27. Sarah

27

SARAH

I bit my lip as I watched Derek step up to home plate. His bat was starting to fit his proportions, growing faster than I ever could have imagined.

"Come on, Der! You got this!" Robin clapped from beside me.

It startled me out of the haze Bri had put me a few days earlier. The summer was flying by, baseball games and pool days blending into work meetings and dates with my two very hot ladies.

Zoey shook her head at Robin's enthusiasm. "I just can't imagine how much crazier you're going to be about our kids."

Shrugging, Robin sat down. "I think about the same. I don't want to give them a complex."

I snorted a laugh. "No matter how hard you try, you're going to give them a complex." As I watched on, Derek lifted his bat and got into the form his dad had taught him as soon as he was able to hold a plastic version.

Even now, Jason stood near third base and clapped for our son.

I turned to look at Robin and Zoey, my sister's hand draped over her partner's knee. Shaking my head, I tried to be more present as I felt my mind drifting off.

But it didn't help much, all I could think about was the two women I had trying to sweep me off of my feet. Both of them were undeniably incredible. And I felt my stomach tighten at the thought of each of their faces.

Nudging me, Zoey smiled. "What's going on with you?"

I stammered for words, looking around for the girls before speaking. Once I saw them playing Dragons in the corner with the other little siblings, I nodded. "Dating is like… so mean."

"Yeah, kind of." Zoey giggled. "Anything in particular?"

As I thought, Robin leaned over and looked at me. It was a little unusual for me to not tell Robin everything. Even when Jason and I first decided to separate, I texted her before my own sister and parents.

All of this – with Bri and Victoria – felt too big to talk about.

I bit the inside of my cheek. "I told Bri that I was seeing Vic and it was just weird."

Robin's forehead wrinkled. "Did she take it okay?"

"Of course." The thought of Bri taking anything poorly was almost laughable. She was steady and calm. And seeing other people was her idea to begin with. I paused, watching as a pitch came hurtling toward Derek.

He let his arms swing the bat, trusting his instincts.

A loud bink rang out across the field as the metal met the leather covering of a baseball.

Robin leapt up, cheering already as my son took off toward first base. I watched closely as his small legs pushed his body forward. The short stop flung the ball from third base over to first. Just in time, Derek's foot slammed against the base.

"Yes!" I yelped, pumping my fist.

Once the crowd finished clapping, I sat back down and sighed. "I don't know, isn't it weird in such a small town to be dating both of them?"

Zoey shook her head. "No. Like, I get why you feel that way. But it's the nature of all of this shit. Hell, when I started seeing Robin, Claire was still hanging around."

Rolling her eyes, Robin groaned. "God, that was a pain in the ass."

I still remembered that relationship. Just how poorly suited Robin was to her. Most of us knew that Zoey and Robin's love was written in the stars, that someday they'd put all of that angst aside and just admit they were in love with each other.

"But how long can that last?" Leaning onto my knees, I crossed my arms and stared at the field.

Zoey sighed as she gave her belly a light rub. "That is a tough question. Probably not as long as you want."

We clapped for the next hitter who got on first as Derek shuttled along to second.

With a goofy grin, Robin wiggled her eyebrows. "Do you have any idea who you're feeling more?"

The worst part was: I really couldn't say. They were both great and offered so much.

After a minute, I shook my head. "I have no idea."

Groaning, Zoey leaned back onto the bleachers. "Boring. I wanted gossip."

I laughed at her, dramatic as always. We went back to watching the game and my mind kept swimming.

As I drifted off into thought, my phone buzzed with a text from Bri:

Hiya, how do you feel about a hike on Sunday? I could use some inspiration.

My heart fluttered at the thought of alone time with Bri. We had some unfinished business after testing out that table's sturdiness. And I hadn't been able to get her out of my mind since.

Zoey peeked over my shoulder and raised her eyebrows.

Ignoring her, I typed a response.

Perfect. Kids leave for Jason's on Saturday so I'm around any time.

Once I hit send, I tucked my phone back into my pocket. It was hard to stay off it with so many work texts coming in at any moment. Vic was not afraid to reach out if she needed anything… or if she just wanted to flirt.

But with Derek on third base, I couldn't afford any distractions. Every parent on the bleachers was on the edge of their metal seat, ready to see how the next play would turn out.

As we watched the pitcher wind up, a woman in loose but well-fitted jeans, a baggy t-shirt, and a black baseball cap approached the fence. She intertwined her fingers with the chainlink and watched the pitch.

The ball hurtled toward the batter who swung with all his might. Smashing the ball into the outfield, the kid took off toward first as Derek watched the ball arch in the sky. Once he knew it was going far enough out, he sprinted toward home.

"Go, baby!" I hollered as he hustled down the baseline. Jason clapped with pride as his players rounded the bases. Before the outfielder could hurl the ball to home plate, Derek sprinted across it.

The bleachers erupted with excitement as the team scored.

Once the excitement died down, Robin's eyes followed my gaze to the mysterious woman. Her face scrunched up as she nudged Zoey and nodded toward them.

"Is that…?" Zoey tilted her head.

"Who?" I turned to Robin.

Widening her eyes, Robin scoffed. "Yeah it is."

Pressing, I gestured for more information. " Who ?"

"That's Cat Collins."

I rolled my eyes. "Am I supposed to know who that is?"

With an exaggerated groan, Robin lowered her voice to a whisper. "She's a pro softball player from New Winford."

Zoey turned to me and nodded. "She got injured last season and then kind of…"

"Spiraled into a crazy alcohol-fueled bender." Robin shook her head. "No one's seen her for months. I think everyone assumed she was done with softball forever."

My eyebrows lifted with surprise. I felt like I knew everyone in town but somehow, I'd missed this bit of town gossip entirely. It was certainly strange but New Winford seemed to be a hotbed for people looking for an escape.

Zoey sighed as she met Robin's gaze. "I wonder if Cleo knows."

Shrugging, Robin tried to turn her attention back to the game as Zoey pulled out her phone.

I looked onto the field, my foot shaking as I tried to remind myself that I had as much time as I needed. Even if I wanted an answer sooner rather than later.