“How about you don’t date until you’re thirty?” I kissed the top of her head.
She giggled. “My dad said forty.”
“Even better.” I liked that she was responding more often with full sentences and not one-word answers or head nods and shakes.
Both teams took the field to the sound of loud cheering from their respective fans. Emmy even mustered up some enthusiasm and yelled, “Go, Dad!”
I looked for Easton and there he stood at third plate. I wondered if there would ever come a time when I would look at him and not be attracted to him, or wonder what if. Maybe if I found someone for myself? But not here. It would have to wait until I moved back home to Birmingham.
The first player up from Riley’s team hit a fly ball, but Easton easily caught it, forcing the opposing player out.
“Mmm, mmm,” Cheyenne commented from behind. “If only he wasn’t so taken with you, Taylor.”
I craned my neck around and stared at her in amazement.
She rolled her gorgeous eyes. “Don’t look at me like I’m crazy. We all see it.”
The other ladies turned a little pink and avoided eye contact with me.
I turned back around and tried to forget that everyone in this town was talking about me. I knew I deserved some of it for my behavior at the seminar, but the town needed a better hobby.
The first inning was promising for Jessie Belle’s team. It was three up and three down for Riley’s team. Shane’s pitching was on point. Abby was showing him the love by cheering the loudest. When Jessie’s team was up to bat they scored two points that first inning. Blake hit a home run his first time up to the plate. From there it got ugly, and not only on the field. People from each side began spouting obscenities. On more than one occasion I had to cover Emmy’s ears. It got so ugly that Jessie finally stood up and reminded everyone children were present. That took care of most of the problem, at least off the field.
I was expecting a brawl as we watched the forceful tags and crude hand gestures on the field. I never understood how sports could make decent, well-behaved individuals turn into complete Neanderthals. I will say most of Jessie’s team tried to keep it classy, but I could tell it was hard. Even from where I sat I could see the consternation on Easton’s face.
The game was tight, but Jessie’s team always had a slight edge of one or two points. Jessie was a wreck. She took to holding Abby’s and Cheyenne’s hands. I probably squeezed Emmy a little too much as well.
“And they say football is rough,” Rachel commented during the sixth inning. “I’ve decided Drew is never playing baseball. At least he can wear pads and a helmet during football.”
By the time the ninth inning rolled around, I was tired from just watching the game. It looked like all the players were, too, except for Landon Riley who looked to be out for blood. My first thought was it better not be any of Easton’s. I remembered the bruises he left on him last time and it kind of made my blood boil.
Riley’s Insurance was up by one point when Jessie’s team took their last turn up to bat at the bottom of the ninth inning. Larry was up first and struck out. Our side of the stands groaned loudly, except for Cheyenne, who used some not-so-pretty four-letter words. Her friends smacked her. Blake was up next. He hit a powerful line drive and made it to second base.
“That’s my man,” Jessie shouted.
My man, I mean my ex-man, was up next. Thoughts like those needed to stop. I looked over at Rachel to help my thought process. It reminded me Easton would never be mine again.
I turned my attention back to the game. That jerk Landon’s first pitch was a little too close to hitting Easton. We had good umps this game and they called ball. After two balls, Easton connected, but it went foul. I could see Landon getting frustrated and I was afraid of what he might do next. Easton must have noticed, as he seemed ready for the fast pitch that came zooming his way. Easton hit the ball and it went sailing out to right field. Easton took off for first while Blake rounded third and brazenly headed home. The guy playing right field attempted to throw the ball to first, but the ball fell short, allowing Easton to head to second. By this time, Blake was almost home. The first baseman went for the ball and tried to get it to home plate, but in a comedy of errors, overthrew it. Blake crossed home plate, tying up the game, while Easton headed to third. I think Riley’s had lost it at that point. Landon was screaming that the catcher needed to throw the ball to third base, but I think he didn’t hear right and threw it to Landon himself. Landon wasn’t expecting it, so it hit him in the head. Everyone in the stands gasped.
Landon didn’t go down, but he was more ticked off than ever. Both he and the catcher were diving for the ball. In the meantime, Easton went for home. It was a tight race to see who would make it first, Easton or Landon. We all stood up and it was like no one was breathing in the stands as we watched the two men race against each other. Easton’s foot made contact with the base as he slid into home plate, and Landon tagged him a millisecond after. The ump shouted, “Safe!”
The roar on our side was almost deafening. Sweet Emmy was even screaming and jumping up and down. I ended up in a Jessie, Abby, Cheyenne, and Rachel group hug. It was nice they included me. I think Jessie was crying she was so happy.
The guys on Jessie Belle’s team had stormed the field and Easton had been hoisted up. He was filthy, but I could see his grin from a mile away. Landon on the other hand was arguing with the ump, throwing his hat down, and kicking dirt around like nobody’s business. He was putting a three-year-old’s temper tantrum to shame.
I found myself in the large herd of people making their way to the field. I hadn’t really planned on it—I wasn’t a girlfriend or wife—but Emmy and Ashley were insistent. I watched as Abby and Shane embraced and as Blake picked up Jessie and kissed her thoroughly. I caught a glimpse of their daughter, Maddie, who was disgusted by her parents’ show of affection. But I thought it was good to see that married people were still passionate, and I always thought it was a good thing for children to see that their parents still loved each other.
Easton made his way to the girls and wrapped them both up. He looked like he was on top of the world. In his exuberance, he released the girls and before I knew it, I was in his arms being spun around. It was as if all of the celebration suddenly ceased and we became the focus. As quiet as it had become, all I had eyes for was Easton when we came to a stop. We locked eyes, our faces only inches apart, and for a brief moment I reveled in the closeness. Then I came to my senses. “Congratulations,” I whispered before I resisted his touch.
He slowly released me. His brown eyes were full of desire. I knew the look well, but now it stung. It reminded me of all I had lost, all we had lost, and I wasn’t sure where it was coming from. I think Easton was lonely and I knew we had unresolved feelings for each other, both good and bad. We didn’t get to work out all our feelings for each other when we split up, and now it was manifesting itself in weird ways. But we both needed to resist these kinds of reactions—they weren’t in anyone’s best interest.
We were brought to our senses when we realized we were being watched by the girls. When I saw their happy faces I began to worry that we were confusing them right along with ourselves.
As soon as I distanced myself from Easton, it was like someone hit the play button and the celebration continued. I wasn’t sure what to do with myself after that little interaction, and Easton looked as befuddled as me. I took it he hadn’t planned on being so hands on.
“Celebratory barbecue at our house tonight, 7:00 p.m.!” Jessie called out. She took me aside. “I want you to come, too.”
I began to shake my head.
“I’m not taking no for an answer. Blake is a total health nut, so there will be plenty of things for you to eat.”
Food was the least of my concern. “Okay. Text me your address,” I reluctantly agreed.
She grinned impishly. “Will do. See you then.” She rushed back to Blake’s open arms.
&n
bsp; I needed to get out of there. “Ash, lets go, honey,” I called out to her before looking down at Emmy. “See you later, sweetie.”
Emmy hugged me tight. That was something new I enjoyed. Much less complicated than the one her dad gave me.
“Do you want to drive over together tonight?” Easton asked to my chagrin.
I did my best not to look at the girls because I knew I wouldn’t be able to say no. “I’ll meet you there.”
He smiled sexily.
“I meant I’ll drive there on my own,” I clarified.
He still smiled like a fool—a sexy fool, but a fool all the same. He was confused and he was making me more so. “I’ll see you there,” he said in his you-know-you-want-me voice.
I shook my head and walked off. I hoped Ashley would get the hint and follow. I was so glad baseball season was over.
Chapter Twenty-Two
On the drive over to Jessie’s I couldn’t stop thinking about Easton’s actions at the ballpark. What was worse was I was alone with my thoughts. Ashley accepted Spencer’s invitation to the movies. I almost told her she couldn’t go because I knew no one would likely say anything about Easton in her presence—besides Cheyenne—but I knew hanging out with a bunch of adults and kids younger than her wouldn’t have been very fun for her. It was bad enough the town grapevine was going to be scorching, but to now have feelings I had long buried coming up to the surface? It quite honestly made me angry. Angry that it wasn’t my life, only the life I had imagined I would have at this age, except with a couple more children.
I wanted to be the wife in the stands with our kids cheering on their dad and my husband. I hadn’t thought I would be single at forty-two, and when we married I never imagined we would get divorced. It seemed like an impossibility. We loved each other too much.
I rested my forehead on the steering wheel while I waited at a red light. Why had we been so foolish?
I planned my arrival so that I would be a little late, and hopefully the last to the party. I didn’t want Easton and I showing up at the same time. My plan worked. Easton’s truck was there when I arrived, along with a dozen other vehicles.
Jessie and Blake’s home and property were beautiful. It was my kind of house: country meets modern. I remembered when Easton and I had looked at properties out this way a million years ago, when we had had big dreams together. I tried to shake that thought from my mind. I needed to focus on the future, my future.
There was a sign on their front door that said, “Come on in,” so I did just that, carrying a small plant I’d brought for Jessie. The inside of their home was as beautiful as the outside. It was completely open and tastefully decorated. I particularly loved the large painting of a stunning dark-haired woman looking toward a raging body of water. She kind of reminded me of Rachel. Rachel and Easton, I thought. As much as the thought hurt me, I felt it could work. She would be a great mother to Emmy and like a friend to Ashley.
Jessie approached me all smiles. “Taylor.”
I held out the plant as soon as she reached me. “Thanks for inviting me. You have a lovely home.” I looked back up at the painting. “I love the painting.”
Her smile brightened. “Me, too. Blake bought it for me last year.”
“What a thoughtful gift.”
“Yes, it was, as is this gorgeous plant. Thank you.”
“You’re welcome,” I said uneasily. I wasn’t sure how comfortable I was being there. I felt like everyone was staring at me.
I was beginning to recognize most of them. The main room was filled with mostly women. I assumed their husbands and boyfriends were all gathered together somewhere. It was noisy, with several children running around. Sweet Emmy was not taking part in the hustle and bustle—she and Avery were sharing an overly large chair near the fireplace looking at an iPad. I smiled at the scene.
“All the men are in the basement checking out Blake’s new theater room and office,” Jessie informed me.
I appreciated her subtle hint as to where my ex-husband was. I’m sure she knew this wasn’t easy for me.
“That’s fun,” I replied.
“We needed to move Maddie upstairs, so Blake figured if he was going to finish the basement, he might as well get something out of it.”
By this time, we had made it to the kitchen where Abby was chopping vegetables and Cheyenne was popping grapes in her mouth.
“You never told us why you’re moving Maddie upstairs. Is she tired of hearing her parents in the next room?” Cheyenne said with not an ounce of tact as she wagged her eyebrows.
“Could you please smack her?” Jessie asked Abby. “You’re closer.”
Cheyenne deftly moved away from Abby’s line of fire.
“Speaking of Maddie, where is Connor?” Abby looked around the sea of people.
Jessie looked around, too. “I bet they’re outside together,” Jessie surmised. She didn’t look too happy about it.
Abby’s look also indicated she was worried that was the case.
“I’ll go find the little lovebirds,” Cheyenne offered.
“Don’t encourage them,” Abby and Jessie said in unison.
Cheyenne laughed evilly as she walked toward the backdoor.
“I hope she finds them before Blake comes back up. He’ll flip if he sees them by themselves,” Jessie lamented.
“Shane would probably high-five Connor,” Abby added.
“Wait until Avery likes a boy,” Jessie said.
“He’s already told her he’ll pay her for not dating.”
We all laughed.
“Good luck with that,” I threw in as a friendly warning. There’s really not a lot you can do to stop that train once it leaves the station.
I heard the men trudging up the stairs and braced myself. I felt silly. Why should I feel awkward around Easton? Exes could be friends, but that was the problem. Easton’s embrace didn’t feel friendly and I certainly hadn’t had friendly feelings when I was in his arms or sometimes when I looked at him. Like right then, when he came out of the basement in tight-fitting jeans and a white t-shirt that perfectly showed off his tan physique. Why couldn’t he have gotten a dad bod or something? Unfortunately for me, even if he had fallen prey to time and age I’m pretty sure I still would have been attracted to him.
“Can I do anything to help?” I asked Jessie. I needed to deal with my nervous energy.
“Would you mind making some melon balls with the cantaloupe?”
“I’d love to.” I smiled at the wrong moment, catching Easton’s eye.
His brown eyes lit up from across the room. He didn’t follow the men out. Instead, he made his way to the kitchen where I was. I felt like everyone stopped what they were doing and watched him walk toward me.
I grabbed the melon baller and began to make perfectly shaped circles out of the juicy cantaloupe.
“Tay, you made it,” he said as he neared. He was using his nickname for me more and more.
“Yep,” I said into the fruit bowl.
“Where’s Ashley?” he asked.
I took a chance and looked up at him. He was sitting down on a stool at the breakfast bar across from where I stood at the counter. “She’s at the movies with Spencer.”
That news wasn’t exactly to his liking. “Hmmm. I’m not a huge fan of his dad.”
“Oh. Should I be concerned?”
His smile gave off reassurance. “No. Spencer seems like a good kid. His dad is tough on him, though. I’ve seen him at some of the high school football games. He expects perfection.”
“That’s too bad.” I went back to focusing on my task at hand.
“So, how are you?” Easton asked.
“Fine. How are you?”
“Perfect.”
I looked back up to find him staring at me with sincerity. “Perfect?” I questioned.
“Yes, perfect.”
It began to feel a tad warm in the kitchen. “I’m glad.” Focus on the melon balls, I told myself.
Easton was not to be deterred by my melon balling efforts. “I was thinking maybe we could take the girls camping one weekend before school started.”
A hush fell upon the open house.
I dropped the melon baller out of surprise.
Easton either didn’t care or didn’t notice we were the absolute center of attention. He smiled easily and his gaze only rested on me.
“You know camping really isn’t my thing,” I said as low as I could.
“I know,” he responded through a mischievous grin. “That’s why I was thinking we could rent a cabin for you while the girls and I sleep in a tent. It will be the best of both worlds.”
I wiped off my sticky hands with a nearby dishtowel, trying to buy myself some time. I rubbed my neck and looked around at everyone who was paying attention to us but trying not to look like they were paying attention to us. I felt like I was in high school, or a really awkward dream. I was running through scenarios in my mind of what I could say that would be the least gossip-worthy, but either way I went, it was going to cause talk, and lots of it. I settled on, “Can we discuss this later?”
He looked around at the room like he was just noticing we had an audience. “Sure,” he said through a grin.
I knew that wasn’t going to quash the rumors, but at least this way they couldn’t say I rejected him cruelly or that we were madly in love and vacationing together. They would be left to surmise which way it would go. I already knew I wasn’t going, but the town didn’t need to know, at least not up front. I’m sure they would figure it out sooner or later.
“I’m going to go see how Blake is coming with the steaks. I’ll see you later.” He stood up and left me there feeling unnerved.
The noise in the house returned almost in an instance.
Jessie reached my side in a split second. “A weekend getaway with the good doctor?”
I nudged her and she laughed.
Taylor Lynne: The Women of Merryton - Book Two Page 20
