Page 53 of Mom Ball

“I think he felt sorry for us.” Brooke wrinkles her nose.

“Well, hopefully we can remedy that tonight,” I tell her.

“Thanks for helping again,” she says.

“Of course.”

Bags clank against the metal fence and Morgan grunts. Brooke and I exchange a look.

My heart thumps harder when I look her in the eye. Sharing an inside laugh with her makes me wish we could share more. I miss those moments.

I miss her.

“What are we working on tonight?” she asks.

I palm the ball and come out of my trance. “According to everything Timothy told me about the practice game, I’d say base running is high on the list.”

She frowns. “Sorry about that. There’s so much he doesn’t know. I could’ve taught him that, but...” Her voice trails off with a sigh.

“Don’t be sorry. It’s not your place to teach him ball. He’s young, smart, and willing to learn. He’ll be fine.”

Her lips curve into a slight smile. My eyes follow the movement and I allow them to linger on her mouth a little too long.

She turns her head.

Dang it. I got caught gawking.

“I can help them with batting too, and knowing what’s a ball and a strike.”

She turns slowly and nods.

Morgan comes our way with a bucket. She’s waddling stiff-legged with it in front of her. I meet her halfway and take the bucket in one hand. I set it in the pitcher’s circle.

“I had that, you know,” she calls from behind me.

“Most women would just say thank you.”

“I’m not most women.”

That she is not. I shake my head and chuckle. Brooke laughs too. We share another glance, and I soak that in before a bunch of dirt-eaters hit the field.

Morgan whistles to call their attention. “Coach Nate has some ideas to help us.”

I turn to Brooke and whisper, “When did I become Coach?”

“Morgan has a way of voluntelling others.”

“I see.”

I cross my arms and make my way to the fence. Jeffrey stands on the other side. He stops near me, chewing a toothpick.

“So I see you’re helping with practice.” The toothpick rolls across his mouth.

“Yeah.”

“You know only parents on the field at games.”

“Yeah.”

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