Anything but Minor - Kate Stewart Page 0,60
looked adorable in his little league outfit, armed with a mini slugger, and eager as Rafe whispered to him.
“He’s so good with them, all of them,” she said as she looked over at me. “Every year, without fail, he shows up to teach these kids everything he knows. It’s kinda hard not to fall for him a little.”
I nodded, my eyes trained on the exchange between a little boy and his coach.
“I think I’m moving to Atlanta,” Kristina said as she watched. “Dillon’s father’s parents live there, and they’ve offered to help me get settled. They’ve been begging for years for me to bring him, and I need a change.”
My heart cracked at her announcement. “You really want that?”
“Yes, I think I need to try somewhere new. I can go back to school while they watch him. I couldn’t afford to do both here.”
“Kristina, I could help.”
She flung her hand dismissively. “I love you, babe, but you have your own man to concentrate on. It’s not that far, and I’m not sure if it’s happening, but I’m thinking about it.”
“Crap,” I whispered as I turned to her. “I’ll hate it here without you.”
“I’m just thinking for now. Besides, aren’t you happy here?”
“Sure.” I looked over at Rafe as he encouraged the tiny players.
I’d never felt so amazing, so completely powerful, yet helpless at the same time. In the past few weeks, I’d felt Rafe’s distance. We’d spoken less every day he was on the road. My texts went unanswered more than once. When he’d arrived home last night, he’d been more than quiet. He’d been withdrawn and refused to admit it.
“You’re falling for him,” Kristina noted as I turned to her with a nod.
“It’s obvious?” I asked as I slid my sunglasses over my eyes. Right at that moment, Rafe looked my way and gave me a small smile, which I returned.
Kristina nudged my arm. “He’s just as obvious.”
“I don’t think that’s what that is, Kristina.”
She looked over at me with worry etched on her face. “What’s wrong?”
“I don’t know yet.”
Rafe gently pitched the ball a few times as Dillon swung away. Kristina and I hollered out words of encouragement. Dillon’s bat connected and the ball flew centerfield. Stunned, he turned and looked directly at his mother with a glowing and unbelieving smile. Kristina stood and waved frantically. “Run, buddy!” Rafe watched the ball go midfield then began to wind his arm, encouraging him to run. Dillon darted from one base to the next then slid into home plate. Rafe was already there to pick him up and pat him on the back.
“Wow,” I said as I watched their exchange then turned to Kristina.
She wiped a tear from her eye and looked over at me with light laughter. “PMS,” she said in excuse.
As the game ended, Dillon ran up to us, and Rafe followed closely but kept his distance...from me.
“You did good today, buddy,” he called after Dillon, who took his Gatorade and drank it down with greed.
I took a step toward Rafe and felt him tense, so I remained planted. Kristina hovered over Dillon, and for a moment, the space between the three of us felt uncomfortable. I’d agreed to be Rafe’s only a short time ago, and he had kissed me in public quite passionately, but in that moment, I felt hurt and rejection I’d never experienced, and it scared the hell out of me.
Silence lingered as Rafe waved a quick goodbye to the rest of the little people and their parents.
“Come on, buddy,” Kristina said to Dillon, who looked at Rafe with stars in his eyes. “Let’s go get some lunch and ice cream.” Kristina turned to me. “Girls’ night soon?”
I nodded with my eyes on Rafe, who seemed to be absorbed in his thoughts.
As soon as Kristina was out of earshot, I took a step forward. “What am I missing?”
Rafe shrugged as he began to gather the bats. “Nothing.”
“Okay,” I said as I picked one up and handed it to him. He took it with a small “Thank you.”
“I’m leaving,” I said as Rafe snapped his eyes to mine. “I’m just going to go”—I swallowed hard— “visit my mom.”
His lack of protest told me so much more than his distance. We hadn’t seen each other in weeks. I braced myself as I spoke to him again. “You should know you’re a really special man. You have a lot of patience with those kids. I can tell they adore you.”
Rafe dropped the bats and cursed as he