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Luke and Garrett burst into motion, running through the rest of the bases while the outfielders of the defensive team run after the ball.

“Go, go, go!” Avery shouts.

Blake runs to first base, then makes it to second. He reaches third when the other team brings the ball back into play. But they’re not fast enough. Blake crosses home plate.

We all jump up and down cheering.

The score is 7-6.

The players hug and pat each other on the back. Then Blake walks in front of the bleachers, swinging his bat around, and winks at the crowd.

Sophia woo-hoos and Avery wolf whistles. But I can’t help but feel like he’s looking right at me with that smug grin. And my heart beats to a happy rhythm.

With the game over, I ask Chase to come help me set up for the punch party.

Avery and Scarlett also offer to help. Avery says she has half an hour before she needs to leave for Chloe’s birthday party and offers to take Chase with her so I can stay here.

Even Sophia offers to help without trying to extract money from me. She must really feel sorry for me. That or she’s still hoping I can help her meet Georgina.

We set up the tables out on the field. It’s still early enough in spring that being in the sun is pleasant and doesn’t make you want to run for cover.

I put out the traditional fruit punch, one non-alcoholic for the kids that’s a deep red color, and a “fun” one for the adults that’s an unappetizing green, so the two are easily distinguishable.

They used to be the same color, but we wised up two years ago when we caught some teenagers putting their cups next to the adults’ and picking up the “wrong” one on purpose. Now they can’t access the alcohol without their tongues turning green.

Chase barely touches any of the snacks, he’s too busy talking to whichever player he can corner, mostly switching between Ethan, Blake, and his coach, Garrett.

Avery gathers her kids and Chase, and they leave for the party. Scarlett and Penny go with her to help set up. I make my rounds, chatting mostly with other moms from Chase’s team.

Now that Chase is gone, Charlotte leaves her friend group and returns to Ethan’s side. She practically climbs on him and starts to kiss his neck. I look away, my belly churning. I try to pay attention to what the moms are saying but it’s hard. And it’s made even more difficult when one of them sees Ethan too and makes a face.

“Ugh.” Then she realizes that I’m there. “I’m so sorry you have to go through this. It must be hard for Chase.”

I want to dig a hole and hide in it.

“Yes. It is.”

The other moms catch on to what we’re talking about.

“It’s not your fault, of course.”

“Imagine a young woman like that ruining a marriage.”

And then, from the sour looks on their faces, I think they are imagining it. Imagining their husbands leaving, breaking up their families, ruining their lives. And they don’t like it. Then they start looking at me differently, like maybe I’m the problem after all because surely it couldn’t happen to them.

And now I want to cover my hole with three feet of dirt so everyone just leaves me alone, even the well-intentioned ones.

My phone rings, saving me from having to take part in the conversation.

I pull it out of my purse and look at the screen.

Blake.

I look around. He’s standing across the field, his phone to his ear.

“I have to take this,” I say.

And I hope I’m only imagining the look of relief on their faces as I walk away, as if my condition might be contagious.