Page 55 of Hello Billionaire

“If he doesn't come, I'm sure he has a good reason,” I said, even though we both knew it was a bald-faced lie. There was no reason good enough to miss this many of your son’s games, even if you were watching some online. March and April had gone by without him showing up once in person.

We pulled up to the baseball field, the parking lot still pretty sparse since we had to get there a bit early for Levi to warm up. Andrew and Cora went to play on the small playground by the fields, and my parents and I went to the bleachers.

Mom mumbled, “I have half a mind to drive to Austin and a drag him up here myself, preferably by the ear.”

“Me too,” I agreed.

Dad shook his head, half disappointed, half confused. “He didn't seem to be this absent back in Austin.”

“He wasn't,” I agreed. “But that was when it took ten minutes to drive to the ball field instead of three hours.” Caleb would usually do what I asked of him as long as he didn’t have to work, but during business hours or times he was “working late”? He was nowhere to be found. Just like right now.

I clenched my jaw and angrily typed out a text to him.

Farrah: I hope you're getting here soon. Your son really wants you at his game.

I looked at my phone for a little bit, and he didn't reply. Of course.

Mom said, “Levi told me last night that he's starting at shortstop today.”

My eyebrows rose. “No way! He didn’t say anything like that to me. Are you serious?”

She nodded. “He said the coach has been trying out some new things in practice, and with the Ropers helping Levi, he’s improved a lot. He even talked about doing some weights at the high school over the summer so he can get in better shape for next season.”

My eyes prickled with emotion. At the beginning of the year, it felt like Levi had lost hope, but here he was, having goals, making plans, and a big part of that was thanks to Gage.

I made a mental note to have Levi write a thank you note to him after the game tonight.

The younger two kids played while Levi and his team warmed up, and when the team jogged out to the field, I saw that my mom was right. Levi was there with the rest of the starters. Full of pride and happiness, I jumped to my feet, cheering for my son.

On my right, my dad whistled and Mom clapped her hands together enthusiastically. “Go, Levi!” I yelled.

On my left, I heard a voice echo mine. “Go, Levi!”

I looked over, and for the first time in months, I saw my ex.

Caleb looked exactly like I remembered: tall, thick dark hair perfectly parted and styled. He wore a green T-shirt and dark-washed jeans, probably a pair I’d bought him, seeing as he could never shop for himself.

His green eyes bored into me, and I fought the urge to punch him in the face.

“What are you doing here?” I asked at the same time Cora yelled, “DADDY!”

She ran up two rows of bleacher seats and jumped into his arms.

He chuckled, hugging her back. “It’s so good to see you, honey.”

As if he couldn’t have seen her this whole damn time.

Andrew raced up the bleachers behind her, hugging Caleb too, and Caleb made room for both of them, holding them tight.

Andrew said, “I didn’t know you were coming, Dad!”

Of course you didn’t know,I barely kept from saying out loud.He never freaking showed.

I knew I should have been happy he came, but I was irate. Three and a half months without so much as a visit or an offer to meet halfway, and here he was, acting like he actually gave a shit.

Mom touched my arm. “Why don’t we get something from the concession stand? Caleb, kids, do you want anything?”

“Nachos!” Cora said, settling in her dad’s lap.

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