Page 25 of Defensive Indifference

“Trust you?”

Spencer narrows his eyes and tilts his head. “With Katie.”

I gotta get it together or I’m in real danger of proving myself to be an idiot. “Katie. My sister. You want to date my sister?”

Spencer scratches the back of his neck and looks away. “I guess you’d call it that. It sounds so superficial when you say it like that though.” He takes a breath and looks back at me. He must have pulled up some determination and bravery from the depths of his soul, because he straightens up and lays it all out.

“She doesn’t know I have feelings for her, and by feelings, I mean I’m pretty sure I’ve fallen in love with her. Before I say anything to her or even present myself as an option, I obviously want your blessing.”

Now that it’s right in front of me, now that my best friend for my whole life is spilling his feelings for Katie all over, I hesitate. She’s my sister. My beloved sibling who has been my biggest cheerleader. When Dad was disappointed I decided to go pro instead of taking a seat in his board room, she fought for me. When I wasn’t sure I should follow through and sign with the Sharks, she talked me through all the options until I was confident. When Spencer was offered a contract, she called it fate.

But was it my fate…or hers?

I have known Spencer all my life, and some part of me always knew he’d be in it forever. In Katie’s, too. He’s a good man, a great friend, and I know he would never hurt Katie. If he’s asking me, he’s all in.

“I have only one request.” Keeping eye contact with me has to be unnerving for him in this position, but he does it. “Don’t tell her until you know for sure that it’s love. I think you know why.”

Spencer’s shoulders lessen and he takes a breath. “I know why. I’d never tell her if my feelings weren’t something I’d want to take seriously. If I tell her, it will be because I intend to do everything possible to lead us to marriage. If…if that’s…”

“It doesn’t matter what I want, Spencer. If you love her and she loves you, I’d be a blessed man to have you for a brother.”

He chuckles and nods, biting back tears. I’m not sure why, but the same emotion takes me. Tears sting my eyes and I offer him a hug. We’ve been through a lot, mostly growing up and leaving home, nothing too dramatic, but through every single milestone in my life, Spencer has been there, doing the same, working through it all with me. He’s solid, and I can’t think of a better man for my sister.

“Enough of this emotional stuff. Did I see Evalina in the stands, or did my eyes deceive me?”

“Yeah, but it looks like they’ve gone. Too bad, I wanted to give the kid a tour.”

“Well, maybe next time. In the meantime, why don’t we go hang out with the guys and celebrate an epic win?”

He smacks my back and we head inside together. Maybe he’s right. After all, I’ll see them both tomorrow at the Tadpoles’ practice, then my one-on-one coaching with Dustin. My smile spreads, and I can’t help wondering what lies ahead.

Oh yeah, a trial. More press. Probably more frustration with the courts and lawyers, but behind all of that negative junk, I can’t help thinking about a pretty smile and a feisty attitude all packed into a beautiful woman who, whether she knows it or not, has probably taught me more about what it means to be truly rich. What she has with her son is priceless, and that love deserves a safe place to thrive.

I have to fix this for her.

It’s the only thing running through my mind all the way to the Sharks’ regular meetup. I have to help her find a new place for her business, help her with Dustin, help her with…everything.

Chapter Thirteen

Evalina

Dustin has been frustrated with me since the game last night. Sparkly’s had a sudden burst of customers, which led us to a late closing, making us late for the game. My son missed the first several innings, then after the game when I told him that it was late and we needed to get home for bed, I was informed that I was a mean mom. Pardon me for believing school to be more important than meeting baseball players. Evidently, my line of reasoning was atrocious to a young boy.

When we arrived at the game, I was beyond shocked to find Nick, my regular, in the seat next to us. It was odd chatting with him outside of the bakery, but he proved to be the same sweet, level-headed guy he has always presented himself to be. He even explained some of the finer details of baseball stats, though I’m not entirely sure I needed to know them to enjoy Koa’s game.

Koa, the guy I could never make happy enough for long, could never keep if I wanted to, and who has managed to occupy my thoughts more often than I am willing to admit. Nick, though, is more like me. Financially, we’re closer together. More down to the same earth, where Koa is far, far above the sort of worries that people like Nick and I have. Which was why, despite the lump that lodged in my throat when he asked me, I accepted Nick’s offer for a date.

This also irked Dustin, but I have a feeling I know exactly why. Nick is not Koa, but I can’t let my son’s obsession with a baseball player dictate how I run our lives.

Dustin is slightly less annoyed with me now that we are on the way to his one-on-one practice with Koa, but I’m not so sure I’m ready for it. When a person opens her entire backstory up for the scrutiny of a relative stranger, she does tend to regret it. I sincerely regret telling Koa so much about my past, but now that it’s out, there’s not much I can do about it.

I wouldn’t have thought Koa would be so easy to talk to, but it turns out when he’s not fighting for his peace, he’s quite agreeable. A little on the diva side, but mostly likeable.

“Hurry, Mom, or we’re going to be late! Again!” Dustin huffs from the back seat.

“Excuse me, young man, but who do you think you’re speaking to right now?” He quiets down and sinks into his seat with nothing more to say.

Easing into the parking lot, I run through my game plan once more. I’ll be cordial. Friendly, but not too open. I’m here for my son’s lesson, not to meet Koa and chat. My heart flutters when I spy his oh-so-recognizable car in the lot, and it goes absolutely wild when I spy him hitting a few balls on the field while waiting for us to show up.