Page 46 of The Art Of Starting Over

“Hmm, my mind must’ve been elsewhere.” She looked at Hayden and grinned, even though she felt like a fool. She had no right, at least in her mind, to flirt with Hayden. The last thing she wanted was to lead him on or let him think she was interested.

I was interested back in the day, but then Chad ...

Devy angled her head to get a better look at Dalton but still couldn’t recall him. Some faces and names were lost on her. It was like she had forgotten almost everyone when she moved away, but the truth was, she hadn’t taken the time to remember people. She wanted to blame Chad and his narcissistic attitude, where he thought he was better thaneveryone else. Devy supposed that was how he achieved what he had in business, but now it left a sour taste in her mouth. She should’ve been a better person in high school and not followed everything he’d said.

She had been in love with him and wondered now how’d she feel if he walked up to her and said he wanted her back. A small part of her wanted that to happen—to give Maren the family she deserved—while the rest of her wanted to kick him in the balls and tell him to rot in hell. Maren didn’t need a father who’d openly cheated on her mother. No one needed that type of role model in their lives.

Across the field, she saw her father holding court with a group of men. They were undoubtedly chatting about any petty crime happening in town or whatever game was on television the night before. That was one thing about small-town folks—they loved their sports, local and professional. Everyone in Oyster Bay were die-hard New England sports fans, and those who weren’t were the outsiders who had moved there. Like Chad’s family.

The Campbells moved to Oyster Bay the summer before Devy entered her freshman year of high school. Chad was a skinny teen and then had come into his own the summer before their junior year. That was when he and Devorah really noticed each other. They were the talk of the town, the young man from the big city dating Oyster Bay’s Pearl of the Ocean. Everyone in town gushed, while Crow seethed because he didn’t care for Chad. Their classmates were indifferent. Lifelong friends of Devy’s were no longer her friends because she had given them up for Chad. Something she regretted now.

Shouting tore Devy’s gaze away from her father and to the field, where she saw Conor push another kid. She was up and running toward the group without even thinking, with Hayden hot on her heels.

“Hey, what’s going on?” she asked Conor and Maren, ignoring the snickering of the group of boys around them.

“He said some really mean things to Maren.”

“Okay, but we don’t push, bud,” Hayden said.

“He pulled her hair first,” Conor said as he pointed toward one of the boys. “Then he kept touching her back. Even when Maren said ‘stop.’”

“Okay,” Hayden said as he put his hand on Conor’s shoulder. He crouched, making himself level with his son. “You did the right thing by protecting Maren. I’m not mad at you. I’m proud of you. With that said, we don’t push others. But I get it. You know right from wrong, and you did what you felt was right.”

“Maren, did he touch you?” Devy pointed at the boy who seemed to be in charge of the posse around him.

Maren nodded. “I said ‘stop,’ but he didn’t listen.”

“You have no right—” Devy stopped when she saw the coach running toward them.

“What’s going on?” Dalton Noble ran over, seemingly out of breath, while Crow also came toward the gathering. Devy looked around as a quietness fell over the other parents. She knew, deep down, that Maren would somehow get blamed for everything. She kept Maren glued to her side, trying to keep the mama bear in her tame, when she really wanted to demand why the kid’s parents hadn’t taught their son better.

Devy looked down at her daughter. “Are you okay?”

Maren nodded. “He’s not a nice boy.”

“Yeah, I agree. Do you want to stay or go home?”

“I’m staying.” Maren pointed at the boy. “He’s jealous because I can run faster than him.”

“Am not.” The boy stuck his tongue out at Maren.

To be nine again.

“What seems to be the trouble?” Crow asked.

Maren went right to her grandfather and buried her head in his torso. Devorah’s heart sighed. Crow would protect his own.

“Grandpa, that boy kept pulling my hair and touching me, even though I told him to stop.”

“Is that true, Noble?” Crow directed the question at Dalton, who set his hand on the boy in question’s shoulder.

“DJ?” Dalton asked. Of course the kid would be the coach’s son.

DJ shrugged. “I didn’t do anything wrong,” he said. “My hand just touched her.”

“How many times?” Crow’s voice boomed and caused Devy to shrink back. She wasn’t needed right now, and she was okay with letting her father handle it all.

“Dunno, but he pushed me.” DJ pointed at Conor.

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