Page 50 of The Foul Out

It baffled me, the way so many people fawned over celebrities and athletes. Trevor had been completely capable of conversation, almost too capable, but when Kyle appeared, the man had turned into a stammering mess. People were just people, no matter how well-known they were.

Kyle chuckled. “But I’m an ass. That’s well established. And my jokes, like the foul ball one, miss sometimes. We’ve cleared it up. Harper’s been patient with me, even though she thinks I’m her cross to bear.”

“What kind of a bear?” Sam asked, his hands on his hips like Kyle’s.

I shook my head. Kyle had made a lot of statements like that over the last two weeks. Revs’ representatives too. It was ridiculous that people actually believed that Kyle and I had been friends for a long time. But they did.

“He means a pain in my neck,” I said to my son.

“Oh.” Sam turned to Kyle and nodded vigorously. “She does say that.”

Kyle laughed, the move catching my attention. I couldn’t help but notice the hard line of his jaw, the sparkle in his brown eyes, or the way his hair peeked out from under his hat.

I forced my attention away and focused on my kids. “Okay, shoes off, backpacks away. Let’s go.”

They groaned in unison but didn’t put up any more of a fight as they moved out of the kitchen.

“I’ll get out of the way,” Trevor said, stepping around Kyle. “Have fun on Friday. Maybe I’ll see you.”

Kyle kicked the door shut behind him. “You like that tool bag?” he asked, the question laced with an intensity I didn’t understand.

“He’s nice,” I assured him. “He helped carry in my groceries.”

“I would have too.”

I scoffed and sent him a side eye. “You would have had Cam help me carry in the bags.” I hadn’t known Kyle long, but I had his number.

“Oh please.” He lifted both arms and flexed his biceps. “I’m perfectly capable of doing the heavy lifting.”

Holy moly, he was. A wave of heat washed through me as the muscle bulged, pulling at the sleeve of his fitted T-shirt. Jeez. That simple move was more of a turn-on than anything I’d experienced in years. I gave myself one second to stare before I went back to unpacking the groceries.

“Put the biceps away, Bosco. There aren’t any ball bunnies to impress here.”

He stepped up next to me and pulled a box of granola bars from another bag. “It might be hard to believe, but it’s been a few years since I’ve had any interest in the ball bunnies.”

I narrowed my eyes at him. “That’s not the glowing character statement you think it is.”

“You are fiery tonight, Crabby.”

Head tilted, I smirked. “Am I not normally?”

“You always are.” He chuckled. “It’s one of my favorite things about you.”

“Mom.” Sam stepped back into the galley kitchen. “I put my stuff away. Can Kyle eat wiff us?”

My stomach twisted at the thought. With a shake of my head, I gave my son a sympathetic smile. “I’m sure Kyle has other plans.”

“Nah, I don’t,” Kyle said.

I shot him a quick glare.Thanks for the help. “We’re having gluten-free chicken nuggets and lima beans.”

“My favorite.” He smiled.

“There is no world in which that isn’t a lie.” I laughed at the absurdity of the idea. He probably ate gourmet meals seven nights a week, either out at four-star restaurants or sent in by a personal chef. Lima beans surely wouldn’t make his list of favorites.

Kyle waved his arms wide in an arc over his head. “A stretch of the truth.”

“Seriously? It’s like I say no, and you say?—”

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