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“Right. I recognize you from the restaurant.”
I suddenly feel nervous. Tyler has very little family, and I’m meeting one of them for the first time. What if Hillary doesn’t like me? She was probably best friends with Kristen and hates the fact that I’m here.
She points to the catcher. “My son, Boston, is on the team, and Logan helps coach when he can.”
“That’s great.”
“I saw you came with Tyler.”
How much should I say? Does Hillary know the truth about us?
“Yeah, he was nice enough to give me a ride.”
Her head turns in the direction of the dugout where the coaches are sitting on buckets. “Tyler’s a little broken and rough, but I promise he’s a good guy.”
My eyes flicker to him.
Broken?
“He just loved Kristen so much. We all did. When she died so suddenly, it tore our whole world apart.”
I know how he feels.That's how I felt when I lost my mom.
“Be careful with him,” she says. “I don’t want to see his heart broken.”
Again, I know how he feels.
I also don’t want a broken heart.
I glance at Tyler. “I won’t hurt him.”
* * *
TYLER
“Dude,”Wayne says. “I’m living vicariously through you. You brought your hot teacher girlfriend to the game today.”
I turn to my friend. “I’m starting to feel worried for Nikki over how much you envy me dating again.”
“Pfft. Nikki and I are fine. I’m just saying you’ve got it good. I hope you’re enjoying it.”
Logan hits Wayne on the shoulder. “He may have it good now, but his wife died. Show some sensitivity.”
My head tilts to Wayne. “True. My wife did die.”
Wayne kicks the bucket of balls. “I don’t know why you guys are trying to make me feel bad when all I was saying is that I’m happy for you, Tyler.”
“Thanks, man. I’m happy too.”
How could I not be?
Meg brought me back to life.
“Now are we going to win this game, or what?” Wayne claps.
“We’re going to win.”
* * *
