Page 25 of Bad Ball Hitter
Miranda sighs, a faintly annoyed expression pulling at her immaculately styled eyebrows. Her gaze flickers to Lila, who stands watching us with a detached calmness that stings more than I care to admit.
“Sure. Why not?”
Jake’s face lights up like the Fourth of July fireworks, and he runs up to me, wrapping his tiny arms around my leg. I chuckle and ruffle his hair. This little kid is cute.
“Yay! We don’t have to until Saturday.”
“See, life has a way of working out,” Lila says, though I don’t know what they’re referencing. “There’s an ice cream truck right over there.”
“Let’s go. I like chocolate. What do you like, Gun Man?”
“Chocolate’s my favorite,” I say.
Miranda lets out a disgruntled huff, turns, and walks in the opposite direction toward the row of high-end boutiques lining one side of the park. Without sparing me another glance, she calls over her shoulder, “I’ll meet you guys back at the car.”
“Are you sure?” I ask as guilt claws at my insides. She waves dismissively without looking back, signaling she doesn’t want to discuss it further. The iron knot of unease in my chest tightens.
I need to pay less attention to Lila and more to my girlfriend. These feelings for Lila are nothing more than nostalgia creeping back into my life. Yes, I had loved her once, but that was in the past. High School stuff. She has a kid. And I’m certainly not wanting to be a fill-in dad. I’ve just now come around to the idea of being a boyfriend—a rather shitty one at the moment.
But I can’t deny the spark between Lila and me. I just need to suppress this endless need to get to know the adult version of her. This is nothing more than a test. One I won’t fail.
CHAPTER TEN
Miranda
Drake pulls into the apartment parking lot and leaves the car idling. My stomach plummets as I bite back tears. Today didn’t go at all the way I expected it. All I wanted was for him to see I was the marrying kind—that I could be a good mother. Instead, I made a fool of myself.
“We’re here,” Drake states the obvious. I keep my smile fixed but feel Lila’s presence like an itch I can’t scratch.
“That was the best chocolate ice cream ever. Thank you, Gun Man.” Jake says. “You should’ve gotten some, Miranda.”
“You missed out,” Drake says with a tease. His hand twitches to grab my leg, but he stops himself. He catches my eye for a moment before looking away.
I open the door and exit. Acquaintances, my ass. There’s definitely more to their story than they let on. But what? I can easily smash those old feelings if it’s just high school sweethearts. I had boyfriends, too, but I don’t harbor feelings for any of them.
Lila nudges the door wider with her hip as Jake exits. “Come on, Jake. Let’s get inside and get you cleaned up.”
“Lucas!” Jake’s sudden shout makes us all turn. The neighbor’s dog bounds up, tail wagging furiously. Before I can react, Lila crouches down, her face lighting up like it always does around animals. Lucas leans into her touch, eyes half-closed in bliss.
“Hey, buddy,” she coos, scratching behind his ears. The sight of them—Lila and Lucas—makes my stomach twist. It’s just so … effortless for her.
“I’ll put this in your car,” Drake says, holding Jake’s car booster, his gaze leery at the sight of the dog.
“Oh, wait, I’ll get you the keys.” Lila laughs as Lucas licks her hand. She tosses the keys to Drake, who catches them with ease.
Lucas’s owner comes running up the path. “Sorry about that. He Houdinied out of the apartment.”
“That’s okay. We corralled him for you.” She gives Lucas one more pet behind the ears before they take off. Drake comes running up to her.
“You’re great with him,” Drake says, handing her the keys. His eyes soften as he watches her, and my grip tightens around my purse straps.
“Maybe we should get you a dog-whisperer certification next,” I say, crossing my arms, not bothering to hide the edge in my voice.
Lila glances up at me, her blue eyes calm and steady, an infuriating contrast to my irritation. She stands up slowly, brushing off her jeans, and gives me a small smile that feels more like a challenge than a gesture of goodwill.
“Let’s go inside,” she suggests, turning her attention back to Jake, her voice light and unaffected.
Drake’s gaze lingers on Lila and Jake for a moment. I feel my pulse quicken, frustration simmering beneath the surface at the distant look in his eyes.