Filed To Story: Secret Shifters Next Door Series PDF Free
Turning our attention back to the game, it became evident that Aiden was a beast on the field. As the innings went on, it was obvious he was the best player. He hit two home runs—one in the fourth, and one in the sixth. He also was crazy fast in the outfield. He ran down a ball that surely would have been a home run. Aiden extended a hand over the fence and caught the ball on the very tips of his glove. I didn’t know a lot about baseball, but even I was impressed.
With as much as he did, the rest of his team struggled, and at the start of the bottom of the ninth inning, Aiden’s team was down two runs. They had two outs, with runners on first and second when Aiden went to bat one last time. The crowd exploded when the first pitch cracked off Aiden’s bat. Before it went ten feet, everyone knew it was another home run. Kellan was screaming so loud that Kris and Chelsea had to lean away from him.
“My boy. My boy. My boy,” he shouted over and over again. I smiled and leaned across Chelsea to pat him on the shoulder.
When Kellan looked at me, there were stars in his eyes. He was so proud of his son that it had brought him to tears. His show of emotion made my own eyes burn. I swallowed and forced my own tears back.
Once Aiden crossed home plate, the umpire called the game in our favor. We’d won our first game. It was way more exhilarating than I thought it would be. The crowd started to file out of the bleachers, and we made our way to the field to collect our little superstar.
Aiden sprinted away from the rest of his team and slid to a stop in front of us. “Coach said we’re having a pizza party for winning. He said we’re going right now. Can we go? Please, Dad?”
Kellan glanced across the field at Steff. He didn’t frown, which surprised me. Instead, he nodded. “Okay. We can probably do that.”
Aiden leaped into the air. I almost flinched when Steff spoke from behind me. “Kellan, Aiden did so good. I wanted to let you know there’s a big baseball skills camp later this summer. Most of the guys on the team aren’t quite there yet, but Aiden is advanced enough to go and get some individual coaching. It’ll help him get even better. I can sign him up if you’d like to do that.”
Kellan raised his eyebrows. “We can talk about it, I guess.”
Steffen smiled. “Awesome. We can discuss it at the pizzeria.”
“Aunt April, are you coming for pizza, too?” Aiden asked.
The question was innocent enough. Why wouldn’t I? How could I say no to that face? But the idea of sitting near Steff for an hour made me a little nervous. Even more so after the talk with Chelsea. I also couldn’t help but notice the moms all around collecting their kids, stealing looks at Steff. In that uniform? I could see why. I had a hard time not checking him out. I shook my head to clear it, pissed at myself for even allowing those thoughts.
I leaned over to speak with Aiden, and felt Steff’s eyes burning into my skull. “Okay. I can come by for a while and have a few pieces to celebrate the win.”
Aiden hugged me, then ran off to his team to tell them he was coming. Steff walked slowly backward, his eyes fused onto me. “See you guys at the restaurant.”
He held my gaze for several more steps before turning to head to his car. I watched him walk away, chewing at my lip, trying to figure out what his game was.
Kris leaned toward me. “What the hell’s going on there?”
Flinching away, I frowned up at him. “What? What are you talking about?”
He pursed his lips and nodded toward Steff. “He’s looking at you like he did back in high school. Did something go down between you two?”
I shook my head and winced. “God, no. That’s crazy.”
It wasn’t the same look. It couldn’t be. How could he look at me the same way? Things were so much different. He didn’t want me anymore. I wouldn’t let myself even consider it.
In the parking lot, Steff opened his truck door and stood on the running board. Before he ducked into the truck, he glanced back across the gravel parking lot to me. Our eyes met, and
despite my wishes, my body reacted. A shiver ran up my spine and butterflies swirled in my stomach. Even as he drove away, I had a hard time settling my racing heart. That look? Was Chelsea right?
TWELVE
STEFF
Once my team and their families got to the pizza place, the restaurant morphed into a cacophonous echo chamber. The boys, excited from their win, were wound up like crazy. The proud parents were equally hyped. I was thankful no one else had been in the pizza shop before we got there. I’d have felt bad for any casual diners who had to deal with us. Since it was only us? I kind of enjoyed it.
I went to the counter to order. The little Italian man who owned the place came out of the kitchen and clapped his hands, then waved them across the room. “So many? A wonderful day. Mr. James, it looks like your boys won today. Am I correct?”
I laughed. “Yes, sir. It was a good day.”
“Very good. What can I get for you?”
I turned and counted, as best I could, the number of kids and parents. “Umm, let’s do five pepperoni and five cheese pizzas to start? And maybe six pitchers of soda?”
The owner raised a finger in the air. “Done. And since it’s a celebration, I’ll send out a tray of cannoli for dessert. On the house.”
I really didn’t know how the guy made a living. I think he’d given me something
on the house every time one of the guys or
I came in. I smiled and found a table in the center of the dining room. My bear was rumbling happily, excited that April would be here soon. When my phone buzzed, I glanced at the screen to see Miles calling me.
I stepped outside, away from the noise, to take the call. “Miles? What’s up?”
“Hey, bro. How’d the game go?”