Page 18 of Defensive Indifference

“Mr. what now?” Ice cream dribbles over my fingers, but I could not care less. It’s the last thing on my mind now that I’ve got this woman talking to me as if I’m a human being again. My brain skips a little, glitches in a way I don’t quite understand, but all I can think about is how pleasant our conversation had been when we first met. She was sweet, kind, just like Andrew had claimed, and for a few minutes she almost made me forget my troubles.

She waves me off and takes another bite. Dustin’s is long gone and now he runs the bases working to beat his own time.

“He’s going to puke in my car,” she whispers, and shakes her head.

She makes me laugh, though I’m sure nothing about her thought was funny. She observes her son while finishing off the cone, nary a napkin needed, and brushes her hands together when she’s finished.

“Thank you for that. We appreciate it, and I’m sure I can convince him to eat dinner if he wants to continue his training with you.”

“Oh, hitting low. Tell him I asked nicely for him to finish all of his veggies so we could have another fun day.” I’m probably covered with ice cream like a toddler, but manage to lick it off my fingers and swipe a dribble from my mouth before she looks back toward me.

“Thank you for doing this for him. He doesn’t have many men in his life that have time for him. I mean, I get this is your league team and everything, so you want the players to be good, but I do appreciate your time.”

There are so many questions bombarding my brain, all sorts of things that are none of my business, but Eleanor opened a box I’m not sure I can close. What little my assigned babysitter told me has played over in my mind since we left our meeting. I can’t say much about a man who would leave his pregnant wife in the lurch, but I can say he was the stupidest man I can imagine. Dustin is an amazing kid. I can tell that from the hour I’ve spent with him, and I’m pretty sure he has his mother to thank for his upbringing.

“I’m happy to do it. And, um, I mean, if you ever need some help with him…” I don’t know what I intended to offer, maybe picking the kid up from school, spending time with him, babysitting, who knows. Whatever it was dies on my tongue when she parts her lips and searches my face.

“Thank you, but I’ve learned that letting people get too close to him often leads to disappointment.” She crosses her arms, effectively closing the discussion.

Shifting a bit closer to her, just to ensure Dustin doesn’t hear, I lick my lips and pray what I’m about to say doesn’t start round four hundred of our epic rivalry. “I guess I can understand that, but I’m still putting the offer out there. If you need anything, let me know. I really messed up the day we met.”

Her eyes widen and she tilts her head forward.

“And the next day.” I chuckle. “Still, that’s not who I really am. I was stressed after being chased by story seekers, so confused about my family situation, and I took it out on you. I hate when people make assumptions about me. You had every right to throw donuts at me.”

“Did I?” Her brow perks.

I nod a few times and another laugh breaks free. “You did, and can I just say, you have a killer arm for a baker. What are you mixing that batter with, an iron club?”

At that, Evalina throws her head back and laughs so loudly even Dustin pauses his base running to see what the fuss is about. She covers her mouth to hide her laughter, but I hate it. I want, more than anything, to see her so entirely full of joy, she’s bursting at the seams. Her eyes alight with it, twinkle in the late afternoon golden hour. It casts a sunny glow over her skin, illuminating everything about her that is undeniably beautiful.

“Mom, I don’t feel so—”

Dustin folds in half and purges his ice cream cone and everything else he’s eaten today, prompting Evalina to bolt from the bleachers to tend to her son. It’s a mess, yet another I probably caused, but I can’t quite process that because my brain—the one that caught a glitch earlier—is still buffering.

All I can think about is how to make her laugh that way again.

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.