Page 52 of Sporting Goods

“Hmm?”

“You pee your pants a little.”

“You did not pee your pants. I will not believe that.”

“You calling me a liar?”

“I—well there is one way to find out.”

Her mouth dropped. “We are at a children’s event. What is wrong with you?” she accused, while her eyes were filled with laughter.

I leaned into her so only she would hear me. “Hey, you’re the one who brought up your panties.”

She narrowed her eyes at me. “Not exactly what I said.” She shook her head at me, then turned back, smile fading again.

“Are you waiting for someone?”

“Hmm?” she turned back to me.

“You just seem like you’re looking for someone.”

Her eyes dilated and she refocused on Jax a few rows down from us. “Oh, no. I’m just checking out who’s here.”

It was a lie but I didn’t pry. Whoever it was she was clearly looking for, wasn’t anyone she wanted around. That much was clear.

I wasn’t going to deny the fact that I’d wondered about Jax’s dad. I did. Anyone would when you meet a charming duo such as these two and wonder what man in his right mind would ever let this go. I hadn’t been around many kids in my life, but Jax’s charisma was sure to be one in a million. Kid was polite, respectful, driven, intelligent and had a heart-melting smile.

Rayne.

Rayne had fire. In every meaning of the word. Not just in the fact she was hot enough to melt, but she had that blazing personality—clear the minute she stepped back into my store demanding to pay for the shoes. Her independence and capability was important to her, I’d obviously crossed a line and she’d set me straight. That same fire somehow burned something in me the day I met her. Something I couldn’t quite describe. Like a heavy tarnished stone I let live in me for the past couple of years.

Every time I saw her, a piece of that stone would burn away. I’d find myself smiling, my chest lighter, my heart feeling like something that pumped blood and not something that was shattered beyond repair.

“Like Jax’s dad?” I finally asked after a very short debate in my mind.

When she looked up at me, her eyes flashed something that resembled guilt.

Okay, it was too soon.

She turned away, as if easier to respond if she weren’t looking right at me. “He’s a—well he… isn’t involved in our life much. He also doesn’t pay child support or have regular visiting days with Jax.”

Shouldn’t you be seeing someone about that?

That was where I drew the line on prying any further. But there was one thing I was rather curious about. Actually it was kind of killing me to know.

“Is he still around here?”

She nodded and there was almost a sad smile behind it. “Oh yeah. He’s not going anywhere.” Her eyes turned bitter. “I will though. Jax and I will. One day. We’re going to get the hell out of here.” There was a beat before she added, “It’s just impossible right now.”

“Well sure, unless you talk to some attorney’s, I imagine it might be pretty hard to move Jax anywhere.”

There was that other layer of her fire. The one she was fighting to keep burning. The one that was trying to be put out by someone else.

My heart ached for her.

Before I knew it, she placed her hand over mine and sat up a little. “Jax is up.”

Our kid was up. And yeah, he was ours. We trained him, prepared him, encouraged him. And we were both here cheering him on. For today’s sake; he wasour kid. He skated his way to his position along with others. I watched him closely. He was listening to the coach and the instructions.Good. He had his game face on.Awesome. I taught him that when we went one on one in one of our last sessions.

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