10. Chapter Ten
Chapter Ten
Koa
The locker room is abuzz with excitement after the best practice we’ve had in a long time.
There is something in the air today that can’t be denied, and though my personal life seems to have tanked at a record-breaking rate, it’s fueled my game rather than negatively impacted it.
Only the Lord knows why, but I’ll take it.
“Taking your frustrations out on the ball today, Keaton?” Marco asks while icing his shoulder.
“Be glad I didn’t point them at you. A few of those pitches were junior league, Martinez.”
“They had to be. Your hitting was junior league last week.” The taunts continue until most of us have showered and gathered our gear. Unfortunately, Eleanor Dawson waits for me out in the hall. She’s a nice person, really, but I’m beginning to feel more babysat than assisted.
“It’s great that the Tadpole parents are good with you remaining a part of the team. That could have gone a whole different way,” Spencer says.
I haven’t seen much of him or Katie the past two days, with my schedule and Katie’s desire to be locked in Spencer’s guest room most of the day.
What I have seen of them has been in passing with little conversation.
Still, I’m thankful for a lifelong friend like Spencer, who not only looks out for me, but also my baby sister.
“I haven’t even told you the best part of that situation.
You know how Fuller likes to take some under his wing, yeah?
” Spencer nods. “Well, he likes this kid, Dustin, but the kid has confidence issues. He locks up under pressure, you know? So Fuller asked me to do some one-on-one with the kid. You won’t guess who his mother is. ”
The remaining players in the locker room go quiet, stop mid-sentence for this juicy bit of gossip like a bunch of old ladies, and give me their full attention. Marco and Spencer lean in as if this is the most juicy gossip they’ve heard all year.
“Well?” Spencer prods.
“You know that bakery owner?”
Marco snickers and hits me on the back of the head with a towel. “Do we know the bakery owner? What kind of dumb question—wait, no! She’s the kid’s mom?” He lets out a low whistle. “I bet her husband was all over you.”
“Nope, not married.” I slip my shirt over my head and adjust it before hoisting my gear bag into the locker. “And we had a whole civil conversation about her son after the one-on-one. I think I’m officially forgiven for ruining her life. Bonus is the kid’s great.”
“And the news coverage about your family is starting to die down,” Marco adds.
They guy was a thorn in everyone’s side not long ago, back when Andrew still pitched for the Sharks.
His insecurities, not unlike Dustin’s, almost ended his career before he really got started.
He finally leveled out, and he’s become one of the best pitchers the team has ever had—thanks to Andrew’s constant coaching, of course.
“Thank the Lord for that. Katie still won’t come out of her room for breakfast, and I’ve made her favorite every day,” Spencer says.
I don’t miss the way he says her room as if it’s permanent, nor do I miss the point that he’s been doing everything humanly possible to lure my sister out of depression.
Guilt burns in my throat. I need to be more present for my sister, and since the drama with Evalina seems to be behind me, now is as good a time as any to focus on my family and what we can do to normalize our lives as much as possible while our father is under investigation.
“I’m out. See you all—” The door swings open and Eleanor strides in. Despite being fully clothed, several of the men still leap for cover as if they’ve done something wrong.
“Koa, Peterson called me. He didn’t know you were at practice, but he has an important update. I thought you’d want to know since you’re taking forever in here like a primping princess.” She raises her phone as if to say don’t make me take another call for you and disappears back into the hall.
“She’s a beast.” Marco’s hushed statement proves he’s just as afraid of her as he is our team owner—probably a good idea since any interest in Eleanor Dawson by anyone on the team will lead to homicide…or so I was told.
“She’s not so bad. Pray this is good news,” I say, and dig for my phone as I head out. Peterson answers my call quickly and with a glee in his tone that immediately lifts my spirits.
“Today is a good day, my friend!” Peterson is half out of breath and the background noise indicates he’s walking outside.
Where to, who knows, but I want to hear this good news, so I wait patiently until he slams his car door shut and his phone links to his car.
“I am on my way to meet with another client, but you and your sister can expect your things to be returned immediately. Your accounts have already been unfrozen, Preakness is set to be returned this afternoon, and your vehicles later this week. As for your home, feel free to break the security locks and sleep in your own beds tonight.”
I freeze while Eleanor stares up at me. “Wait, what happened? Did they drop the charges?”
“No, your father is still under investigation, but the feds failed to properly file a notice of seizure.”
“What does that mean?”
“It means they were required to inform you that your property would be taken, and they didn’t do that.
Not correctly, anyway. And, since you have an amazing attorney, I convinced them that refiling to steal your hard-earned property would lead to a lengthy lawsuit they would likely lose, and they agreed to expedite the return of your property. ”
Eleanor, who doesn’t seem to know when to mind her own business, falls in line beside me, keeping in stride as I rush to the car. Once there, I open her door and practically slam her into it. “So I can tell Katie her horse is okay? We’re really past this?”
“Indeed. The only thing that might be of concern is anything your parents paid for in the past ten years. If they discover any links between your property and dark funding, they will likely file to seize that property.”
“I can’t think of anything I haven’t paid for myself other than college, and they can’t exactly seize that.”
“I’d think not. Have a good day, Koa, and let me know if there is any damage to your property.” With a quick goodbye, Peterson moves on to help another client while I maneuver the parking lot.
“Where are you taking me? What’s going on?” Eleanor looks around, probably still getting her bearings in Savannah.
“That was the best news I’ve gotten in a long time. The feds didn’t properly file some paperwork, so we’re getting everything back. Looks like I might not need you for much longer.”
“Gee, sorry it’s been so rough on you having me around.” Eleanor’s faint smile proves she has a funny side. “That said, you know I drove to the field in my own car. So my question stands, where are you taking me?”
I grumble and turn the car around to take her back to her car. “I’m dropping you off at your car and going to tell my sister the good news. I think I can manage my image for that long.”
“Don’t dismiss me just yet. I’ll talk to Quade, but he’ll probably want me to stick around to make sure things stay as neutral as possible for you and your sister.
” I stop by her car and exit to let her out.
When the passenger door is open, she steps out and smiles.
“I’m not trying to be a mother hen, but you might not be out of the woods yet. You understand?”
“I do. I also genuinely trust you have my best interests at heart, but what trouble can I get into from here to Spencer’s place to get my sister?”
Eleanor presses her lips into a thin line but nods. “Against my better judgment, I’ll allow it. Keep me posted on things so I can be sure to avoid any potential potholes.”
She slips into her ridiculously expensive car—not that I have much room to talk—and starts it before shutting the door and rolling down her window.
“I will be on my extra best behavior, and I’ll call you if anything seems even slightly amiss. Good?”
“Acceptable. Congratulations, Koa. Most people aren’t so lucky.
” The quirk of her lips catches my attention, but she backs out of the space before I can question it.
Even so, it doesn’t take a rocket scientist to pick up what she put down.
I am lucky, but there’s one person I know who has had the worst luck imaginable the past few weeks.
Hopping back in my borrowed car, I move out of the parking lot and find myself headed in the wrong direction—not home, not to Spencer’s to get Katie, but somewhere else altogether.
Eleanor would have a heart attack if she knew I changed the plan last minute, but what she doesn’t know won’t hurt her.
Besides, it’s not like I’m going to Sparkly’s to throw donuts again.
On the way, I drop a call to Katie whose excitement can only be managed by my best friend, who assures her he will take her directly to the stables to wait for her horse.
I should be the one to do it, but a pull towards another woman keeps me on the road.
The old building seems to groan under the pressure of the modern structures around it, and while I think it’s sad Evalina needs to move, I can’t say it would be entirely wrong.
Eventually, foot traffic in this part of town will decline to nothing, leaving her without much business anyway. As much as it stinks, it’s reality.
I push through the door and am immediately met with a warm set of brown eyes and a faint smile. Evalina puts her hands on her hips, pops one hip out, and blows hair from her face. “Are you going to hound me forever? Don’t you have anyone else you can annoy?”
Okay, that sass hits different when it’s playful.
It’s got me wondering why I showed up unannounced for reasons that do not include purchasing food or drink items. I came because…
because she was the first person I wanted to see after getting what might be the best news of my life.
I can’t explain it. I’m not sure I want to. I simply want to be here.
My cheeks warm, which is a first when it comes to women.
Andrew always teases me about being impossible to pin down, and he’s right.
For a long time, marriage wasn’t a thing I thought much about, so dating was always casual.
No strings. No long-term plan. Just dates for events and the occasional night out with friends.
Then he went and married his perfect match and everything changed.
Since their wedding day, all I’ve wanted is a Lottie of my own.
Even so, Koa Keaton does not blush when a woman smiles at him. Ever. Until now.
It does things to my mind that no man can explain, least of all me, the one who wouldn’t have expected it in a million years.
Yet, here I am, looking at a woman who waits for an answer to her sassy question.
All the while, I can’t figure out a single reason why I shouldn’t want to be here, looking at her, excited to see her.
“I got some good news, and this is where I ended up.” I shrug like it’s nothing, all while my brain sends warning signals that I should have thought this through.
“Oh no, don’t tell me you decided you liked pitching donuts more than baseballs and you’re here for practice.” She dips her head and drops her hands to her sides, seemingly ready to defend herself against an onslaught of baked goods.
“Nope. No, but my lawyer called. Something about incorrectly filed paperwork that means my sister and I get all our stuff back. For now, things seem okay.”
Evalina smiles, broad and dazzling. “That’s really good news, Koa. I’m happy for you.” Legitimately, she is. I see it in her eyes, but it only lasts for a blink before they dull and she grabs a broom. “Can I get you something?”
“Let me take you to dinner?”
Evalina drops the broom, which makes such a loud pop when it hits the brick floor, even I startle. “What?”
“Dinner? That thing you eat at night? Let me take you to get something. A little celebration.”
“What are we celebrating?”
“My good luck, I guess. Us becoming friends and burying the hatchet. That sort of thing.”
She attempts to pick up the broom but steps on the bristles and slams the handle back down again, repeating the pop. She does it twice more before I pick it up for her and keep it for myself until she responds.
“Um. I…have a lot to do here, but thanks.”
“Okay, well, I’ll just sweep for you and help you finish faster.
I’m sure Annie won’t mind if you take off a little early, right?
” I’m pushing a broom for literally the first time in my entire life.
Working from one table to the next, I prove I’m in it for the long haul until her laughter interrupts my solid work ethic.
“Is this the first time you’ve ever swept in your life?
It’s awful. Give me that before you hurt yourself.
” Evalina snatches the broom and shakes her head before getting back to work for herself.
This woman is not going to give me an inch.
I’m not even sure why I invited her to dinner other than a deep, incessant need to know her.
To figure her out, see what makes her tick—besides me—and what makes her happy.
“It actually is, but my dinner offer stands. I’ll pick you up in two hours.”
She scowls. “Two hours? I’ll smell like a bakery, Koa.”
She didn’t say no… “So, I’ll pick you up, take you home where you can do whatever ladies do, then I’ll take you to dinner. Dustin too, if you want.”
Her lips part and she lifts ramrod straight.
I don’t know what she planned to say, but the way her eyes sparkle when I invite her son tells me so much.
She loves her kid. Obviously, she does, but this is the sort of motherly love that goes to war, that fights bears, that runs to the ends of the earth for her child because she’s already had to do it so many times she’s lost count.
“Really?” she whispers.
“Yeah, of course. How about pizza and video games?”
Evalina’s smile spreads wide again and she nods. “He’ll love that. Thank you.”
“Sure. I’ll be here at six? Take you home, then we’ll head out for an evening of fun?”
She nods and looks away, but I detect the faintest blush before her cheeks are hidden from view.
Satisfaction blooms in my chest, another first for me.
Only, my brain crashes the party and reminds me that this woman comes with a child.
He’s an amazing kid, so easy to like, that I brush it off as nothing to worry about, but it is.
It’s a boy who looks up to me; a kid whose life revolves around baseball and his mom.
It’s not a life I can waltz into then leave if it’s not for me.
I realize what I’ve done. I’ve gone and caught an interest in a woman I hardly know, leading me to one final conclusion. I better figure out what I want my life to look like before I get in too deep with her, and I better do it fast.