Filed To Story: Secret Shifters Next Door Series PDF Free
“We won. Though, I doubt that’s the only reason you’re calling.”
“Yeah. I got a call this morning from April’s manager. The Larry guy, the one who had us set up her home security system?”
“I remember.” The way-over-the-top guy. I was glad Miles did most of the communication with him. I didn’t know how he didn’t drive April crazy.
“Well, he wanted me to know that April’s phone has been blowing up. The same unlisted number over and over again. He’s a little freaked out, since she got a brand-new number before moving back home. He doesn’t know how it could have gotten out. He thinks it might be one of those stalkers.”
My bear grumbled at the thought, but the odds of it being someone dangerous were low. “Could have hacked the phone records. Most cell companies have shit security. There are a lot of thirteen-year-old hackers who could get that information in an hour. It’s like a rite of passage or something for those types.”
“That’s what I thought, but Larry wants us to be on high alert. I’m going to try to trace the calls that come in and see if I can find out who the douchebag is. In the meantime, you could use this as a chance to show April your protective side.”
I rolled my eyes and shook my head. “Miles, I know how to pick up a woman. I don’t need dad hints.”
“Hey, this isn’t any woman. This is the love of your life, and your mate. Every little bit helps, right?”
I pursed my lips. He was right about that. “Okay, I’ll see how things go. Let me know what you find out about that number.”
Back inside, most of the kids had huddled around the two video-game cabinets at the back of the restaurant.
Donkey Kong
and
Street Fighter. I was a little surprised they were interested in something so old school, but they looked like they were having the time of their lives.
“Hey, Coach.”
The voice came from behind me. I turned to find one of the moms looking at me. She was my shortstop’s mom. Single mother, if I remembered correctly. At least, I hoped she was single. If not, the look she was giving me was highly inappropriate.
“You looked good out there today,” she said, putting her straw into her mouth suggestively.
It was all I could do not to laugh at her. Instead, I simply nodded. “Thanks. The team looks good.”
I walked away before the flirting got any worse. There was only one woman I wanted to look at me that way. Anyone else was just in the way. The food was starting to come out and I assisted with setting the pizzas out on a few tables. April, Aiden, and her brothers walked in right as I set the paper plates out.
I stopped what I was doing and watched April guide Aiden to one of the few empty booths. Unable to stop myself, I let my gaze slide up and down across her body. A knot of pressure built in my chest, until Kellan cleared his throat behind me and I jerked and turned. The look on his face wasn’t one of anger exactly, more of a
what the hell, dude
look. Which I could understand.
“Kellan, hey. Let me get someone to take care of serving the food, and I’ll meet you over at that table. I really want to talk about that baseball camp.”
He nodded and went to the table I’d nodded to. My assistant coach came over and I let him start plating up the slices. After
wiping my hands on a paper towel, I joined Kellan at the table. I was nervous. So nervous that my hands were shaking. This was going to be the longest conversation I’d had with Kellan since I dumped April. Before today, the most words he’d said to me was a long expletive-filled rant at an end-of-the-year party two days before I left for college. He’d been… inventive with the curses he’d used. There were several that were so creative I’d been impressed even while my heart broke, knowing my friends were severing all connection with me.
“Okay,” I said, “That camp? What do you think about it?”
Kellan sat back and crossed his arms. “I don’t know. What are they going to teach Aiden that you can’t?”
I nodded. “I know a lot, and I can teach him everything I know, but there are twelve other kids that need my attention. The camp will have a ton more one-on-one stuff than we can offer. Plus, he’ll get a lot of experience playing with and against really high-level players. Most of the kids on his team are great kids, but they aren’t at his level. He’ll improve faster if he’s practicing against kids who are closer to where he is skill-wise.”
Kellan chewed at the inside of his cheek and glanced over at Aiden, who was sitting next to April, Kris, and Chelsea, stuffing pizza into his mouth. “How much is the camp? How many days?”
I sighed. “It’s several hundred dollars. It is pretty expensive. I’m not going to lie about that. It’s two towns over, in the next county. They hold it at a college athletics compound. It’s two weeks long. Ten days, actually, not counting the weekends.”
Kellan let out a breath and put his elbows on the table. “Steff, that’s a lot of money for me. Plus the travel back and forth? I don’t know when I’d have time.”
Before I could stop myself, I blurted, “I’ll take him.”
Kellan frowned. “What?”
“Uh… I said I’ll take him and bring him back. I’m one of the guest coaches for the whole camp. It’s ten days, I don’t mind swinging by before and after.” I shook my head. “Aiden has so much potential and natural talent. He looks better than I did at that age. I want him to have all the chances he can get to become a better player. I mean, a full ride to college will be nice in about ten years, won’t it?”
Kellan raised his eyebrows. “Ain’t that the truth. Okay, okay, I’ll think about it.”
It was all I could ask of him. Hopefully, he agreed. No matter our history, I didn’t want that to be the thing that made Aiden miss out on something awesome. Thinking the conversation was over, I stood to leave, then Kellan stretched out a hand and clasped my forearm. Not hard, or aggressively, but firm enough for me to stop moving and look at him again.