Page 29 of Bad Ball Hitter
“It may be a phase he’s going through. But, bruh, you need to stop and think about this. A kid changes the game. Do you want an instant family?”
“No.” Or else I wouldn’t have thought so. But the more I hang around Jake, the easier it is to accept him. The kid is great. “I know nothing about his dad.”
However, I suspect that the title belongs to Roy.
“Tread carefully, my friend. If you get involved with Lila, you’re creating a family dynamic. You grow attached to the kid and vice versa? You can scar that kid for life.”
Sort of like me.
I run my hand over my face and let out a frustrated sigh.
“And you owe it to yourself to be honest with Miranda.”
“Yeah, I know. I like her, and I could’ve seen us working out, you know.” But that was before I laid eyes on Lila and felt every ounce of desire I held for her slam into me. I hate letting an opportunity with Lila slip away like last time.
“Wish I had a better answer, but watch yourself.” He slaps me on the back. “And watch your back with Kaplan. He has a vendetta against you for some reason.”
“As long as we make it to the championship, I don’t give a fuck about Dior.”
“Here, here.”
My phone rings. “Speaking of girlfriends, mine’s calling.” I wave my phone and push from the bar. I pick up in the lobby and head to my room. “Hello.”
I smile at her voice. She may not be the one with whom I was supposed to go the distance, but she’s certainly one I want to get to know better. Miranda deserves my undivided attention. I committed and said I would be all in.
I will be.
No matter if another girl owns a piece of my heart.
CHAPTER TWELVE
Lila
“Mommy,” a faint voice calls from a distance. “Mom!”
I jolt awake to Jake’s high-pitched demands and immediately fall back onto the pillow. Oh my God, where did this pounding in my head come from? I stir in bed as the warmth from the sunlight filters in through the curtains. Why do I feel as if a truck has hit me?
“Mom, we need to get ready, or we’ll be late.”
“I need a second, big guy.” I open my eyes to Jake standing over me, bouncing on the balls of his feet. His bright eyes are full of energy, a stark contrast to the heaviness I feel.
“Why are you so tired, Mom?” The tinge of concern in his voice causes me to smile.
“I didn’t sleep well last night.” I try to muster a reassuring smile, but I’m unsure if I pulled it off. “Don’t worry. We’ll get you ready.”
He looks at me with those big, innocent eyes, and I can’t help but feel a pang of guilt. I should be more present for him, especially today. His excitement about the field trip has been building for weeks. It’s his first big adventure without me, and I want it to be perfect.
“But we need to hurry.”
“I know,” I say through a moan. “Your field trip.”
I sit up quickly. Too quickly. The room spins as a sharp pain pounds behind my forehead. I grab my head. I wasn’t feeling the best last night but pushed it off to the questionable sour cream I spread on my burrito. It had a funny smell, but this seems like more.
I wait until the room stops spinning. Maybe Miranda can take him for me. She’s been acting distant since the incident at the park, but even more so last night. I tried not to eavesdrop on the hushed phone call she took in the other room, but it was hard not to notice the tension in her voice. She left shortly after. I assumed Drake had gotten back into town.
I let out another groan that had nothing to do with my illness.
“You don’t look good, Mom.”