Page 65 of Bad Ball Hitter
“When we were in Vermont, our landlord knew about our situation. He was a nice Greek man who helped me find a job where I could have flexible hours while making decent money. They trained me on the spot.” I shrug. “It’s not a veterinarian school. But I get to work with pets.”
“You like it?”
“I love it. It’s like a calling I never knew I needed.” And I’m not even lying. I may not be saving their lives, but I get to spend time with them all day and make them shine. It’s more rewarding than I ever thought possible.
“How’d you end up in Boston?”
I suck in air through my teeth and look away. Because of you.
“I needed a change after Darci died.” I had to get out of there. The memories were too much. I had Jake, but I felt utterly alone. “It was too depressing being in the same space we had occupied. Since I didn’t have ties there, I packed up and headed here.”
“To the city that we always talked about living in?”
Busted.
My face warms as I turn to face him. A small smile plays at the corners of my lips. “You remember that?”
“Every word,” he replies, gazing at me with a sincerity that makes my heart stutter. “I remember all our promises, Lila. I may have let you down, but I never forgot.”
Our eyes lock, and for a moment, everything else fades away—the park, the pond, Jake chasing after the ducks—everything but Drake’s eyes and his words.
“You never let me down, Drake,” I say softly. “Life … life sometimes doesn’t go the way we planned.”
He reaches out and gently tucks a stray lock of hair behind my ear. His fingers linger on my skin, and warmth spreads through me from his touch.
“I should have been there for you,” he murmurs, his voice heavy with regret.
It feels like we’re standing on the edge of something important, a precipice that could change our lives forever. My heart pounds in my chest as I gaze into his eyes, seeing the same mixture of hope and fear mirrored in their depths.
Suddenly, Jake comes bounding back towards us, interrupting the moment. He’s out of breath, and his cheeks are flushed with excitement. “Did you see that duck? It was huge!”
Drake laughs and ruffles Jake’s hair fondly. “I did.”
“Can we throw that round thing again?”
“The Frisbee?”
“Yeah,” Jake says.
“We need to head out, buddy. I have a plane to catch.”
Jake’s face drops. “You’re leaving?”
“Yeah, for a week. But I’ll be back soon.” When Jake’s face doesn’t brighten, Drake pulls out the big guns. “How about you and Mama Lila hitting a game after I return?”
“Yes!” Jake’s fist pumps the air.
And just like that, Drake managed to win over two hearts.
CHAPTER THIRTY
Lila
“Damn, girl, your vagina really is spectacular,” Chenille emphasizes the word spectacular by making jazz hands. The poor Chihuahua she’s working on doesn’t know what to think.
“Jesus, I knew telling you was a mistake, but you’re not wrong.” My shoulders shake despite the unease working through me. I finally told her what happened with Miranda and how I moved in with Drake. Of course, that led to confessing that Drake and I have a history. Needless to say, I shocked the woman, but I can almost see the gears turning in her head.
Her eyes narrow as she points the end of the scissors at me. “You’ve been holding out on me this entire time. That’s just evil. You know I live for this shit.”