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I step out of the dugout and stop for a second. Walker Matthews is sitting right next to Sadie, chatting her up. What the fuck is with that?
I walk over to the ump and the other coach, trying to pay attention, but when Sadie laughs, my fists clench in my pockets.
“We’re away,” I say to the ump.
“Home coach,” the umpire corrects me.
“Home, I mean.” I shake my head, trying to act unfazed.
I don’t want to seem jealous. And truth is, Sadie isn’t going to go for a class-A asshole like Walker Matthews. Then again, she is in love with me. So what does that say?
Chapter Twenty-Four
Sadie
I’ve sat on these bleachers many times. I’ve admired Jude playing softball and being the leader of his team. But it’s different this time. I’m here as Jude’s wife. Although I wear a ring on my left hand and on paper we’re married, it’s really just a beginning for us.
“So, Briar, why are you back in town?” Walker asks Gillian’s sister.
He’s so close I can smell his peppermint breath from the amount of gum he chews. Why is he sitting next to me? Walker’s family owns Wild Bull Ranch, the second biggest ranch in Nebraska next to Plain Daisy Ranch, but since he took it over, he’s been trying to make it bigger and better.
“I’m just visiting.” She smiles sweetly at him.
Briar is eight years younger than Gillian, which seemed like a much bigger difference when Gillian used to watch her in high school, but now Briar’s all grown up.
“That’s cool. How long are you staying?” Walker asks.
Briar glances at Gillian, and Gillian puts her hand on her sister’s knee and says, “As long as she wants.”
They share a look as if there’s more than they’re willing to say in front of everyone.
“I don’t want to intrude too long,” Briar says.
“You can intrude at my place,” Walker says with a smile.
Gillian shoots him a look over her shoulder.
None of us are big fans of Walker. He’s not just cocky, he’s arrogant and can’t keep his mouth shut.
“She’ll come to my place if that’s the case.” Laurel puts her arm around Briar, and Briar leans her head on her shoulder.
My phone pings, and I grab it out of my purse, silencing it before checking to see who sent me a message. It’s from Melody, my good friend from high school.
I’m coming into town two days early. Want to meet up for dinner?
I talk to Melody a few times a year, and we keep up on each other’s lives. We were pretty competitive in high school with our grades, and we shared a passion for getting out of this town for bigger and better things. But senior year, my mom fell ill, and they couldn’t diagnose her with anything definitive, so I stayed back while Melody went to a big school in California. Now she’s a defense attorney and has even been on the news a few times.
I hammer back a text.
I’d love to catch up!
The three dots appear immediately. With all the chaos of the wedding, I forgot about our fifteen-year class reunion in a few weeks. I didn’t want to go when I got the invitation in the mail, but now it doesn’t sound so bad. I had a lot of fun with Melody.
Great. I’ll message you next week. I can’t wait to see you!
I text back that I’m excited too, and we’ll talk soon.
Jude steps up to bat, and I shove the phone back into my purse.
