Our next batter hits it off the end of his bat right to the pitcher and gets out running to first. I fist-bump Ty and tell him good job as he runs to the dugout to get his mitt to go back to the pitcher's mound. I walk slowly behind home plate and stop at the fence. At this point, Megan's eyes are on me. Just as all the parents’ are. I’m sure they’re wondering what I’m doing. I don’t spend a lot of time talking to parents. Mostly, I talk to the kids. Hopefully, they’ll just think I’m talking about Ty.
I wave her over, and I can tell she doesn't know what to think. All eyes are on us, but hopefully they can’t see the frustration warring on my face.
She has her sunglasses on, and I wish I could see her eyes right now. "What is it, Kade?"
I push my glasses up on my head and then put my hands on the fence, gripping the metal between my hands and stare at her. My voice is low so that only she can hear me. "All my years of baseball, I've never wanted to be on the other side of this fence more than I do right now."
Her face is flushed, and her breath hitches. "Kade, everyone is watching."
I lean in, smiling. "Honey, if you want to keep us a secret, then you're going to want to tell the man that is following you around like a lost puppy dog to back off before I come over and claim you in front of everyone."
She inhales deeply. "You wouldn't."
I grip the fence tighter and lean down so that we are at the same level. "Don't test me, Megan. I'm not the kind of man that will stand by and let other men flirt with you."
Her voice hitches, and the husky sound has me thinking all kinds of things. "You can't tell me what to do."
My voice is commanding. "You like it when I tell you what to do. Just like you're going to like it when I claim those pretty lips of yours after we win this ballgame."
"Coach," the umpire says. He's letting me know that Ty has finished warming up and they're ready to start the game, but that doesn't rush me at all. I look at Megan. "Are you going to do what I say?"
She hisses her answer. "Yes."
She may be a little mad at me now, but I'll make it up to her later. I slide my glasses down on my face and walk away from her. I look out at Ty and point at him. "Let's go, Ty. You got this." And when I get to the dugout, I look over at Megan, and she's moved away from the man. He keeps watching her, but obviously he got the hint.
Chapter 10
Megan
We won the game, and the championship is going to be played tomorrow afternoon. Our record is two and 0, and the boys are all pumped, hoping to get their championship rings and trophies tomorrow.
We're all walking to the parking lot after the game when Ty runs up to me. "Hey Mom, can I go with Benny? They're going out to eat and over to the sporting goods store."
Immediately, I start shaking my head. "Ty, I don't know."
And then Krissy chimes in. "It's fine. Please let him come with us. Benny would love to have him along. He's already sick of hanging with us old folk."
I smile at her and nod and pull my wallet out of my purse, handing Ty some dollar bills. "Here you go. Pay for your food, and make sure you tell them thank you for taking you." I look up at Krissy. “Thanks for inviting him."
Ty laughs and shakes his head. “I will, Mom." Honestly, I know he will. He's a polite kid, but the mom in me still feels like I need to remind him about his manners.
As soon as they walk off, Kade and I are left alone. We put everything in the truck, he opens the passenger door for me, and I climb in. I watch him walk around the truck, and I can’t help but admire the way his shirt molds to the muscles of his arms. He gets in and smiles over at me before starting the truck. When we pull out of the parking lot, he looks at me. "Want to grab something to eat?"
Instead of answering his question, I ask one of my own. "Why do you like me, Kade?"
All the things that I've thought about, that's the one question that I wanted to ask him, and I couldn't keep it in any longer. I’ve seen the women he’s dated in the past, and I’m nothing like them. I don't give him time to answer. "I mean, come on. Kimber. Have you even looked at her? She asked you out. She’s obviously interested, and you blew her off..."