Chapter 13 #3
“Are you sure?” He continues, shifting the box in his grip. “I honestly didn’t know your daughter was playing or else I wouldn’t have shown up like this. You weren’t replying to my texts and after last night, I guess I just got a little worried about you.”
“I’m positive,” I confirm as I place a hand on his bicep. “And I’m sorry I didn’t respond. I kind of had my hands full trying to untangle what happened at her sleepover last night.”
Levi releases what appears to be a relieved sigh. “So, you weren’t second guessing the kiss?”
I shake my head and smile up at him. “Not even a little.”
He beams at me, so I turn and lead the way to the field she is playing at today. As we approach, I see some moms looking at us with narrowed eyes and murmured whispers. Ignoring them, I walk over to the table that the coach had set up and set the bag down.
“For now, we can just leave it here,” I tell Levi. He sets the box down next to the granola bars. “I’ll set everything out near the end of the game. Less chance of bugs.”
I walk up into the bleachers, hissing slightly when the hot metal hits the back of my bare thighs.
No matter how many games I’ve been to, I always forget how hot these bleachers get during the summer.
I stand and pull my jean shorts down as much as I can before sitting down once more.
Levi slides in next to me, leaning his elbows on the row behind us.
“All right,” he suddenly says, gesturing with his right hand. “Tell me everything I need to know.”
I raise a brow. “Like what exactly?”
“Best players, her team, the other team,” he lists, turning his attention to me. “I want to make sure I am completely up to speed.”
My heart clenches and I fight off the tears that threaten to well in my eyes.
Travis never came to any of her games, and whenever he was around after them, he never truly listened to a thing Claire was saying.
And now here is this man who has literally just met her and he wants to know every single detail. This is what Claire deserves.
“I’ll give you the short version,” I tell him as I lean forward, resting my elbows on my knees.
Levi sits up and mimics my position. “Otherwise, I could talk for hours. Okay, so Claire’s team won the championships last year, so we’re the team to beat this season.
She hit her first home run during fall league this past year, so I’m hoping she’s got one in her for the regular season. ”
“Wow, really?” He asks, and I nod in response. “And how old is she?”
“She’ll be eight next month.” Levi simply hums and nods, so I continue.
“Since she’s a lefty, she often rotates between shortstop and first base.
And since she has one of the best swings, she’s also either batting fourth or fifth.
That’s her best friend she’s talking to, Ellie.
” I point to the brunette chatting away with my daughter in the outfield.
“She plays catcher and has the quickest reaction time I’ve ever seen for a kid their age. ”
I take a breath to continue talking when I glance over and see Levi staring at me with what appears to be admiration. I raise a brow to which he just smiles. “She’s lucky to have such a supportive mom.”
“Thank you,” I whisper, forcing myself to glance away.
We sit in comfortable silence for most of the game, both of us roaring whenever Claire or her team make a good play or have a good hit.
As the game went on, Levi and I kept moving just a little closer together until our legs were resting comfortably against one another.
At one point when Claire hit a triple, we had both leapt to our feet, screaming and cheering for her, and when we had sat down, Levi rested his hand on my knee.
With their fourth win in the books, the girls run over to the table with all the snacks I had brought.
I push myself up to my feet and climb down the bleachers, feeling the stares of some moms around us, but I choose to ignore them.
Once my feet hit the grass, Claire comes running over and wraps her arms around my waist.
“Did you see that hit?” She asks, looking up at me with her head tilted backwards.
“Of course we did,” I tell her, giving her a squeeze. “I can’t believe you didn’t hear us cheering for you.”
Claire beams, glancing over at Levi. “You were cheering for me, too?”
“Are you kidding me? Heck yeah I was,” Levi responds, squatting in front of her with a big smile. “That was one of the best hits I think I’ve ever seen, and I watch a lot of baseball.”
“Really?” Her grin increases tenfold, and the smile on my face grows as well.
Levi glances up at me briefly before returning his attention back to my daughter. “Yeah, kid. Keep that up and you’ll go pro.”
Claire’s cheeks turn a soft shade of pink as she looks back up at me and I ruffle her hair again in response. She steps away from me, turning to run back to the bench to grab her bag when Levi stands.
“That was really sweet,” I tell him, my voice soft. “Thank you.”
“No need to thank me,” he replies, slinging an arm over my shoulder. “I was just being honest. She’s got some genuine talent.”
I hum, watching her over in the dugout chatting with Ellie. “She really does. I know it means a lot to her to have someone else here for her besides me and Blue.”
“Her father doesn’t come to watch her?”
“No,” I say simply, keeping my eyes on my daughter. “It’s complicated.”
Thankfully, Levi doesn’t press for more information, and I’m grateful that he can so easily read my body language.
Claire comes running back over with her bag and Levi drops his arm, reaching for it.
She doesn’t hesitate as she hands it to him and gives him that signature I-want-something-so-let-me-look-cute smile.
“Can we go get ice cream?”
Levi looks at me for approval and I give a subtle nod, unnoticeable by Claire. “Yeah, southpaw, let’s go get you some ice cream.”