Page 58 of Mom Ball

My face falls.

“I can always bring one in if y’all need it. Besides, I doubt the Corolla could hold anything else.”

“True.”

Nate sets down the cooler and drops the chair from that arm. He rotates his shoulder and grits his teeth. I didn’t even consider his injury when I loaded him down with my stuff.

What kind of person am I?

“This spot looks great,” I lie. It’s a horrible view of the field and on a slope. But if it gets Nate to unload, it will work.

He glances around and scrunches his face, clearly realizing the downfall in this spot. Then he smiles at me and sets up the lawn chairs best he can on the slope.

Jeffrey struts our way from the concession stand. His gold watch catches the sunlight, overpowering the rest of his ensemble for once. Between the bright red pants and Armadillos cap, it’s hard not to spot him. Oh, and today he’s added a fake sleeve.

“Why is Jeffrey wearing a compression sleeve?” I whisper.

“My guess is he thinks it looks cool, but if we ask he’ll say it’s because he’s pitching all day.”

I laugh and Nate joins me. We straighten our faces when Jeffrey gets within earshot.

“I guess Morgan filled you in, but the first games are on the board. We’re in a pool of eight and it’s double elimination.”

“Thanks,” I say.

He puts his hands on his hips and spits to the side, barely missing my snack bag. I swallow.

“Nice sleeve, Jeffrey.” Nate grins at me.

“Thanks. I got it at one of those vendor trucks last travel-ball tournament.” He stretches out his arm and admires it. “Should help me with pitching today.”

Nate lifts his chin. “Maybe I’ll look into getting one.”

Jeffrey smiles, then continues toward the other end of the park. I shake my head at Nate.

It’s going to be a long day.

CHAPTER 13

Nate

Jeffrey said I couldn’t be on the field, but he didn’t say I couldn’t help the kids from outside the field. That includes giving my advice to Morgan.

“All these teams are using catchers. I think y’all need one too.”

She turns her head toward the kids. Half of them are rolling down the slope where we set up, one of Maribelle’s twins is eating powdered donuts, and Tami’s daughters are filming themselves on her phone.

The last one disturbs me a little since Tami showed me some of her own videos for TikTok.

“Has Andrew caught before?”

Morgan turns back to me. “Not officially, but he’s put on Ethan’s gear and played around at home.”

“Think he’d try some with me warming him up?”

“Sure.”

She lets out her famous whistle and every head turns. Even Reece looks up from his Harry Potter book.

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