Page 12 of Always My Comfort

Clearing my throat of the emotion burning there, I swallowed. “Thanks. I have big boots to fill. I only hope I can do that.”

“You’ve already filled them. Stop worryin’ about Dad and us. We wouldn’t care if you never played a damn sport again. Just be happy. I’ll see you soon, okay?”

“Yeah. I have a week off comin’ up. I’ll fly up to see y’all.”

Ending the call, I let the phone drop to the mattress. Closing my eyes, I breathed in the stale hotel room air.

I beat my own record today.

A moment I wished I could have shared with my dad and all my brothers.

CHAPTER5

Logan

One Year Ago

Wiping away the tears streaming down my flushed cheeks, I shoved the few belongings I’d grabbed from the apartment into the trunk of my car and sat in the driver’s seat, letting the sting of betrayal burn.

I couldn’t call Scarlett. She’d leave her soon-to-be in-laws in a flash to come beat Richard up. All five feet of her would storm in there and wreak absolute havoc.

Instead, I cried until my eyes hurt, my throat burnt, and I longed for a bottle of water. Down the street, the local bar was filling up with people. The parking lot had quickly filled up, and people were waiting in a long line to get in.

Joe’s had been my first place of employment, and the owner had been friends of my parents. It seemed like the best idea to nurse a beer with him behind the bar. Anything to distract me.

Pulling the sun visor down, I opened the tiny mirror and fixed my smudged makeup. Reapplying my black eyeliner and mascara, I brushed some pink blush to my cheeks, hoping to hide my blotched skin, and then swiped some pink gloss to my lips.

After moving my car into Joe’s parking lot, I made my way inside just as the sun set, casting the world into darkness. The small, poorly-lit bar was at capacity with rowdy baseball players and fans. The place was covered in people sporting Tampa Bay Rays merchandise, and I cringed at the sight of the players loitering at the bar.

“What brings you by, dear?” Joe’s raspy voice caught my attention just as I considered darting out. He was leaning against the corner of the bar, wiping down the counter.

“Just needed to be around someone familiar.” I came to stand by his side, noticing that there wasn’t a barkeep tonight. “Are you short-staffed tonight?” There was a knowing twinkle in his eye, the same my mom used to get when I used to crawl into her lap as a child after a bad day at school.

“Unfortunately, Mark’s wife went into labor earlier, and I didn’t realize there was a big game.” One of the players raised his hand to get Joe’s attention, and I quickly rounded the bar.

“No worries. I’ll help out. Nothing’s changed since I was in college, I’m assuming?” Joe cracked a weathered grin.

“Haven’t changed a thing since your mother helped me arrange this place.” My father and Joe had been best friends growing up, and naturally, my mother became the third musketeer to all their shenanigans. When my dad died from a surgery complication, Joe stepped up and took care of me and Mom, and then when my mom died from cancer, he took me under his wing as though I was always his little girl.

“I need the distraction,” I told him, heading toward the baseball player, who still had his hand raised.

Like most players, his skin was tan from the sun, his teeth perfectly white, which paired well with a grin that I was sure got a lot of girls to drop their skirts, but not me.

“What can I get ya?” I noted his empty glass and saw the guy to his left skim his dark eyes over me. I looked over his dark features—black hair and perfect tan, chiseled jaw. I couldn’t help but wonder just how many girls he had gotten with his eyes alone.

“Whatever you have on draft. My girl swears that all women have good taste, so surprise me.” His friend cracked a smile and shook his head.

“Melanie is a fool, but so are you.” His friend threw his head back and finished the last swig of his Corona. “I’ll have another Corona, unless you can recommend something better?” he asked me, and I thought back to my college days, when I thought beer tasted good.

“Couldn’t advise you on beer. I drank too much in college, and now, I can’t stand it. Corona was good, but only for social drinking. You’re celebrating tonight, so you should try the Blue Moon Belgian White in a bottle and the Firestone Walker on draft.” Both boys nodded in appreciation.

“So, you’ve watched the game today, know your beer, and went to college. Aren’t you a catch?” The guy who had a girlfriend asked, nudging his friend and wiggling his brows. “Sounds like you should get to know her.”

His friend shook his head at his friend. “I don’t date. We’ll take those beers.”

Handing them their drinks a moment later, I nodded at Mr. Tall, Dark, and Mysterious. “I don’t date either.”

The friend cracked up with laughter and raised his drink to me. “Imagine that—a girl who doesn’t want you, man? I love it! What’s your name?” He was friendly and kind, and just what I needed tonight.

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