Page 41 of The One for Me
“You too, I hear you’re a pretty awesome ballplayer?”
“I’d like to think I am. I learned a lot playing with your brother. He was an awesome pitcher and showed me the ropes.”
Zach laughs. “A lot of good it did me.”
“How is your arm?”
He rotates his shoulder and shrugs. “It’s fine. I’m honestly over it all. I had my shot, it didn’t work out, and now I’m back home and things are good.”
“Good. You married yet? Family? Kids?”
Zach’s smile mirrors the one that my idiot brothers wear. “Yeah, actually, during these last few months, things changed for me, and I’m with the girl I was in love with back in the day.”
Her name was something like Devney’s . . . I’m trying to recall . . .
“Presley,” Wyatt offers. “They were together when they were still in the womb and just got their shit straight.”
My brother slaps his hand on my shoulder and chuckles. “Seems it’s a ballplayer thing, huh?” Connor extends his hand to them each. “I’m his younger brother, Connor. My daughter is who you’re making a very happy eight-year-old.”
Said child can’t take any more and is inching closer and closer to the horse trailer.
“You ready to see your horse?” Zach asks.
“Yes!” She rushes toward me, wrapping her arms around my waist. “I love you, Uncle Sean.”
I hug her back, smiling because even though Declan bought the horse, I’m the hero who got it for her.
“I love you too!”
* * *
“All right, you all ready?” I ask as we’re geared up for the ride.
Devney comes along the side of me on her horse and Austin trails behind her a bit. “We are.”
He sits up a little taller and nods.
“I’m ready too!” Hadley practically bounces.
Zach is riding the new horse to show us his temperament before Hadley rides him. Connor is staying back with Wyatt, and I am going to make sure Hadley is happy. The best part is that I’m not on a horse—I have the quad. It’s been far too long since I’ve ridden, and there’s no way my first time back in the saddle is going to be in front of Devney.
I’m trying to woo her, which would be impossible to do if I’m busy falling off a horse.
“You’re sure you don’t mind spending a little more time here? I know you have a long drive back,” I ask Zach as he lifts himself into the saddle.
“Are you kidding? This is my job. Besides, I helped out with Presley’s sons when they were learning how to ride. I’m happy to go since you’re too scared to get on the horse.”
Devney laughs. “He is a chicken.”
“You said it, darlin’,” he drawls and gives me a mischievous grin.
Devney smiles and turns to him. “We’ll have to forgive him. But, I am curious, you said you helped teach your girlfriend’s kids to ride?”
Zach grins. “I did.”
“Like you taught me, Auntie,” Austin says as he beams at Devney.
“And I loved every minute of it.”
