Page 114 of See You Next Month

“Mmm,” Kelsey replied, pulling Isabella closer. “That sounds perfect.”

They climbed up the bleachers to the left of home plate and sat near the third base dugout. Isabella had already introduced Kelsey to several of the other mothers before sitting in their seats.

“Mom, can I go play with my friends?” Gus asked Isabella.

“Why don’t you sit with us for a minute and watch your brother,” Isabella replied.

“Okay,” Gus said, plopping down next to Kelsey. “I wish you could stay longer and see me play, too.”

“I know,” Kelsey said. “I’ll come back and watch you this summer. I promise.”

Gus smiled up at her. “Hey, there’s Gran,” he said, waving at Marti.

Kelsey had grown to like the boys through their conversations and the stories Isabella told her, but she had no idea how quickly they would steal her heart. She didn’t seem to upset their routine by being there and Kelsey felt comfortable being in the middle of everything.

Marti made her way up the bleachers and sat in front of Isabella and Kelsey. “I saw your daddy in the parking lot, Gus,” she said.

Isabella bumped Kelsey’s shoulder with hers. “I’ll introduce you to him after the game. He usually stands down at the end of the dugout with a few of the other dads.”

Kelsey was curious about Spencer Burns. She couldn’t imagine how he could ever let Isabella go.

“Wyatt is playing third base today and Spencer will be down there in his ear,” Isabella said despairingly. “I think it makes Wyatt nervous. I’ve told Spencer to ease up but he doesn’t listen to me.”

“Yeah,” Kelsey replied. “Wyatt mentioned that to me once before. We’ll encourage him from here.” She smiled at Isabella.

“Hey, Gus,” a man called from the walkway in front of the bleachers. “Come stand down here with me.” He waved at Isabella and waited.

“That’s Spencer,” Isabella said.

Kelsey made eye contact with the man and smiled. She’d seen pictures of him on Isabella’s phone and could just make out his short blond hair under his baseball cap. He was dressed in a T-shirt and shorts much like the other dads down by the dugout.

“I’ll come down in a minute!” Gus said.

When their eyes locked, Kelsey could tell Spencer didn’t particularly like that response. She knew Isabella had told him about her and the job they were doing for the resort, but that was it. When he walked away, Kelsey let out a breath. Spencer Burns did not give off good vibes.

“You don’t have to go down there if you don’t want to, Gus,” Isabella said. “You can sit with us.”

“Can I go play now?” Gus asked.

“Watch your brother bat, then you can go play. Make sure you stay where I can see you,” Isabella said. “Wyatt bats second,” she said to Kelsey.

The game started and Kelsey saw Wyatt look up into the stands for them while he waited to bat. He smiled when he saw them and Kelsey gave him a stealth wave. She noticed his smile brighten then he turned away to take a few practice swings.

“If I did that, he’d roll his eyes at me,” Isabella said quietly, leaning closer to Kelsey.

“The newness of me will wear off,” Kelsey replied.

“Oh, I don’t think so,” Isabella said in a low voice.

Kelsey cut her eyes towards Isabella and mouthed, “Stop.”

Isabella chuckled.

The game started and Wyatt’s team ended up winning, but it was close. He made several good plays on defense and drove in the winning run to end the game.

Isabella, Kelsey, and Marti walked down the bleachers and waited for Wyatt while the coach talked to them in the dugout.

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