Page 11 of Make Me Blush (Oil Barrons 3)

Landon jerked his head up. His dark hair swirled around his head. “No, I don’t want to leave.”

“We should get that arm checked out,” she said gently but firmly. “Make sure it’s not fractured or anything.”

“Mom. I don’t want to go.”

“Landon—”

“It’s my first game!”

Based on Emery’s expression, she wasn’t budging. She was in full mom mode and a nurse on top of it. I agreed with her. I’d sleep better knowing the kid was okay, but I also knew how devastating and embarrassing it was to be the kid knocked out of the game. In seventh grade, I’d missed half the season thanks to a torn hamstring.

Stetson put a big hand on his back. “Why don’t you check that arm out so you don’t miss more games than you have to? You can’t play when you’re hurt.”

Landon’s eyes misted over. “I want to play.”

I didn’t know what made me say, “How about I go with?” but once it was out, I couldn’t take it back. The tightness in my chest eased once I offered.

Stetson looked at me like I was speaking gibberish.

Emery’s expression wasn’t much different, but it was more guarded. “No, Holden, you don’t have to do that.”

It was the first time she acknowledged that she knew me. And the wrong time for the thrill I got hearing my name come from her pink lips.

“It’s Coach B,” Landon said.

Emery patted his shoulder again, but avoided looking at me. “I know.”

We reached the sidelines. Stetson leaned down to speak to Landon. “I’ve gotta get back to the game, but you need to go take care of yourself. Don’t feel bad about it. The team will be here when you get back.”

Landon sniffled and nodded, but dejection hung heavy on his shoulders. He gazed up at me in a way that made me want to suspend the game and everyone here in some form of animation until he could come back. “Are you coming with?”

Emery spoke first. “I think Coach B—”

“Would love to help.” I gave her a flat look. She’d been about to make an excuse for me. But I’d offered to go, dammit. Unlike the kid’s dad, if I said I’d be there, I was going to show.

Besides, it couldn’t be easy to juggle one kid at the doctor with three more in the wings. And I really needed to know Landon was okay. I wouldn’t be much good to the game with my mind on the kid.

What if it was worse than we all thought? What if he hit his head and—?

Fuck. This was why I was no good around kids. Worst-case scenario was almost as bad as wondering how life would be if things had turned out wonderfully instead of dreadfully.

Emery was staring at me. Her kids stared at me. All four of them. “We’ll be fine. You don’t have to.”

“I’d be worried the whole time if I stayed here,” I said honestly.

Something about that statement swayed her. Her features softened. “All right.”

She took the toddler from the oldest girl, and I followed them to her car. The kids flanked Emery. She tucked the littlest on her hip, and as soon as one hand was free, the next youngest snagged it. The oldest walked ahead like she was leading, when it was her mom in charge, and Landon kept his head down but stuck to Emery’s side, as if he’d hold her other hand if it was free.

She stopped at a gray Traverse. If I had seen what she drove when we were at the bar, would I have known she was a single mom? Would it have made a difference? It wasn’t like I hadn’t been with single moms before. I had just made it extra clear I wasn’t interested in fostering relationships with her or her kid.

She opened the driver’s side back door. “Avery, can you get in the far back instead of Landon this time?”

“Fine.” The girl had the same exasperated tone as her mother.

My pickup was a few rows away, but my feet weren’t moving. The gentleman in me wanted to offer her a hand, but I would be clueless about how to help.

Before Landon climbed in, Emery assisted him out of his jersey. Seeing something I was useful at, I stepped in to help him out of his shoulder pads without jostling his sore arm.

---