12. Chapter Twelve
Chapter Twelve
Koa
“I really am a jerk,” I admit.
All I’ve been able to think about since I dropped Evalina and Dustin off at her car last night is the short conversation I had with her about her ex-husband.
A grown man would have put his emotions in check rather than publicly humiliate a woman who is only trying to raise her son under less than great circumstances.
No, I was so in my own feelings and focused on my own losses that I treated Evalina horribly.
In fairness, I was also thinking of Katie, but as my sister so eloquently put it—that was a lame excuse.
“I know that. She knows that. Everybody knows, but don’t be too hard on yourself.
It’s the first time in our lives we’ve had any sort of family hardship.
” Katie packs the last of her things while Spencer watches us.
He’s been a gracious host, but it’s time for my sister to get back to her home and to her work.
“Doesn’t that say something about us? We’re adults and we’ve never had any family hardship.” I scratch my chin and realize I haven’t shaved in a few days. I won’t have time before the game, which will annoy Coach since I look like a haggard, crazy man.
“I think it says we have some thinking to do, but one mistake doesn’t make you a bad person, Koa. She’s forgiven you. Just don’t do dumb things again like leading her on.” My sister gives me the eyes, the stare that says she knows I’m not a bad guy, but I better not prove her wrong.
“It’s not like that.” I push off the doorframe and take her bag.
“Says every person ever in a situation that is exactly like that,” Spencer adds, not wishing to be left out of our bantering.
“You be quiet. No one asked for your opinion.” I flick the bill of his hat and hoist Katie’s bag over my shoulder. “I’ll meet you at the game.”
“Where Ms. Renn and her son will be, I assume?” Spencer’s teasing knows no end, and we’ll never escape his place if we don’t ignore him.
I let it slide, but a thrill of anticipation hits me.
I’m not sure what it is about her that’s got me caught up in her, but I can’t stop thinking about her, her son, and how everything feels so…
something when we’re together. One practice and one not-a-date have left such an impression on my mind, I’m not sure I could forget her if I wanted to.
It doesn’t hurt that she’s given me grief like no other woman ever has.
She could not care less if I’m a pro athlete, she’s not taking my diva attitude.
“Yep, he’s a goner.” Spencer waves his hand in front of my face while he and Katie stare back at me as if I missed the punchline of some joke.
“You didn’t hear a word I said. What’s got you distracted, dear brother?” Katie bats her eyelashes and pokes my arm.
“Both of you be quiet.”
“I can’t be silent when my brother is so hopelessly entangled in his thoughts about a woman.” Katie’s smile hides the worry in her eyes from everyone but me.
“I’m not hopelessly entangled. A little distracted? Yes, I’ll give you that, but I think that’s okay considering the circumstances. Now, are we gonna go, or am I going to be late for pregame?”
“All right, all right. You really are a diva.” Spencer grabs Katie’s other bag and follows us to the door where there is more blushing and awkward hugging between them than I care to be in the middle of, but I won’t point out that the two of them are equally as hopeless in their denial of whatever feelings are growing between them.
Katie’s apartment, though, cannot be ignored when we finally arrive. “What is that awful smell?” I gag and drop her bag just inside the living room.
“Oh, dear heavens.” Katie covers her nose with her shirt and heads to the kitchen, hoists a carton of milk in the air, and squints. “I found the culprit.”
“That’s awful. Open the windows and turn on the ceiling fans, then go change. You can come to the game with me, and maybe this place will be tolerable later tonight.”
Katie is more than willing to follow my suggestion, even giddily, leaving me no choice but to confirm that my little sister is falling for our childhood friend.
There are definitely worse men she could get involved with.
At least I know where Spencer stands in regard to relationships, and I know he adores Katie.
The question is, will either of them admit these newfound feelings or will I have to suffer for months or years before someone makes the first move?
“Okay, all set. I pulled this shirt out of my bag. Spencer liked it, and I think it’s clean enough.” Katie’s cheeks flame at the mention of Spencer, but I’m not about to call her on it. I have my own problems, and I think about them all the way to the game.
And during the first few innings, where my distraction does not help me with my game.
I don’t see Evalina or Dustin in the stands, at least not in the seats I gave them tickets for, and it bothers me.
Maybe it’s a little narcissistic to expect them to show up to my game just because I gave them free tickets, but I had hoped.
The guys try to keep their frustration at bay, probably considering everything that has happened to me in the past few days, but I have to pick up. Everything is working out. Katie has her horse back. I have my stuff.
Stuff.
How can I even think about cars and boats and things of such material nature when Evalina is struggling to keep food on the table?
“Strike!”
For crying out loud, I didn’t even swing. I forgot I was holding a bat. I shake my head and step away from plate, determined to get it together. “Come on, Koa.” My little pep talk isn’t lost on the other team’s catcher, who smirks and adjusts behind the plate.
After a few practice swings, I step back up, letting my gaze drift one last time to the front row just behind our dugout.
Dustin stands in the aisle with a hot dog in one hand and a drink in the other, while Evalina stares at the tickets, seemingly unsure which are their seats.
Shaking my head again, I bite back my smile and focus on the game.
The game. The one we’re going to lose if I don’t get it together.
The pitch comes in so hot I can almost feel it radiating from the ball, but this time, I’m ready.
My swing comes down hard and connects with the ball in a crack that probably echoes through the park.
The guys on base hustle while I bolt to first, but the ball sails over the fence.
My team cheers behind me as my home run pulls us ahead for the first time in the whole game.
“Finally. We’ve been wondering where our star hitter went,” Marco teases while Spencer warms up.
I offer a half-hearted glare and chuckle.
Before I take my seat, I peer up at the stands.
Evalina and her son are seated, and Dustin animatedly points toward the opposite side of the park where the ball disappeared.
Evalina nods, her smile bright and wide.
They saw it, which, admittedly, makes my chest swell more than it should.
The rest of the game is a lesson in the art of the comeback for the Sharks, but my mind is, once again, elsewhere.
I try to hurry through my shower after Coach’s postgame rundown, but I’m caught by Eleanor on my way out to meet Evalina and Dustin.
don’t have time for this. I promised the kid a tour.
“That was an impressive game, Keaton. I’m glad things are looking up for you.” She beams and tucks her portfolio under her arm.
“Thank you. I appreciate it.” My gaze bounces behind her at the trail of people heading toward the parking lot.
“That said, Quade thinks I’m good to head back to the Arctic headquarters, but I’m only on the other side of town if you need anything. Think you can stay out of trouble?” Her teasing nature comes through, and not for the first time I think about how badly this could have gone.
“I’m truly grateful for everything the Dawson family has done for me. So thankful, and if there’s anything I can ever do to repay you, please don’t hesitate to ask.”
Eleanor laughs and brushes her hair from her face. “Just keep playing like you did those last few innings, and that’s payment enough. It’s been nice getting to know you, Koa. Remind Katie she and I have a coffee meeting next week.”
She pivots and merges into the crowd, leaving me wondering how close she and my sister could have grown while she was babysitting me.
My attention shifts back to finding Evalina and Dustin, but it’s almost impossible to pinpoint anyone in the crowd.
I have no desire to get stopped a million times by fans asking questions, especially since Eleanor is officially off of the Koa Keaton Babysitter Clock.
Instead of braving the stands, I head back down to the dugout to see if I can catch them still in their seats. Doubtful, but it’s possible.
I almost make it out the door when Spencer stops me.
“Koa! Hang on, I need to…uh…can I talk to you?” Spencer brushes his wet hair from his face and motions toward the door.
Since I was headed that way anyway, I push through it and head onto the field. Much to my displeasure, Evalina and Dustin are already gone. I have zero hopes I will find them at this point, so I swallow my disappointment and give Spencer my full attention.
“What did you want to talk about?”
“Katie,” he whispers. “And um…whether you’d punch me if I admitted I have feelings for her?”
Despite suspecting his feelings for my sister, I’m still caught off guard due to my own distractions. Why is Evalina Renn taking up so much of my thought processes that I forget where I am?
“Koa…” Spencer almost chokes on my name. “I would completely understand if she’s off limits, but I sort of hoped…you know, since you’ve known me almost my whole life, that you’d trust me.”
“Trust you?”
Spencer narrows his eyes and tilts his head. “With Katie.”
I gotta get it together or I’m in real danger of proving myself to be an idiot. “Katie. My sister. You want to date my sister?”
Spencer scratches the back of his neck and looks away.
“I guess you’d call it that. It sounds so superficial when you say it like that though.
” He takes a breath and looks back at me.
He must have pulled up some determination and bravery from the depths of his soul, because he straightens up and lays it all out.
“She doesn’t know I have feelings for her, and by feelings, I mean I’m pretty sure I’ve fallen in love with her. Before I say anything to her or even present myself as an option, I obviously want your blessing.”
Now that it’s right in front of me, now that my best friend for my whole life is spilling his feelings for Katie all over, I hesitate.
She’s my sister. My beloved sibling who has been my biggest cheerleader.
When Dad was disappointed I decided to go pro instead of taking a seat in his board room, she fought for me.
When I wasn’t sure I should follow through and sign with the Sharks, she talked me through all the options until I was confident.
When Spencer was offered a contract, she called it fate.
But was it my fate…or hers?
I have known Spencer all my life, and some part of me always knew he’d be in it forever. In Katie’s, too. He’s a good man, a great friend, and I know he would never hurt Katie. If he’s asking me, he’s all in.
“I have only one request.” Keeping eye contact with me has to be unnerving for him in this position, but he does it. “Don’t tell her until you know for sure that it’s love. I think you know why.”
Spencer’s shoulders lessen and he takes a breath. “I know why. I’d never tell her if my feelings weren’t something I’d want to take seriously. If I tell her, it will be because I intend to do everything possible to lead us to marriage. If…if that’s…”
“It doesn’t matter what I want, Spencer. If you love her and she loves you, I’d be a blessed man to have you for a brother.”
He chuckles and nods, biting back tears.
I’m not sure why, but the same emotion takes me.
Tears sting my eyes and I offer him a hug.
We’ve been through a lot, mostly growing up and leaving home, nothing too dramatic, but through every single milestone in my life, Spencer has been there, doing the same, working through it all with me.
He’s solid, and I can’t think of a better man for my sister.
“Enough of this emotional stuff. Did I see Evalina in the stands, or did my eyes deceive me?”
“Yeah, but it looks like they’ve gone. Too bad, I wanted to give the kid a tour.”
“Well, maybe next time. In the meantime, why don’t we go hang out with the guys and celebrate an epic win?”
He smacks my back and we head inside together. Maybe he’s right. After all, I’ll see them both tomorrow at the Tadpoles’ practice, then my one-on-one coaching with Dustin. My smile spreads, and I can’t help wondering what lies ahead.
Oh yeah, a trial. More press. Probably more frustration with the courts and lawyers, but behind all of that negative junk, I can’t help thinking about a pretty smile and a feisty attitude all packed into a beautiful woman who, whether she knows it or not, has probably taught me more about what it means to be truly rich.
What she has with her son is priceless, and that love deserves a safe place to thrive.
I have to fix this for her.
It’s the only thing running through my mind all the way to the Sharks’ regular meetup. I have to help her find a new place for her business, help her with Dustin, help her with…everything.