section.

“How about …” He scanned the area for a suitable game while I enjoyed the feel of my hand in his.

I felt like a teenager on a date. There was a warm sensation in my chest and a twinging of my heart that you only got when the object of your crush held your hand. I wanted to bottle up the feeling and keep it forever.

It was rare for me to feel that carefree on a date. And with Nick holding my hand and leading me to a game, it sure felt like one.

I ignored the sensation of Brooke’s and Ben’s gaze on our backs as Nick finally selected Pac-Man.

“I figured you knew this one.” Nick’s expression was uncertain as if he didn’t want to choose the wrong thing.

I sat on the stool while he moved behind me, blocking us from Brooke and Ben’s view. “Everyone knows Pac-Man.”

I sucked in a breath when he leaned over my shoulder to toggle the lever. His chest was pressed to my back, and if I moved my head, I’d be resting on his shoulder. It felt good. He was surrounding me with his presence, and I felt protected, cared for. It was a dangerous feeling because it was just friendship. My son’s coach being nice. It wasn’t a seduction, even if it felt like one.

I breathed in his comforting scent.

“You want to go first?” he asked, his breath coasting over the shell of my ear.

I nodded. My words stuck in my throat.

I grasped the toggle as he whispered the directions in my ear. I remembered how to play, but I liked how he guided me, his hand resting on my hip and the other bracing on the console, blocking us from prying eyes.

I couldn’t help but imagine what it would feel like if we were alone and he bent me over the stool. Desperate to get the image out of my head, I asked, “Do you have games like this at home?”

He looked at me. “How did you know?”

I smiled. “I just guessed.”

“I have a newer one that holds thousands of games. Brody loves it. You probably think I’m spoiling him, but I just wanted living with me to be a good thing for him.”

Ignoring the game, I rested my hand over his. “You’re not spoiling him. You’re an amazing uncle.”

I didn’t add that Brody could probably use a little spoiling.

“Thank you.” He swallowed, and I watched with fascination as his Adam’s apple bobbed up and down.

He was sexy even in his athletic pants and t-shirt stretched taut over his chest. He was the same guy I saw at the wedding in his tux. He was attractive in whatever he chose to wear. And combined with his kind heart, it was getting harder to resist the attraction.

I forced myself to focus on the screen and gobbling up the dots, getting into the game. Everything fell away until it was just me encircled by Nick and the game in front of us.

“You’re good at this,” Nick said, admiration evident in his tone.

“Brooke and I loved going to the arcade as kids.”

“You said you didn’t play.” There was a little accusation in his voice.

I shrugged, enjoying our back and forth. “Not anymore.”

“Not even with Hunter?”

“He doesn’t ask me to play. I’m not cool enough, I guess.” He was more focused on playing ball outside than video games, which was a good thing.

When I finished the game, I stood, in part to get some space from Nick. He was taking over my senses, making me forget the reasons we couldn’t go any further than friendship.

“My turn,” he said, sitting on the stool, his legs spread wide. He patted his thigh. “Come over here. There’s room, so you can see better.”

I moved without thinking, his hand came to my hip, pressing me to his left side so he could use his right to play the game. It was worse than him standing behind me because I was between his legs, resting against his rock-hard thigh.

What were Brooke and Ben thinking? Could Hunter see? I craned my neck to see where he was.

“The boys are on the other side. They can’t see.”

“It doesn’t make this right,” I hissed even as my body heated from the proximity.

“It sure as hell doesn’t feel wrong.” His tone was gruff.

His gaze was on the screen. Anyone looking at us would assume he was focused on the game and nothing else. But I could feel the tense muscles in his thigh, the way his fingers flexed over my hip. I had this intense urge to move so that my ass was pressed against his cock. It was stupid and crazy, but my inner desires were taking over.

For a few seconds there was nothing but the beep of the system as his Pac-Man gobbled the dots across the screen. He was much more skilled than I was. “Are you sure that gaming system is for Brody?”

Nick chuckled, and the sound rumbled through my body. “Let’s put it this way—I wasn’t upset about getting it.”

“So you’re just a kid inside. One who loves baseball and video games.” I smiled at him, loving the picture I was getting of him.

He shook his head, loosening his grip on my hip so he could hang it loosely around my waist. “I love arcade games. That’s different than video games. It reminds me of playing with my brother when we were kids. Before everything changed.”

His expression turned from playful to grim.

The hair on my neck stood at attention because Nick was telling me more about him. He was letting me in. Goose bumps erupted over my body. “You’re a good brother.”

“That’s not true.” His denial was immediate.

“Maybe you can’t see things clearly. You’re too close. Too quick to judge yourself harshly.”

He turned his attention from the game to me. “How could you possibly know all of that?”

“So far, I’ve seen a man willing to uproot his life to take care of his nephew. A man willing to brave public opinion to raise Brody in his hometown, the same town with townspeople his father stole from. You’re a good person. A great coach. You’re too hard on yourself.”

I could see him so clearly. Why couldn’t he? He was amazing. Nothing like my ex. A tingle shot through me. He was the opposite of my ex. The kind of guy I should go for. But there were reasons why we shouldn’t. Why I couldn’t. The reasons were jumbled up with the feel of him so close, his warm eyes focused on me. He made me feel wanted, treasured. I remembered our night together, the way he was so sweet and gentle, yet confident and sure, and I wanted more. I wanted everything.

I wanted to forget about my sister, our kids, and everyone else’s opinion, for a shot at happiness.

He nodded at the screen. “It’s your turn.”

I sighed, not wanting to push it. We’d only just reconnected, so, of course, he wouldn’t trust my assessment. Even if we couldn’t be anything more than friends, I could make him see how amazing he was.