Chapter 24
Chapter Twenty-Four
SAM
“I’ll take a beer, please.”
“You got it, sir,” the kid behind the counter says.
Obviously not a kid because he’s serving beer, but it feels like kids these days are getting younger and younger.
I pass over a twenty and tell him to keep the change.
I adjust the Loggers ball cap over my eyes and walk around the full stands as I head to the lawn beyond the outfield. Cheers and happy laughter filter to me.
I’ve missed nights like this. The sun setting over the mountains with a cool breeze blowing through. The first signs of fall are starting to settle over town. The crack of a bat echoes across as the crowds cheer.
Everyone from the ranch is cheering in the fields lining the outfield as our batter rounds the bases. A home run.
Hell, yeah.
I wave and smile to everyone as I try to find a spot to watch the game.
“Sam. Hi.”
Joey’s voice stops me in my tracks.
“Hey.”
A smile lights up her face, and I notice Max is chomping away on a hot dog next to her. Mustard rings his mouth.
“I didn’t think you were going to make it tonight.”
“I got done earlier than I thought and all the horses are taken care of, so I figured why not.”
Her eyes flit up to my baseball hat. “Not the usual one you wear.”
I smile down at her. “Figured I’d support the Loggers tonight.”
“Mommy, can I get a baseball hat like Sam’s?” Max asks.
“We’ll see, Baby,” she says.
“You can wear this one tonight,” I say, dropping my hat on Max’s head. It falls over his eyes but he doesn’t care.
“Cool.”
“You want to join us?” Joey asks.
“I don’t want to bother you.”
More like I can’t be in her space and not want to touch her. Hold her. Shower her with the affection this woman deserves.
“It wouldn’t be a bother,” she says. “Just…two coworkers enjoying the game together.”
“Mr. Sam. Will you try and catch a ball for me?” Max pipes up, the hat falling farther into his line of vision.
“See? You have to stay. There is no way I can catch one for him,” Joey confirms.
“Fine,” I say, without much heat behind it. Because getting to watch the game with these two? Yeah, it’ll make for a fucking great night. “I guess I’ll join you.”
“Yay,” Max says. “Do you want some of my dinner? Mommy got me a hot dog and French fries.”
I smile down at him as I take a seat across from him and stretch my legs out. Joey is sitting cross-legged next to me in a pair of jean shorts and a red Loggers T-shirt.
“You’re more than welcome to some of our fries,” she says, pushing the basket closer to me.
“You want a bite of my hot dog?” Max shoves a small piece my direction, his fingers caked in mustard.
“I don’t think he does,” Joey says.
“Well, now I have to eat it.” I don’t want to disappoint him. I take the cut-up piece from him and pop it in my mouth. “Delicious.”
“Isn’t it yummy?” he asks.
“The best. Maybe I need to make some hot dogs at home now.”
“Mommy doesn’t let me eat them unless it’s a fun night.”
“What’s a fun night?” I ask.
“Max gets to pick something fun once a week that we do together when I’m not working.”
“It’s fun.” Max nods his head in agreement.
“Cool,” I say. “What’s this week’s fun thing?”
“Baseball!” Max cheers.
“Well, this is a fun night.”
Max might be the cutest kid. And not just because he’s Joey’s son. Every time I’ve seen him, he’s always happy. I know Joey always stresses about being a good mom to him, but it’s clear he loves her.
Joey is always doing everything for everyone else, and it’s about damn time someone showered her with attention. Even if I can’t show it like I’d like to, I give more of myself to her than I have any other person I’ve been in a relationship with since Casie.
“This is my glove,” Max says.
“Where’d you get it?”
I look at the old worn mitt in his hand. Hell, it’s the size of his face.
“Uncle Chase gave it to me. Said we can play catch when I come over.”
“Oh, yeah? Do you want to play baseball?” I ask him.
Max shrugs. “Dunno.”
“Maybe some time I can teach you.” I ruffle his hair. “If Uncle Chase is okay with it.”
“Okay!” His entire face lights up. “Mommy, can I go play?”
“Sure. Stay where you can see me.”
Other kids are running around together, and Max takes off to play a rousing game of tag with them.
“Look at you, Sam.” Joey clucks her tongue at me.
“What?” I sip my beer, looking perfectly innocent.
“Eating hot dogs and offering to play catch with Max? You don’t have to do that, you know.”
“I know. But I want to.”
“You know, I really hate that we’re surrounded by people.”
Joey rests back on her hands, shifting her attention to the game.
“Why’s that?”
“Because I really want to kiss you right now.”
I sit up, my fingers brushing the inside of her knee as I put a bit of space between us. If I were any closer, I wouldn’t trust myself.
It’s the softest of touches, but I don’t miss the goose bumps that break out on her skin.
“If only, darlin’.”
“And calling me darlin’ here? You don’t play fair.”
Her voice is a deep growl. I really fucking hate this situation we’re in some days. The days we’re locked away together, I don’t really mind. But I want to be with her out in the open. Out in the world where everyone can see the two of us together.
Be with the woman I love.
Fuck. I don’t know when that happened, but I fell in love with Joey. I don’t think it happened all at once. All the moments I’ve spent with her added up to this.
Getting to shower her with love and respect. Taking care of her when she’s sick. Helping her with Max’s school. Remembering the small things.
Hell, she even made it so I could open up about Casie. That’s never happened with anyone before. Joey is the most incredible woman I’ve ever met, and I really fucking wish I weren’t best friends with her dad.
Because then we could be together without consequence. Until that day comes—until she decides to tell him—I’ll take whatever I can get from her.
“I’m thirsty.” Max runs back over and plops down in Joey’s lap. She pulls out a cup and hands it over to him as he sucks it down.
“Are you having fun playing?”
He nods, pushing the hat up his head. “So much fun. Can we come again?”
“We’ll see.” Joey smacks a kiss to his cheek before her eyes go wide. “Oh! Oh!”
She starts pointing as a fly ball is headed our way.
“I got it!”
Setting my beer down, I jump up to track the ball.
“Get it, Sam! Get it!” Joey shouts.
“I want it!” Max yells.
The ball is coming right toward us. Grabbing Max’s glove, I hold up and track its path before it lands with a smack in the soft leather.
“Yay!”
Max leaps into my arms as Joey is jumping up and down beside me.
“Here you go, buddy,” I say, setting him on his feet and passing the ball to him.
“I’ve never had a baseball before.”
“You do now.”
“Mommy, look.”
Max holds it up so Joey can see.
“So cool. What do you say to Sam?”
“Thank you.”
He stares at it in awe as the game starts again. The rest of the night goes by in a blur of bad jokes from Max and laughing along with Joey.
Before I know it, an inky darkness settles over the field as the game ends in favor of the Loggers. Max is sound asleep in Joey’s lap.
“Need any help getting him to your car?” I ask.
She smiles up at me. “If you wouldn’t mind.”
I pick him up and he barely stirs. Joey throws everything into her bag before leading the way to her car. She pushes the key into the lock and opens it while I help her get Max into his car seat.
“Thanks, Sam. I appreciate it.”
The lights from the field flicker in her eyes. What I wouldn’t do to give her a good night kiss right now.
“Anything for you, Joey.”
She lets out a long breath, her face softening. “When am I going to see you again?”
“You’re seeing me right now, darlin’.”
“Okay, smartass.” She rolls her eyes.
“You tell me. I’ll make time for you whenever you have it.”
“My parents have the cookout next weekend. Think we could steal a night away before then?”
“Yeah.” I nod. “I do.”
“Good.” She is fighting a smile as she opens her own door. “I’ll see you then.”
“Night, darlin’. Get home safe.”
She waves goodbye as she starts the car and pulls out. I watch as the taillights disappear down the road, blending in with the rest of the cars.
I am so fucking screwed. I want Joey but I have no idea how I can have her.
There has to be a way I can have this woman in my life—both her and Max. Because they are so damn easy to love, I don’t want to let them go.
That’s a problem for me to figure out tomorrow.
Because Joey and Max are worth it.