Page 101 of Hard To Leave

Our team was up to bat, and we needed two runs to win the game. This was going to be a nail-biter.

Brogan’s phone buzzed in his pocket. He pulled it out, read the text and frowned.

“Do you need to get that?”

He shook his head and stuffed his phone in his back pocket. “Nope. Just business. It can wait.”

By the way his face changed, and his eyebrows drew together, it didn’t look like business to me. But what did I know?

The next inning flew by, and we were down by one with the bases loaded. Tanner happened to be the next guy up to bat. I reached for Brogan’s hand and held my breath as Tanner stepped up to the plate.

He raised his bat and swung with such strength that the ball sailed through the infield and landed against the outfield fence. Parents and coaches started screaming for the players to run. All at once, everyone started moving as our second and third base runners crossed home plate.

Cheers erupted across the field. “We won? He did it!” I screamed right before jumping into Brogan’s arms without thinking. He laughed while swinging me around.

Tanner was getting high fives from his teammates. I slid down Brogan’s body, feeling too excited to be embarrassed.

The kids started lining up for their handshakes.

Brogan kept his hands firmly on my side. His touch felt wrong, and his stare lingered a little too long. I took a step back. I didn’t want him to get the wrong idea.

“He’s a natural,” Brogan boasted with pride. All the kids were huddled together, and then they were dismissed by their coach.

“Mom!” Tanner called, sprinting toward us through the field with a winning smile on his face.

Brogan met him halfway and tapped his knuckles against his. “You did awesome, dude. What a hit.”

Tanner then made a beeline for me as I folded up my chair.

“What did you think?”

I opened my arms, and he ran into them. “You were amazing, Tanner. I’m so proud of you.” I brushed my fingers through his damp hair. “All your hard work paid off.”

“Are you kidding?” Brogan laughed next to us. “My kid is the next up and coming MLB player. I see a Cy Young Award sitting on your shelf in the near future.”

Tanner’s face lit up at the compliment. Brogan was a natural with him.

I took Tanner’s hand and smiled at Brogan. “I have some chicken cooking in the Crock-Pot if you want to join us.”

He raised his eyebrow and smirked. “I can’t remember the last time I had a meal out of a Crock-Pot.”

I slapped his chest playfully just as he swung his arm around my shoulders. “I think I need to remind you of where you came from, mister. I’m afraid all those screaming fans and stadium lights have fried all the humanity out of you.”

He just chucked while we made our way toward the car. “Just promise you won’t make me wash dishes. I have a reputation to protect, you know.”

I tossed my head back and laughed, and that’s when my eyes collided with Jack, as he stood off to the side.

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