Page 20 of Coastal Rewind

She shook her head. “My sister is picking me up, but thanks.”

I nodded, attempting to not let the disappointment show on my face that I didn’t get just a few more minutes with her.

Ryleigh’s phone buzzed in her hand and she pointed toward the door. “Maeve is out front so I better get going.”

MJ wrapped himself around her and squeezed tight. “Thanks for the best week ever,” he said against her legs.

“Anytime, little man.” She smiled as she ran her fingers through his curls.

MJ backed away and turned to his toys as I grabbed Ryleigh’s bag and walked her to the door.

“Thanks again. This was such a huge help.”

She stayed quiet and gently took the duffel from me. There was something sad in her eyes as she lingered by the door.

“You can stop thanking me. Really. It was no big deal.”

But she was wrong. It was a huge deal.

I pulled open the door and watched her walk up to Maeve’s sparkling pink Tesla before she opened the passenger door and slid inside. The girls waved and took off out of the driveway.

“What do you mean, you’re extending your trip?” I whispered into my phone as Zane walked up to the plate for batting practice.

“Oh, honey, we met the loveliest couple. We decided to join them for a few weeks to travel the world like we’ve always wanted.”

Panic was rising, but I attempted to swallow it down so as to not give my parents any reason to worry. They deserved this. They deserved to enjoy their retirement and travel. This just left me absolutely and completely fucked.

I was failing. I was drowning in two worlds that were pulling me in opposite directions.

“That’s great, Mom. I’m glad you’re having a good time.”

“Oh, it’s such a relief that you have Beth. I’d feel awful if you had no one to watch Junior.”

“Yep. It’s going great,” I lied. I knew if I hinted at the fact I was in a bind that my parents would cancel their plans and come home. I couldn’t do that to them. Not after they gave up everything for me to play the sport I loved. They put their lives on hold so I could succeed. Now, they earned the right to enjoy their time how they wanted.

“I’m so glad. We have to run, but send Junior our love! We can’t wait to see him at the end of the summer!” She ended the call, and I dropped my phone down onto the bench before taking my hat off and launching it across the dugout.

“You good?” Mack asked, approaching me slowly like I was a wild dog he was catching on the side of the road.

My breathing was rapid and my eyes were wide as I shook my head slowly. “I’m fucked. I’m going to have to bring MJ on the road. Coach is going to be mad. MJ is going to fall behind in school. I’m failing.” I sat on the bench and dropped my head into my hands.

“You’re not failing. This is just a tough situation.” Mack sat down next to me. “What about Ryleigh? You said it went well with her last week. Can she help out over the summer?”

“Nah. I’m pretty sure she’s leaving soon. Off to some unknown location across the country.”

He shrugged. “Have you asked her? Seems to me like she just floats around. Maybe she’d be willing to just stay a while.”

“I don’t know, man. I don’t want her to feel like she has to uproot her plans for this.”

“Yo, Kelly!” Mack shouted at Nolan who was talking with some of the other media guys on the field.

Nolan looked over as Mack gestured with his hand for him to join us. He said something to the guys and jogged in our direction.

“What’s up?” Nolan asked, leaning over the railing at the top of the dugout.

“Saxley wants to ask Ryleigh to nanny for him this summer but is too much of a chicken-shit.”

Nolan’s chest shook on a laugh. “She’s a hard one to pin down for very long.”