Chapter 6

Six

Nick

I filled the roster with eleven players. Hunter was the first call I made as the most talented pitcher who’d tried out. He threw hard and accurately. It was his mother who might cause some trouble.

I needed to get that night we shared out of my head. All I could think about was her lips on mine, the softness of her skin, and her moans as she came. I was her son’s coach. Abby was clear that there was no room for anything between us. No matter how much I wanted there to be. I had no idea how involved Hunter’s father was, or if Abby was seeing someone else.

Thinking Ethan might know something, I asked him to meet me at Max’s Bar & Grille. His friend, Max, had opened it some time after I’d moved away.

When I arrived at the bar, Ethan was already seated on one end, fingers wrapped around a beer.

“Thanks for meeting me.”

“I’m just happy we can meet like this.”

“Wish it were under better circumstances.” I was a little worried that people would give Brody a hard time for his father’s mistakes. But when I met with his school counselor, she assured me that staying in the town he was accustomed to was the best solution for now.

I’d left my hometown when Brody was two, wanting to get away from Austin’s reputation. The town tended to think I was like him. I moved a few towns over, far enough away to be anonymous but close enough to help Brody.

“You’re doing the right thing.”

“I love that kid.” It wasn’t even a question that I’d step in. I’d left my minor league baseball career behind to help when Brody was born after his mother had left him with Austin.

But how many times over the years had I wished Brody was mine and not Austin’s? My brother had been given a gift with him, and he didn’t appreciate it. He was still getting into trouble, and every time I thought about the possibility of him being put away for ten or more years, I got a stabbing pain in my chest.

“How’s the team?”

“I have eleven kids on board. They have potential.”

“How was that one who arrived late? Hunter’s mom. She was asking a lot of questions.”

He was asking if she would be a problem, and she wasn’t. Not in the way he thought. “I want to tell you something I probably should keep to myself. But I need to talk to someone about it.”

“What can I get for you?” Max walked up and asked, a towel slung over one shoulder as he braced his hands on the bar.

Ethan tipped his head toward me. “Max, remember my cousin, Nick, from the wedding?”

“The best man. Nice to see you again,” Max greeted.

“Nice to see you too.” I flushed slightly at the reminder of the night—when I’d slept with the wedding photographer. I was sure it wasn’t something most people cared about, but I had a feeling Abby wouldn’t like it if it got out. I knew how news like that traveled in a small town.

“What can I get you?” Max asked again.

“I’ll take what he’s having.” I gestured toward Ethan.

“You got it,” Max said, grabbing a bottle and tipping the cap off. He set it in front of me and moved farther down the bar to help a group of women at the other end.

“You needed to talk about something?” Ethan asked, his bottle tipped to his lips.

I looked around before lowering my voice. “I hooked up with Abby at the wedding.”

He paused and set the bottle down. “Abby, my wedding photographer.”

My jaw tightened . “That’s right.”

Ethan’s eyes narrowed. “You know she was a single mother when you hooked up?”

I held a hand up. “She never mentioned a child.” Then goose bumps erupted over my skin. “Is she dating someone?”

I assumed she wasn’t seeing anyone when we’d gotten together.

Ethan grimaced. “Not that I’m aware of, and Hunter’s dad isn’t in the picture. From what I’ve heard, he’s a deadbeat dad. He doesn’t help much. She’s on her own.”

I swallowed hard, wanting to know everything he knew.

Ethan shook his head. “I shouldn’t say anything. It’s her business, but everyone knows the story. They were married. Her ex, Seth, broke things off when they brought Hunter home from the hospital. The rumor is that he said he couldn’t handle it.”

“Fuck that’s—I can’t even imagine.” Abby was alone during the most stressful time in her life. A newborn. How did she get through it?

“Her sister and her parents are there for her, but it’s not the same.”

“I can’t believe her husband left her.” Not only because they’d just had a baby, but from what I knew of her, Abby was passionate and sweet and real. I respected her even more, knowing she was a single mother.

“I don’t know how she’s going to manage Hunter being on a travel team. Her sister and parents usually help, but this is more.”

That concerned me. “She didn’t say anything.”

Ethan shook his head. “She wouldn’t. She doesn’t like handouts.”

“She’s a strong woman.” I’d been upset when she’d left without leaving a note, but I understood why she’d want to keep things at one night.

“She is.” Ethan fell silent for a minute like he was contemplating something before he said, “What are your plans with her?”

I sighed. “I asked her to stay that night, but she left.”

“She didn’t leave her information?” Ethan asked.

I chuckled without any humor. “No.”

“You wanted more?”

“I don’t know what I wanted, but I liked her. I wanted to see her again. She never mentioned a kid or responsibilities.” To be fair, neither had I. It was a night to escape our responsibilities, and maybe that was what had made it so great. If we’d been honest with each other about our baggage, it wouldn’t have worked.

He gave me a pointed look. “You have to be careful with her.”

“She clearly doesn’t want to go there.”

“She’s in single mom mode. She’s protecting her kid and trying to do what’s best for him.”

“I don’t blame her. She never expected to see me again.” But the irritation I felt about her leaving had dissolved. Leaving me with my attraction and nothing I could do about it.

“You’re going to forget about her.” His tone was disbelieving.

The idea didn’t sit right with me. “I don’t want to.”

“But you have to do what she asked,” Ethan insisted.

I sighed, taking a swig of my beer. “I’ll respect her wishes, but I’ll assist when I can. I can take Hunter to and from practices.”

“If you get involved, it’ll only bring you closer.”

“Hunter reminds me of myself.”

“Whatever happened with your career?” Ethan asked carefully, knowing I didn’t like to talk about it.

I shifted on the bar stool. “I did what everyone does. I bounced around in the minors, hoping I’d get called up, but I didn’t.”

“You quit to help your brother,” Ethan said.

“Brody was little, and it was clear Austin couldn’t handle him.” His ex was a druggie. She’d flitted in and out of his life before overdosing when he was five.

“You’re a good brother and a better uncle.” His expression was sincere, but praise made me uncomfortable.

“I do my best.” I set the empty beer bottle on the counter, nodding at Max, whose brow was raised in question.

After Max set the fresh beer in front of me, he moved down the bar, leaving us to ourselves.

“I know what it’s like to take care of a child that’s not yours.” Ethan adopted his stepson, Miles, shortly after he married his wife, Savannah.

I focused on him. “I’ll take all the advice I can get.”

“They crave a dad. Even if they’d never admit it to their mothers. There’s a void, and it’s easy to fill. But it’s also easy to let them down. You have to be sure you’re going to stick around before you insert yourself into his life. And you can’t forget he has a dad.”

“I won’t.” It was impossible to forget. Not when I was in the same situation with Brody.

“In Miles’s case, his father was never in the picture.”

I remembered he’d died before he was born. “Does that make it easier or harder?”

“It’s probably easier in some ways. Miles is so young. I suspect I’ll be the only father he considers his.”

His situation with Miles was different than mine with Brody and Abby’s with Hunter. It was painful to have a father who didn’t put you first. “Should I take Brody to see his dad?”

Ethan raised his brow. “What do you think you should do?”

“I don’t want to. He shouldn’t see him behind bars. But what about their relationship?”

Ethan shook his head. “Austin can write him letters.”

“I don’t know.” Was that enough? I wasn’t an expert in this situation. I was quick to consult the internet or his school counselor when I had questions.

“What does Brody want?”

“He’s used to his father being in and out of his life. He’s been in jail for a few months before, drug rehab even, but not a lengthy sentence.”

“If they link him to a string of burglaries, he’ll go away for a long time.

I wasn’t sure if he was responsible for all the burglaries in the area. He insisted he wasn’t, but it wouldn’t be a stretch for a judge to think he was. “I think I’m waiting for it to be official. If he’s sentenced to a long prison term, I’ll have to consider it.”

“Brody loves you. He’ll be happy to have you. Even if he doesn’t know why, you represent security.”

“I hope you’re right.” No matter how many times I stepped in to help, I was still insecure about my position in Brody’s life.

“You’re doing the right thing.”

“I love Brody. I’ll always be there for him.” I’d started a college fund for him when he was little. I gave him his first glove and ball. Whenever he needed me, I was there. But I couldn’t be there for him in the way I wanted when Austin was around. I couldn’t get him up for school when Austin didn’t. He was older now and more self-reliant. But he shouldn’t have to be at his age.

“You can do this.”

“I feel guilty because this is what I wanted. I wanted to give him a better life, but I didn’t want his father in prison.”

“It’s not your fault. Austin did this to himself.”

I tipped my bottle to my lips. “I keep telling myself that.”

“You’re not responsible for Austin,” Ethan said.

“I know that.”

“Do you?”

Ethan had a point. I quit baseball to help Austin with Brody. Looking back, I was always cleaning up his messes. Helping him in school, smoothing things over with his teachers. That might be why he never got himself together. I was always there. He didn’t have to worry about Brody because he knew I’d step in. Abby didn’t have that backup, and my heart ached for her.

I understood now why she’d left without giving me her information. She felt like she wasn’t free to pursue anything.

I got it, but I didn’t like it. I wondered if being forced to spend time together would trigger the lingering chemistry between us. Would she give us a second chance? I shouldn’t even care. My hands were full with my move, the new team, and helping Brody. I didn’t have time for anything or anyone else, especially a single mother.

“You need an assistant coach?” Ethan asked.

I nodded. “Maybe just for a few practices until some of the dads can step up.”

“I thought parents were quick to step up in travel to guarantee their kid a spot.”

I grimaced. “I don’t want that reputation. I want kids because they’re a good fit. Because they love baseball.”

Ethan examined me carefully. “You think you’ve got that with this team?”

“I hope so.” I didn’t want the kids to be competitive with each other. I wanted them to become friends, to gel together as a team. If they were worried about losing their position or being cut, it wouldn’t work. I wanted the kids to have a soft spot to land. Not another high-stakes competition. They came to this league for a different experience, and I wanted to give it to them. I was aware of how other teams operated. I wanted to be different. I wanted to give the kids skills for life that went far beyond sports.

When I played ball, my dad pushed me to be better while he let Austin fall to the wayside. He wasn’t as concerned with my grades or whether I was acting with integrity. Everything was baseball until I fell out of love with it. Until it felt like something I had to do. An obligation. I didn’t want that for Brody.

My parents had long ago washed their hands of Austin. It was why I felt like I had to step in when I did. I gave up my dream, but Austin—no, Brody needed me. My dad thought I’d made a big mistake, but I didn’t see it that way.

“I’m glad you moved here,” Ethan said, bringing me back to our conversation.

“I am too.” I rented a house and worked virtually, so it wasn’t a hardship. A part of me always knew it would come to that. That Austin would screw up so badly he’d never come back from it.

The black cloud over the situation was whether the other kids would blame Brody for his dad’s mistakes. If that happened, I might have to move us for his sake.

Ethan held his beer to his lips. “I just hope you know what you’re doing with Abby.”

“I don’t have plans to do anything.”

“Just don’t hurt her. She’s Brooke’s sister. She’s active with the Shops on Main group and is working with Gia at her wedding planning business, Happily Ever Afters. She’s embedded in this community, and everyone wants her to be happy.”

“I won’t get involved with her.” The promise didn’t sit right in my stomach. When I thought of Abby, it made me feel like anything was possible. But to ignore the connection we had that night felt wrong. Even if it was what everyone wanted.

Ethan gave me a dubious look.

He’d hooked up with Savannah when he came back to town. He’d bought a building to open his hardware shop, and she was his struggling tenant. A single mom with a son. He couldn’t resist her, and I wondered if I’d be stronger. Could I stay away from Abby?

I just needed to tell myself it would be a disaster to get involved when her son was on my team. It would be awkward and uncomfortable if it didn’t work out. I wanted the team to be a family. It wouldn’t be if I got involved with her.

“It’s best if I stay away from her.” I took a long pull of my beer and kept my eyes averted from Ethan. It was the truth, even though it felt wrong.