17. Chapter Seventeen
Chapter Seventeen
Koa
“This is going to be the best day ever. So much better than sitting in school all day.” Dustin’s grin stretches ear to ear from the back seat.
“I feel like I should remind you that school is very important, that fighting is bad, and that you are suspended, but you’re also not wrong.
Today is going to be fun and probably better than sitting in school all day.
Still, if your mom asks, be sure to tell her I told you all that other stuff too. ”
“Did she tell you what happened?” The hesitance in his voice tells me he’s afraid there might be some lectures coming his way today.
I turn into the parking lot and maneuver into my space before glancing in the rearview mirror. “Not exactly. She said you got in a fight over something mean someone said.”
Dustin rolls his eyes and scowls. “Like, I mean, I know I’m not supposed to fight, but he’s a jerk to everyone, and I just had it. He said that kids without fathers always end up in jail, and since mine is in jail, I’m for sure going.”
“You know that isn’t true, right?”
“I guess.”
I open the car door and push my seat forward so he can escape the cramped back.
He manages to unfold himself—noting that the car is still cool even if he barely fits—and grabs his gear bag.
On the way to the practice field, I take advantage of the opportunity to reassure him, even though I can’t possibly read the future.
Even so, with Evalina as his mother, I highly doubt the kid is headed for the big house when he’s grown.
“I need you to not guess but know that’s not true. You get to decide your actions when you grow up, kiddo. Your father and whatever he did has no bearing on the kind of person you’re going to be.”
Dustin stares at the ground as we walk. “Kind of, but in church every Sunday, the pastor talks about how important fathers are in a kid’s life.”
Man, this parenting thing? Harder than I thought, and I’m not his parent.
“That’s completely true, but your father made bad decisions. That means other men in your life need to step up and fill that gap. Your mom has you in a league with a great coach, and it sounds like you must have some good influences at church?”
“Yeah, guess so. And you.” He lifts his head and grins with a bit of a spring in his step.
I cannot mess this up. This kid has me so high on a pedestal, the fall will break every bone in my body if I disappoint him.
I spy Eleanor’s car already in the lot. At least this time around she’s not dictating my entire life.
I’m glad she’s here, though, if only to remind me that I have to control my temper, think about how my actions look to Dustin, and try to maintain a decent name for myself.
Andrew is already working with Marco on the mound when we arrive.
Spencer and Boone are warming up, and most of the other guys are still getting set up.
My life has been so frantic and wild lately, I almost forgot how much I love this.
Being out here on the field, working with the team, building something to be proud of.
“About time!” Eleanor beams as she emerges from the dugout wearing a Sharks tee and ball cap. “You brought a friend!”
“You remember Dustin Renn, right?” Dropping my bag, I snatch a giveaway ball cap and pull it over Dustin’s head. His grin widens.
“Of course! Are you hanging out with the team today?”
“I got suspended for fighting!” He shouts, but I suspect his excitement is more about what we’re about to do than getting kicked out of school for a few days.
“Aha, well maybe you can tell me all about it while we watch these guys for a while. Sound good?” Eleanor offers her hand, which Dustin readily takes despite being an eight-year-old boy.
They climb the bleachers and sit a few rows back, where Dustin immediately begins waving his hands animatedly.
I can only assume he’s telling her all about his fight.
Something pulls at my heartstrings. I’m not sure I know what it is for certain, but it feels a lot like protectiveness.
Like wanting to make sure this child never has to worry another moment about his future or what living without a father is like.
“Is that Evalina’s son?” Andew stops beside me and adjusts his shoulder. It already aches, but the old man won’t go into full retirement. It was hard enough for him to walk away from the game, but he’ll be in a coffin before he stops telling rookies how to throw better as an assistant coach.
“Yeah. He got in a fight over some dumb thing another kid said about his father. She was going to make him sit at the bakery all day, so I offered to keep him.” Watching Dustin laughing with Eleanor is a bright spot in my day, in my week, actually.
He’s so easy to make happy that I’m ashamed of my own childhood years, the ones I spent asking for and receiving every single thing I ever wanted.
I never knew a day of want, of being excited by the smallest thing because I didn’t get them often.
Andrew turns my attention to practice. Marco is on fire today, throwing fastballs like they’re free and laughing his rear end off when none of us can hit them.
Until I finally do, and it sails all the way into a homerun.
Dustin and Eleanor cheer from the stands, lifting my spirits even more.
I honestly cannot think of anything more soothing to my soul than hearing Dustin’s excited shouts and seeing that smile when he’s truly excited.
By the time practice winds down, I’m exhausted but still have lunch and the rest of the day to occupy a child. Eleanor offers a scant update on my father’s case, assures me things still look safe for Katie and me, then heads up to the main office to, as she put it, get some boring work done.
“Dustin, what do you think about a tour while Koa showers?” Andrew, who could use a shower himself, nods for me to go ahead, but I can’t think of anything better than showing Dustin around the park, maybe even hitting a few with him.
“Actually, you think that arm has a few left in it?” I ask.
Andrew tilts his head and nods. “Perhaps. Wanna hit a few?”
Dustin’s eyes widen at the prospect. “For real?”
“Sure, kid. Let’s go.” Spencer joins us, along with Marco and Boone, while the others shower and get on with their day. I’m reminded, yet again, of what a great group of guys I work with.
No, friends.
My friends, who, once again, have proven they’re in this for the long haul. Spencer nudges my shoulder with his and nods toward Dustin. “This is sure an advancement over throwing donuts at each other. Could it be she’s softening up to your charms?”
My stomach rolls. “No. Well, she’s softening up to me as a human being and friend, but she’s going on a date with another man tonight. Take from that what you will.”
“A date?”
“Yeah, you know, things beautiful women go on to find a suitable husband? A date. Not with me.” I bite back a frustrated growl in front of her son.
“I gathered that. Maybe you should ask her on a real date. Alone.”
“Aren’t you the one arguing I shouldn’t bring her into my family drama?
” Slanting my eyes at him doesn’t do much good.
He keeps yammering about drawing boundaries but exploring feelings at the same time.
Falling for my sister has made him insane.
That’s the only explanation, but he zips his lips when Dustin turns around and questions him about his hitting style.
At least my friend knows when to be discreet, though he might be on to something.
I could ask her on a date, take her out and prove that I am just as willing and able to bring her and Dustin into my world.
Would she even want that?
The crack of the bat distracts me from my musings, followed by Dustin’s triumphant yell. The kid nailed the ball so hard, he’s actually putting Boone to work chasing it down.
“Run!” I scream, because the kid can’t seem to believe he hit that ball, and his feet are frozen.
He finally gets his legs moving, but Boone’s got his hands on the ball.
He throws to Spencer, who pivots and throws to Marco, but he doesn’t manage to get to the plate in time.
Dustin got to first base against a handful of pros, and it’s put a little swagger in his step.
He’s right. This is way better than school.
They guys are having the time of their lives, and I think I could get used to this.
I could hang with this child forever, take whatever comes our way and make it all better, maybe do the same for his mother, if she’ll let me.
Spencer’s suggestion comes to mind again, forcing me to take a good look at my reality.
I can’t deny I have feelings for Evalina, can’t deny I really like her son, but more than anything, I can’t deny the thought of her going on a date with another man feels all wrong.
It’s more than jealousy. It’s a foreboding, menacing cloud that inches closer as the hours pass. I can’t let her go that easily.
When Dustin is finally too tired to run anymore, we hit the showers and head out for lunch.
Burgers, fries, and milkshakes, followed by a few hours browsing the sporting goods store.
And even though I know Evalina is going to yell at me about it, I buy the kid a new glove and bat.
He’s going to need them for the summer program anyway.
The boy has sparkles in his eyes all day long, and to think that I’m the one who put them there makes me a little more determined to ensure Evalina Renn knows I’m not going to be put in her friend category so easily.
She’s going to know I’m an option, even if it kills every ounce of my pride to prove it. She, and her son, are worth it.
“Mom has a dumb date tonight,” Dustin says on the ride back to his apartment where Annie will meet us to watch him for the night.
“So I heard.” The awful taste in my mouth intensifies with every thought directed toward that impending date.
“I don’t like it.”
“Why not?”
Dustin shrugs. “He’s some guy that shows up at her work all the time. He ended up having a seat beside us at your game.”
I try not to gag at the thought that she met the man at the game I gave them tickets to and press a little. “You don’t like him though?”
“He’s okay, I guess, but he was such a show-off at the game.”
“Well, maybe he’s just a friend your mom wants to hang out with for a while.” Dear Lord above, please, please let her see this guy is not right for her or her son. He knows I can’t say it to her myself without getting donuts thrown at me.
“I hope not. He’s nice and all, but I don’t like how he acts. Like he’s…I don’t know…like he thinks he knows it all and Mom should look up to him or something.”
I pull into the apartment complex and park, all the while working out what I can say to make Dustin feel better.
I can’t exactly tell him I intend to do my best to change his mother’s mind about this guy and give me a shot instead.
This adult relationship nonsense is more than a kid should have to worry about, so I refrain from offering any sort of suggestion of that nature and hand him his bat and glove instead.
“I’m sure it’ll work out how God intends, kiddo. Let’s go see if Annie is here. I’m sure she’ll keep your mind off all of that tonight.”
He rolls his eyes—something he’s pretty good at—and leads me to the apartment as if I wasn’t just inside it this morning.
It’s small but seems to work for them, though I highly doubt it’s worth the rent increase coming to them.
Annie sits on the sofa reading a magazine and startles when we enter.
She presses her hand to her chest before adjusting her glasses.
“You almost put me in the grave. How was your day?”
Dustin dives directly into everything from baseball practice, to scoring a run on pros, to lunch and shopping. He beams when he shows her his new bat and glove, then promptly disappears into his bedroom to hang them on the wall with his worn-out gear. Annie chuckles and rises from the sofa.
“Boys. I’m not sure I could keep up with one if I’m honest.”
“He’s energetic, that’s for sure. If you’re all set, I’ll tell him goodbye and—”
“Tell me how come Lina is out on a date tonight with a man and the one she should be on a date with is standing here in front of me?” Annie rests her hands on both hips and offers a stern rebuke with that scowl.
“Uh…”
“Don’t tell me I’m wrong. You know you at least have some interest in her. You spent the whole day with Dustin, and no one can spend a day with that child and not adore him. When are you going to make a move, hotshot baseball guy?”
Hotshot baseball guy?
I jangle my keys and sigh. “Lest you forget, she does not seem to have equivalent feelings for me.”
“So, you admit you have feelings for her, then?”
“I’m not sure I’d survive this conversation with you if I lied about it, so yeah.
But I’m also not sure admitting those feelings to her would do much good right now.
I’ve gotta…” I wave my hand around as if that means anything to her, then sigh more deeply and drop my hand to my side.
“She’s not my biggest fan, and with just cause.
I think I need to earn her trust a little more, lay things out, help her see—”
“You’re an idiot.” Annie drops her hands and meets me at the door.
“That woman lives and breathes for her son. She entrusted you with him all day long, driving him places, taking him out in public. It says she trusts that you’d protect him.
Don’t discount what that means to a woman like her. To a good mother.”
My phone buzzes in my pocket, but I ignore it for now. Annie might have the answer, the key I need to show Evalina that I’m not only an option, but maybe the only one she’ll ever need. The thought of that sends a shiver of fear down my spine.
“What do you suggest then?”
Annie huffs. “Ask her on a date, you dolt. A romantic one with flowers, the whole shebang. Make it clear you are here for more than friendship.”
“Yeah, well, I get the feeling if that sort of thing won her over, she’d already be fawning over my money.” Immediately, I want to take it back. Annie’s scowl deepens and her furrowed brow adds to her generally scary presentation. This woman adores her boss.
“You’re a real dummy, you know that?”
“Yeah, I get that sometimes. I know she’s not like that.”
“Doesn’t mean a woman doesn’t want to be courted. She already knows you care for her son. Show her you care for her too. Trust me.”
My phone buzzes again, so I slip it out and see it’s Marco inviting me to The Salty Dog to hang out for a while. Most of the guys will be there, so I tap out a reply. At the very least, it’ll keep my mind off of what Evalina and some random guy are doing on their date.
“I gotta go, but I’ll keep that in mind. Thanks, Annie.”
“No problem, but if you hurt her, I’ll—”
I raise a hand to stop her. “I know. You’ll kill me. Get in line.”