Page 15 of Out of Bounds
I shouldn’t feel as worked up as I do. It’s her life. I’m an outsider. I don’t know everything there is to know about her and Auston. But I do know that what he did to her is the absolute pits. Exactly what my own father did. What my stepdad did.
Clearly, she doesn’t want to share their story with me and it’s not my business. My anger is my own. Anger I didn’t appreciate until now that I still hold close.
“I’ll drive us back,” I say.
She shakes her head, restarting the ignition after stalling the truck. “I’ve got it,” she tells me. But the keys rattle on their chain with her unsteady hand.
“Annie, you’re shaking.”
“I just—” Her voice breaks. “I got a shock. I’m fine.”
“You’ve done enough for one day. Switch seats.”
She climbs across to my seat as I get out and walk around the truck to the driver’s side, then she spends the short ride back to the house clutching her phone and staring out the window.
AustonfuckingRogers. I wish even more than last season that we weren’t both on the offense because I’d like to sack his sorry ass.
As it happens, when I pull us up to the house, Sonny is sitting on the porch in a rocking chair with his grandson on his lap.
Should I tell Sonny what I saw? He’s Annie’s dad. He’d want to know if Auston’s messaging her after all the shit that’s gone down.
But I don’treallyknow Sonny. I doubt many people truly know him. He’s the source of Colton and Annie’s height, Colton’s breadth, and both their stoicism.
So maybe I don’t tell her dad but I tell Colton. Quinn should know. He’s her big brother. But isn’t that Annie’s decision, to handle her own life?
Sonny carries Nelson in the crook of his arm as he comes down the porch steps.
“The little guy got big,” I tell Annie as she comes around to my side of the truck.
“He sure did.” She practically bounces toward Nelson, arms outstretched. “Where’s my boy?”
Nelson holds out his arms right back, giggling before he says, “Mama.”
That word stops Annie dead in her tracks. “What did you say? What did he—? Did you call me Mama?”
She grabs her son and kisses him all over his fine head of dark hair. “That’s right, baby. I’m Mama.”
I swear my torso swells bigger than Quinnen Jones’ in his playing days as I watch the scene play out. Auston’s message is forgotten. Mama’s got her boy.
I’m so lost to them, I hardly even register Sonny boring holes in me. But I decide I won’t share Annie’s secrets. They’re hers to keep or share… for now. I’ll watch out for her and I’ll make sure she’s genuinely doing okay. Because here and now, babe in arms, she looks just fine.
I also try to tell Sonny from behind my shades that he’s got nothing to worry about here. I’m just a thirteen-year vet helping someone I care for. Being a buddy to my teammate.
“Tanner, d’you still want to use the pool?” Annie asks. “I might bring Nelson in for a cool off.”
I’d like to splash around with these guys but something tells me to call it quits. Maybe the knowledge that I’d be in a pool with Annie in swimwear. Or that it’s not my place to goof around with someone else’s boy, much as he’s cute as hell, with a face and eyes like his mama’s. Most likely, it’s the silent threat from Sonny that I’m not yet trusted with his daughter, no matter how pure I declare my intentions to be.
I scratch my head, not wanting to seem like I’m bailing on what was loosely a plan, but… “I should probably head back and leave you guys to it. I might catch the boys for the back nine this afternoon.”
“Lemonade then? For your troubles? I make a good fresh lemonade, don’t I, Nelson?”
On cue, he twists his face as if he’s been sucking on a lemon.
“Come now, Nelson, it’s not that bad,” Sonny says, heading into the house. Scantily clad frolicking in a pool is a hard no but a lemonade on the porch he can stretch to.
“Sure. That sounds good.”
As we’re walking inside, Annie tells Nelson, “Say it again, baby. Who am I? M– Ma– Mam– Mama.”
