Chapter twelve Grady #4
“I’m not that old,” I counter, but Chase doesn’t say anything else for a while. He watches me work as I begin draining the fluids from the engine, then take off the exhaust manifold. But when he finally speaks again, his question startles me and makes my pulse spike.
“Why didn’t you say anything to Jared and Trent when they were talking crap about you at the game last week?”
Spinning to face him, I notice a clench in his jaw. I’m not sure why he’s bringing this up now, but I oblige him. “Sometimes saying nothing is the best response.”
“But they made you look stupid.”
“No, they made themselves look stupid.”
He licks his lips. “They made you sound washed up, like you’re trying to turn me into you.”
“I don’t care what they think about me, Chase.
I know who I am and reacting would only give them what they want.
I’d rather just make them eat their words through my actions.
Their shit-talking says more about their own insecurities than it does about me or you.
And trust me, the sooner you realize that, the better you’ll be at shutting out the noise. ”
“I don’t need your advice, Grady.”
I drop the wrench on the table and take a step toward him, hoping that closer proximity will help him really hear me. “Have you ever thought that maybe you do? That I might understand what you’re dealing with?”
“No, you don’t!” His voice rises and the disdain is back, but if he wants a fight, I’m going to give him one. I haven’t tried that technique yet, so let’s see what happens.
“Yeah, I do, Chase! Shit, watching you play ball is like seeing myself at your age.” I pound a fist into my chest. “I can’t tell you how fucking proud I am of you each time I watch you take the mound, when you actually fucking listen to my coaching instead of arguing with me like you are now!”
“You’re not my dad!” His voice echoes in the garage, drawing the attention of the last two technicians who are preparing to leave for the day. “Stop trying to be!”
I close the gap between us and look right into his eyes. “I know that…because if I were your dad, I never would have let you move seven hours away from me!”
Tears form in his eyes as we stare each other down, both of our chests heaving. Sadness, hurt, and anger reflect in his eyes—emotions I’m all too familiar with myself.
When I speak again, I lower my voice, hoping to decrease the tension.
“But. My kid is going to be your sibling, so I am going to be in your life, Chase—because I sure as hell won’t abandon them.
We can figure out how to get along, or these next four years are going to be hell for both of us.
Once you turn eighteen, you can make your own path, but until then, we need to make this work. ”
His eyes drift to the side of the garage, but he doesn’t move as a tear trails down his cheek. When he speaks again, I can barely hear him, but the words are still powerful. “I didn’t want to come here, but my mom thought it would be best.”
“I know.” Reaching out, I place my hand on his shoulder, but he still doesn’t look at me. “And I know that me being in your life wasn’t in that plan, but I’m a firm believer that everything happens for a reason.”
As soon as I say that, his eyes return to mine. “Even you losing baseball?”
I inhale deeply before replying. “At first, I was so angry about it, and it’s taken me a long time to accept. But you know what’s helped?”
“What?”
“Having your mom back in my life. And coaching.”
He blinks. “My mom?”
“Yeah.” I sigh before reaching for a rag to wipe off my hands, grateful the tension from us yelling is dwindling.
“She was a huge part of my life before I made it to the MLB, and seeing her again reminded me that there is a life beyond the game. And now that we’re having a kid, it’s like a new chapter of my life is about to begin, and for the first time in five fucking years, I’m excited about it, Chase.
” The clench of his jaw softens. “And you’re a part of that new chapter. ”
“Why aren’t you marrying my mom?” he asks, shocking me, quite frankly.
“Maybe you should ask her that question.” Probably not the most mature answer to give him, but if I had it my way, she and I would already be planning our future together.
I turn back to the engine, picking up where I left off. A few seconds later, I feel Chase come up beside me, leaning over my shoulder to see what I’m doing. “What do you need me to do?”
And just like that, instead of fighting our circumstances, we start working together on our project.
Now if only I could get his mom to come around.
***
“You didn’t have to bring him home,” Scottie says as I set bags of food on her kitchen counter. “But selfishly, I’m glad you did since you brought dinner too.”
The smell of the burgers and onion rings I picked up from Catch and Release wafts through the air as Chase and I pull the boxes of food out of the bags. When I texted Scottie my offer, she said the craving for today was the same burger I brought before, so I couldn’t help but oblige her request.
“I’m starving,” Chase grumbles as he shoves three fries into his mouth from his container.
“Grady worked you hard today, huh?” Scottie asks.
He nods. “Yeah, but taking the engine for the Nova apart was actually kind of cool.”
Scottie shoots me a curious look. “Cool, huh?”
Chase shrugs as he grabs a cup of ranch, a handful of napkins, and his drink. “Yeah, Mom. Cool.” He heads down the hallway and calls out, “I’m gonna eat in my room and then shower.”
I wait for his door to close and then lean over the counter to whisper, “He looked like I was asking him to play Operation and every time he touched the engine, it was going to electrocute him.”
Scottie snorts. “Well, at least he was invested and not out to mess anything else up.”
I reach for my burger and bring it to my mouth, but before I take a bite, I say, “We had a good day, Scottie.”
Her smile is soft and there’s a hint of emotion in her eyes. “I’m happy to hear that.”
“Your son is actually pretty funny when he’s not being surly and acting like nothing I say matters.”
She smirks before popping an onion ring into her mouth. “I’d like to think he got that from me.”
“Hopefully our kid will too.”
She clears her throat and grabs her box of food, walking over to the table. When she sits down, she rubs her belly. “This baby is super excited for this meal.”
I follow her over, taking my food and drink with me as well. “Are you feeling movement yet?”
“Yeah, but not from the outside.”
“Just the flutters, right?”
She stares at me while she chews. “It’s frightening how much you now know about pregnancy, Grady.”
“I don’t like not knowing things.” I shrug. “But I’m looking forward to being able to feel our kid kick.”
She rubs over her stomach again. “I already feel bigger than I should, but maybe that’s because I didn’t find out right away.”
I drop my eyes down her body before lifting back to her gaze.
“You look fucking perfect to me, Scottie.” A tinge of pink graces her cheeks, but she doesn’t say anything.
And before she can flip a switch on me and lecture me about us remaining friends, I move the conversation to another topic. “So, do you have plans next weekend?”
Scottie wipes her mouth with a napkin. “I don’t think so. Why?”
“Well, I was thinking we could have dinner with our families Friday night. Your mom and grandma can come over to my place, and I’ll invite my mom, Penn, Astrid, and the kids so everyone can meet, like we discussed the other night.”
Her eyes go wide for a second before she nods. “Jesus. No easing me into this, huh?”
I dip my eyes to her stomach. “We’re kind of on a time crunch, remember?”
She nods slowly. “Um. Okay. That should work.”
“Good. And then on Saturday, Dallas is throwing a birthday party for his girlfriend, Willow, at their house on Bayshore Drive. It’s right on the beach and our whole friend and family group will be there.”
“I only met Willow once at Astrid’s bakery, Grady. I don’t really know her.”
“Doesn’t matter. Dallas insisted that you come, and I want you to meet my friends.
” She winces, but I press on. “Your life is here now, Scottie, and I want to bring you into mine, to establish that you and I will be a package deal, especially once the baby comes.” I look her straight in the eyes, cover her hand with mine, and say, “Come with me.”
Her eyes dart down to our hands. “Just as friends, right?”
I swallow down the urge to argue. “Sure.” But little does this woman know that I plan on making it very clear to everyone that she’s carrying my baby.
She nods timidly, but then finds her confidence again. “Yeah, okay. No sense in hiding, I guess. Everyone’s going to know about us sooner or later.”
I wink at her. “I agree, although I’m sure most people around town have already heard rumors.” I take my hand back and pop an onion ring into my mouth. “Now, what about the weekend after that? Do you have plans then?”
She swings her head around the room before her gaze lands back on me, looking perplexed. “What the hell is going on right now?”
I stifle a laugh. “What do you mean?”
“I mean, I’m sitting here talking with a man who actually wants to make plans.” She places a hand over the center of her chest, feigning shock. “My heart can’t handle this right now. I thought men like you were just a legend that some women talked about, but never truly existed.”
Rolling my eyes, I lean forward and lower my voice so she has to lean in to hear what I’m about to say. “When are you going to learn that I want to spend as much time with you as possible, Scottie?”
Her tongue darts out as she licks her lips and speaks softly. “I’m just not used to this. I guess—I guess I’m still trying to wrap my head around it.”
“Well, get used to it faster. Because the sooner you understand that I really want you in my life, the easier things will be for us down the road.”