Page 61 of Some Kinda Romance

29

DASH

Richard invited me to a Los Angeles Angels baseball game this morning, and as much as I didn’t want to go, I knew it would make my mother happy, so I’d said yes. If Richard was willing to make an effort, as he was doing, then I figured the least I could do was to return the favor.

Fans were packed into every inch of the stadium when I arrived, the roar of the crowd loud even though the game hadn’t started yet. Anticipation buzzed through the air, so palpable and electric that it made the hairs on my arms rise as I made my way to the seats Richard had gotten us.

It wasn’t even noon yet but already the beers were flowing and the scent of hot dogs and pretzels wafted to my nose. I breathed in deep, grinning when Richard arrived just after I had and pressed a beer into my hand.

“You won,” he said cheerfully after greeting me. “To be fair, if it’d been a race, I would’ve been here first, but I stopped for libations.”

I chuckled. “I’m willing to concede my win to you in exchange for the drink. It looks like I’m going to need it. Everyone around here seems pretty fired up for the game.”

“Oh, they are,” he assured me as we sat down in our seats in the second row, right behind home plate. “This is a big one. It’s Danny England’s first game back and he’s got a lot riding on it to prove that the injury didn’t slow him down.”

I nodded, but the truth was that I only had a vague idea who Danny England was. I remembered him as an up-and-comer at the last game I’d watched with my dad, but after he’d passed, I’d avoided baseball almost as much as golf.

Richard and I got settled, and the game got underway less than five minutes later. To my utter surprise, Richard turned out to be a loud, enthusiastic fan, and it startled me at first.

I’d gotten to know him as a relatively reserved, quiet guy, but he got more and more animated as the game progressed and eventually all I could do was laugh. Occasionally, I joined in with the leaping to our feet and cussing at people’s decisions bit, but mostly, I just enjoyed watching Richard and others like him do their thing.

The beer kept flowing, but I stopped after my second one. I could’ve called the car service so as not to have to drive, but I was cognizant of the fact that I had to get some work done later, and besides, the fans were giving me way more of a buzz than the beer.

“What are you doing?” Richard yelled beside me, hurtling to his feet once more with his fist in the air and a plastic cup of beer in the other. “Run, you idiot. Go! Go!”

I chuckled, reminded in that moment of my father, who’d also had a tendency to nearly give himself a damn heart attack about sports. Surprisingly, it didn’t hurt to realize the similarity between the two men. If anything, it was strangely comforting to know that there were things about my father that my mother clearly saw in Richard.

The game was over too fast for my liking, but I was glad I’d come. Richard turned to me as we made our way out of the stadium afterward. “I’m sorry, Dash. I think I had one too many in the name of team spirit.”

“That’s okay. Let me drive you to Mom’s place. I was going to check with her today anyway.”

He nodded, scrubbed his hands over his face, and squinted into the bright sunshine as we walked out into the parking lot. Chuckling under my breath, I guided him to my car and chatted easily to him all the way home.

When we got there, Mom was waiting on the steps and I hung back for a moment when he went to her, enveloping her in a bear hug and keeping her under his arm as they walked into the house. A rare, fond smile lifted the corners of my lips.

I’d never really noticed before how attentive he was to her, but despite all the beer, he took her to the kitchen and made her a cup of tea, fixing some coffee for me and himself while telling her all about the game. I didn’t say much, choosing to watch him dote on her instead.

Mom giggled and flushed, listening to him with that same tilt of her head I’d seen so many times with my dad. For the first time, I felt that not only had Richard and I connected, but that he was genuinely right for my mother.

When he ducked out to go to the bathroom, she turned to smile at me. “Did you have a good time, baby?”

“Unexpectedly, yes. I really did. He’s quite a fan.”

She chuckled, pushing her hair off the side of her neck and letting her palm rest there as she stared into the middle distance. “Lord knows, that man loves baseball almost as much as he loves me. Or perhaps it’s the other way around.”

I laughed, shaking my head at her. “I don’t think it’s the other way around. I think baseball still comes second to you, Mom.”

“Thank you, darling.” She winked at me. “I knew you’d have my back. How are things going with Serenity?”

“Fine,” I said, not elaborating as Richard walked back in.

He yawned, covering his mouth as he shot my mom an apologetic look. “I think I should get going. Grab a nap at home before the Guild Dinner tonight, but I don’t think I should get behind a wheel right now.”

She grinned back at him, clearly amused by his afternoon buzz. “Dash will drive you. Be sure to take a shower before the dinner.” He wrinkled his nose at her and she laughed. “Yes, you do smell that bad.”

I chuckled too but plucked my keys out of my pocket. “I’d be happy to give you a ride. I need to get over to the estate anyway.”

“There’s something I’d like to discuss with you before you head to work, darling,” Mom said. “Would you mind stopping back here before you go to the estate?”