Total pages in book: 97
Estimated words: 93270 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 466(@200wpm)___ 373(@250wpm)___ 311(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 93270 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 466(@200wpm)___ 373(@250wpm)___ 311(@300wpm)
“If I had to guess, Crow has a bone to pick with Noble and just used his son to do it.”
“And Maren is in the middle.”
“Right along with Conor,” Hayden said with a sigh. “I need him to make friends, not enemies.”
“I’m sorry. I should’ve told Maren she couldn’t try out.”
Hayden looked at Devy so fast she thought his head was going to spin around. “Absolutely not. She shouldn’t have to sit home because some boy can’t keep his hands to himself. It’s common courtesy and good parenting.”
“Well, you’re back for what, like, five minutes and already causing problems?”
Devorah looked over her shoulder and found Sapphire Fleming standing next to her.
Hayden groaned.
“It’s none of your business, Sapphire.”
“It is when it involves my son.”
“You’re married to Dalton?” Hayden asked, turning around to face her.
“We coparent, but that’s beside the point,” she said. “The point is, you come back to town because Chad came to his senses, and now you’re making trouble for everyone else.”
“She—”
Devorah held up her hand to cut Hayden off. She took a deep breath and glanced up at Sapphire. “I’m sorry there was an incident with your son, my daughter, and Hayden’s son. Crow will sort it out this afternoon, and I’m sure all will be just fine.”
“If my son is removed from the baseball team because of your daughter, there will be hell to pay.”
Hayden shook his head. “You’re unbelievable, Fleming.”
Devorah couldn’t believe what she was hearing. She stood and didn’t fight Hayden when he grabbed her arm. “Your son touched my daughter when she asked him to stop. Maybe he shouldn’t be on the team.”
“I’m sure that’s what happened. Go back to Chicago, Pearl. No one wants you here.” Sapphire smirked.
“I do,” Hayden said to Dev. “Crow and Colt do. Don’t listen to the petty high school jealousy, Dev.” Hayden shook his head and muttered under his breath.
The “Pearl” reference was a slap in the face to Dev. It wasn’t her fault the people of Oyster Bay crowned her Pearl of the Ocean four years in a row. But others didn’t see it like that.
“Oh, wait. Come to think of it, no one wants you in Chicago either.”
Sapphire didn’t walk away after she made the comment. Instead, she sat down right behind Hayden and leaned toward his ear.
He flinched and gave her a dirty look. “Get the hell away from me.” He batted at her like she was a fly.
Devorah wanted nothing more to do with her or the tryouts and walked to the other side of the field, away from everyone.
She took her jacket off, spread it over the freshly laid mulch, and sat down, resting against the trunk of an oak tree. Devy pulled her knees to her chest and let the tears flow. People had rushed to take care of whatever had happened on the field, which she understood and knew her dad would resolve later, but the entire incident made her feel more vulnerable than she already felt. Did DJ pick on Maren because she was the new kid? Conor was new as well. Or had DJ singled her out because she was the only female trying out for a male-dominated sport? Most of the girls Maren’s age cheered and attended competitions. Devy had asked her daughter if she wanted to do that instead, but Maren had chosen baseball. It would be nice for kids to be able to live in a world where sports weren’t divided up by gender.
Hayden made his way over to where she sat or hid. She had expected him to follow her right away, and when he hadn’t, she was relieved. Devorah needed a moment. Or ten. Hayden laid his sweatshirt next to hers and sat down with a sigh. Instead of saying anything, he reached for her hand. She gave it to him freely.
His large hand was warm and tender. His thumb lazily rubbed the spot between her thumb and index finger. The motion soothed her. Hayden didn’t ask her what was wrong or bring up the fact that she was crying. He just sat there with her.
They had their own demons they were dealing with. Hers were just out in the open for everyone to see and watch, on repeat, whenever they chose.
When the whistle sounded and tryouts ended, Devy stayed where she was.
“You can’t let what Sapphire said get to you.”
“Why not? She’s telling the truth. No one wants me.”
“I do,” Hayden said. He reached over and gently pulled her chin toward him. His gaze met hers. “I, for one, am damn happy you’re here. I’m not happy with the circumstances, but Chad’s mistake is my gain, and I fully intend to make the best of it.”
Hayden got up and hustled toward the kids, leaving her there, speechless. She swallowed hard as she watched his swagger in those too-kind-for-the-eyes joggers men wore. Hayden was a whole lot of trouble she didn’t need right now, but turning a friend away would be a mistake. He was right, though; she couldn’t let what others thought of her bring her down. She hadn’t done anything wrong. Chad had. If people couldn’t see that cheating was wrong, that publicly humiliating someone you said you cared about was wrong, then they were the ones with the issue. Not her.