Page 104 of Sometimes You Fall

“How about next weekend?”

Gnawing on my bottom lip, I take a moment to contemplate his proposition. Yet, deep down, I know this is Grady’s way of demonstrating what I need to see and hear. And if ever there was a sign that I should keep trusting this man, this is it. “Okay.”

He buries his hands in my hair, bringing my mouth to his. “Good girl. See? You just need to follow your heart, Scottie. It’s trying to speak to you. I just wish you would listen.”

“My head keeps getting in the way.”

“Well, tell it to knock it the fuck off.”

I bark out a laugh. “It’s not that easy. I’ve spent most of my adult life overthinking, Grady. It’s going to take time to change that.”

When his lips touch mine again, my entire body warms from head to toe. “At least you’re trying, Scottie. That’s all I ask. And soon, you’ll realize you don’t have to carry the mental load alone because I’m here, and I’m not letting you go again. No way in hell.”

***

“Don’t let them get in your head, Chase!” Grady yells from the dugout, trying to help calm my son who currently has a runner on each base. The Carrington Cove High School baseball team is downby three runs at the top of the seventh inning, but it’s still anyone’s game.

Chase hasn’t been playing his best, though, and as a parent, there are few things worse than watching your kid deal with immense pressure and not being able to do much about it.

“You’ve got this, Chase!” I scream from my seat in the bleachers. I would stand, but this baby girl is putting a ton of pressure on my sciatic nerve lately, so sitting is just a better option so my legs don’t give out on me.

“Timeout!” Grady calls to the umpire, who nods his head and echoes the call.

I blow out a breath, watching Grady walk toward my son, hoping he can give him the words of encouragement he needs right now. Biting my nails, I watch the two of them as my daughter does somersaults in my belly.

“I know, peanut. Big brother’s got this, though.” I rub a few circles around the spot where I feel her. “When you’re old enough to understand how nerve-racking this is, I’ll remind you of this moment.”

Grady pats Chase on the shoulder and then heads back to the dugout, straightening his ball cap while popping a fresh stick of gum in his mouth.

God, he’s so fucking hot. Tonight, I’m gonna make him keep that hat on him while I ride him.

I push away my dirty thoughts and focus back on my son as he stands on the mound again, looking more calm and in control. He goes to wind up the pitch, but the runner on third gets a little too far off base, so Chase hammers the ball to the third baseman, who tags the runner out.

“Yes, Chase! Great job!” I scream, clapping my hands wildly. Chase gets the ball back and goes back to waiting for the call from the catcher.After two shakes, he gives a nod and then winds up and throws the pitch, striking the batter out at the plate.

I can see his grin from here, so whatever Grady said to him was exactly what he needed to hear.

Unfortunately, the boys still lose 7-6, but my son walks out of the dugout proud, and he should be. He pitched one hell of a game.

As soon as I waddle over to him, he pulls me in for a hug. “Hey, Mom.”

“Hey, baby. You did great. I’m so proud of you.”

“I hate losing.”

“Can’t win them all, but you did amazing. You kept your cool under pressure, which is a sign of maturity and strength, honey.”

“Yeah, I guess.”

I reach up and push his hat from his face so I can see it, so gratified with the young man he’s becoming. Our move to Carrington Cove may have started off rocky, but he’s changed so much and for the better, and I know it’s because of the man who entered our lives, the same one striding over to us right now.

Grady stretches his hand out to shake my son’s. “You did phenomenally, Chase,” he says, before turning to me. “Wouldn’t you say so?”

“I was just telling him that.”

“Thanks,” Chase says, his cheeks turning slightly pink.

Grady steps closer to him and lowers his voice. “You made me really fucking proud out there, kid. I’m honored to be your coach.”

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