She hooked her thumb in the direction behind her. “I um, I have to go. Meeting some friends for a game of flag football.”
Grinning, I replied, “Sounds like fun.”
For a moment I was pretty sure she was about to invite me, but she stopped herself. “It is. I mean, I’m sure it will be. I’ll see you around, I guess.”
“Yep. See ya around.”
I went to call out her name . . . ask her to have dinner with me. But I didn’t. I stood there like an idiot and watched as she walked away from me. Why did I have a feeling that was going to be happening a lot to me once she and Ellie got out of high school?
Chapter Four – Gunner
Mrs. Williams hung back after practice talking to Coach Adams. When I saw Jeff walking up, I smiled. I knew the bastard would show up. I knew he wanted to check out the mom.
“Coach Gunner, what are we going to do?”
I glanced down to Bryce and ruffled his hair with my hand. “We’re gonna practice a bit more, buddy.”
He smiled. “That means I’m gonna be really good with you helping me.”
Laughing, I pointed to the approaching Jeff. “You see him? That’s Coach Jeff. He played baseball in high school and even won a scholarship to play at a really big college.”
Bryce’s eyes lit up like a Christmas tree. No need to tell him Jeff turned it down to play football instead.
“Wow! He’s gonna teach me some stuff too?”
“You bet he is.”
I couldn’t help but notice how Mrs. Williams watched Jeff as he walked up to us. Shit, I should have mentioned bringing Jeff in on this. She’s probably wondering who the hell he is.
“Hey, hope I’m not late,” Jeff said with a smile as he looked from me down to Bryce.
“Nope, perfect timing. Let me introduce you first to Bryce, then his mom.” Mrs. Williams was now making her way over to us.
“Bryce, this is Jeff Johnson. He’s gonna be helping me.”
Turning my attention to the mom, I smiled bigger, hoping like hell she wasn’t pissed. “Mrs. Williams, this is my best friend and roommate, Jeff Johnson. I asked him to join me since he actually played baseball in high school and won a scholarship to Duke University to play for them.”
Her eyes widened. “Really? How nice of you to help out Gunner, Mr. Johnson.”
Jeff reached out to shake her hand. “Please call me Jeff.”
“Jeff it is. Now I’ll need y’all to call me Macey, not Mrs. Williams.” Peeking down to her son, she placed her hand on his shoulder and then looked back at us. “Thank you both for taking the time out of your busy schedules to help Bryce. Baseball is his dream, and there isn’t anything I wouldn’t do to help him get better at it. Even if that means I’m out there at night pitching him the balls.”
With a chuckle, I replied, “I’m sure his dad loves doing that with him.”
Her smile faded.
Aw, shit. I didn’t like that look. What did she tell me on the phone? The dad traveled a lot.
“Bryce’s father isn’t really around much. He spends more time with his girlfriend.”
Jeff and I both nodded.
“Well!” Jeff said as he slapped his hands together and caused Macey to jump and cover her chest. “Let’s get started, little buddy.”
As Jeff and I walked out to the field, he turned to me when Bryce got ahead of us and couldn’t hear us talking. “She’s hot. She can’t
be but twenty-six, maybe twenty-seven.”