Page 67 of Sometimes You Fall

“I found a guy in Kentucky that has a scrap yard. I’m going to pick up a new one in a few weeks.”

He clears his throat before darting his eyes to me. “I’m sorry.”

Two words. That’s all it takes for me to lower the last little bit of wall between us. I’m ready to move forward. I just hope he is too. “I appreciate that.”

A small nod is all I get in return, but I’ll take it. Popping the hood, I say, “You’re going to help me take the engine out today and then we’ll start tearing it apart while I wait for other parts to get here.”

Sighing, he follows me to the engine hoist and helps me roll it over to the car. It takes us a while to get the engine out of the body, but once we do, Chase stares at it like it’s an alien that just landed. “I have no idea what any of this is.”

“I didn’t either, but you’ll catch on. Pulling an engine apart and putting it back together is actually a bit like mastering baseball.”

His brows draw together. “How the hell do you figure that?”

Chuckling, I say, “Each component in an engine is critical to making it work, just like each player on the field. Everyone has their role, and they all need to work together to perform their best. Same withan engine. Once you understand all the parts and how they work together, you can make it run smoothly.”

Chase rolls his eyes. “You sound like some old man trying to impart wisdom.”

“I’m not that old,” I counter, but Chase doesn’t say anything else for a while. He watches me work as I begin draining the fluids from the engine, then take off the exhaust manifold. But when he finally speaks again, his question startles me and makes my pulse spike.

“Why didn’t you say anything to Jared and Trent when they were talking crap about you at the game last week?”

Spinning to face him, I notice a clench in his jaw. I’m not sure why he’s bringing this up now, but I oblige him. “Sometimes saying nothing is the best response.”

“But they made you look stupid.”

“No, they made themselves look stupid.”

He licks his lips. “They made you sound washed up, like you’re trying to turn me into you.”

“I don’t care what they think about me, Chase. I know who I am and reacting would only give them what they want. I’d rather just make them eat their words throughmyactions. Their shit-talking says more about their own insecurities than it does about me or you. And trust me, the sooner you realize that, the better you’ll be at shutting out the noise.”

“I don’t need your advice, Grady.”

I drop the wrench on the table and take a step toward him, hoping that closer proximity will help him really hear me. “Have you ever thought that maybe you do? That I might understand what you’re dealing with?”

“No, you don’t!” His voice rises and the disdain is back, but if he wants a fight, I’m going to give him one. I haven’t tried that technique yet, so let’s see what happens.

“Yeah, I do, Chase! Shit, watching you play ball is like seeing myself at your age.” I pound a fist into my chest. “I can’t tell you how fucking proud I am of you each time I watch you take the mound, when you actually fucking listen to my coaching instead of arguing with me like you are now!”

“You’re not my dad!” His voice echoes in the garage, drawing the attention of the last two technicians who are preparing to leave for the day. “Stop trying to be!”

I close the gap between us and look right into his eyes. “I know that…because if I were your dad, I never would have let you move seven hours away from me!”

Tears form in his eyes as we stare each other down, both of our chests heaving. Sadness, hurt, and anger reflect in his eyes—emotions I’m all too familiar with myself.

When I speak again, I lower my voice, hoping to decrease the tension. “But. My kid is going to be your sibling, so Iamgoing to be in your life, Chase—because I sure as hell won’t abandon them. We can figure out how to get along, or these next four years are going to be hell for both of us. Once you turn eighteen, you can make your own path, but until then, we need to make this work.”

His eyes drift to the side of the garage, but he doesn’t move as a tear trails down his cheek. When he speaks again, I can barely hear him, but the words are still powerful. “I didn’t want to come here, but my mom thought it would be best.”

“I know.” Reaching out, I place my hand on his shoulder, but he still doesn’t look at me. “And I know that me being in your life wasn’tin that plan, but I’m a firm believer that everything happens for a reason.”

As soon as I say that, his eyes return to mine. “Even you losing baseball?”

I inhale deeply before replying. “At first, I was so angry about it, and it’s taken me a long time to accept. But you know what’s helped?”

“What?”

“Having your mom back in my life. And coaching.”

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