Page 118 of Mom Ball

Her van isn’t cranked, and the boys will be fine outside playing. That’s my justification for using her to unload some baggage before I break down under all the weight.

“Want some coffee?”

“Uh, sure?” She follows me to the tiny kitchen just off the living room.

I turn on the coffee machine and frantically pull K-cups from the cabinet, spouting off all the flavors available.

“Are you okay?”

I don’t answer.

“You’re acting a little scattered. Which is cool, if you’re me . . . but it’s a little out of character for you.”

I drop a handful of K-cups on the kitchen table and collapse in a chair. “I have a major problem.”

“What’s wrong?” Her eyebrows thread together and she frowns.

I bite my bottom lip, remembering how Nate told me not to tell anyone until we came up with a plan.

“I can’t tell anyone.”

“Then how will you get help?”

I drop my head on the table and moan. Aniston ruffles my head, then sits in the chair beside me. I lift my head enough to see her and fold my arms under my chin.

“What if I guess what’s going on? Then you won’t have to tell me.” Her mischievous smirk is back.

I like that idea, so I nod.

“Okay.” She slaps her hands together, causing me to flinch. “Nate has a side piece in Atlanta.”

I scrunch my forehead, then laugh when I realize what she means by that. “No!”

“Good, didn’t think so.” She stares at the ceiling for a beat. “Timothy’s dad found out you’re dating Nate.”

I sit up. What a conundrum.

“Yes,” I answer hesitantly.

“And how did that go?”

I take a deep breath. This is weird, and trying to skirt around the issue is even weirder.

“Timothy’s dad loves Nate.”

“Cool. Most people tend to be fond of handsome pro athletes. So he’s jealous, then, right?”

“I wouldn’t say jealous.”

“Then what? Afraid Timothy will like Nate better than him?”

“Not that either.”

Aniston pulls her long blond hair behind her head and lets it fall as she makes a frustrated noise. “You’re killing me, Smalls! What’s the problem?”

I close my eyes and silently pray she’s good at keeping secrets. I’ve got to talk to someone close to me, but who doesn’t have any relationship with Timothy or Nate. And I know for a fact Morgan can’t keep a secret.

“Nate is Timothy’s dad.”

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