Page 14 of Pitch for You

Rich grinned. “That's my boy. Now eat your damn food. You'll need the energy.”

As I dug into my now-cold eggs, I stewed over my situation. She had been through a lot. The divorce, now raising Max on her own, and trying to keep the ranch afloat—it was a lot for anyone to handle. I just hoped that somewhere in all of that, there might be room for me too.

As we paid the bill and left the diner, I decided that being there for her was the best way to show her that I wasn’t the same man that left her behind all those years ago. I had to earn her trust again.

When I got home, I sent her a message.

Thought you and Max might want a night off from ranch duties. How about a BBQ at my place tomorrow night? I’ll invite Rich and Cassandra. They’d love to catch up too. Just burgers and ribs, nothing fancy.

I hit send before I could change my mind.

After an agonizing ten minutes, my phone buzzed.

Surprisingly, you don't need to twist our arms! We'll bring some potato salad and brownies. 6 o'clock work?

I let out a breath.

Sounds perfect.

I spent the next day preparing for the BBQ, cleaning my place from top to bottom and making sure I had everything I needed. As the afternoon wore on, I was growing more and more nervous. This wasn't just dinner with friends; it felt like a test, a chance to prove to Sofia that I could be the man she needed.

At 5:55, I heard the crunch of tires on gravel. My heart leaped into my throat as I saw Sofia's truck pull up, Max's excited face visible through the passenger window. I wiped my sweaty palms on my jeans and went out to greet them.

“Hey there,” I called, trying to keep my voice steady. “Glad you could make it.”

Sofia climbed out of the truck, a covered dish in her hands. She was wearing a simple sundress, her hair loose around her shoulders. She looked beautiful.

“Thanks for having us,” she said. “Max hasn't stopped talking about it all day.”

As if on cue, Max bounded out of the truck, his eyes wide. “Can I see the grill? Dad never let me help with the BBQ.”

There was a pang in my chest at his words. “Sure thing, buddy. Come on, I'll show you how to get the coals going.”

As Max and I headed to the backyard, Sofia watched us. I hoped I was doing the right thing, getting close to Max. I didn't want to overstep, but I couldn't help feeling protective of the kid. He reminded me so much of myself.

Rich and Cassandra arrived a few minutes later, bringing with them a cooler full of drinks. Soon, the backyard was filled with the sizzle of meat on the grill and the warm chatter of conversation.

I stole glances at her throughout the night as she chatted with Cassandra or helped Max build a tower out of spare firewood. Every now and then, our eyes would meet, and I'd feel that spark, the one that had never really gone away.

As the evening wore on and the sky turned a deep purple, Rich pulled me aside. “So, how's it going?” he asked, nodding towards Sofia.

I shrugged, taking a swig of my beer. “It's good. It's... complicated.”

Rich clapped me on the shoulder. “Just keep doing what you're doing, man. She's watching you, you know. The way you are with Max, how you've set all this up. She notices.”

I nodded, hoping he was right. As if on cue, Sofia approached us, her cheeks flushed from the warmth of the fire.

“This was really nice,” she said, her voice soft. “Thank you.”

For a moment, we just stood there, looking at each other. Then, without warning, she leaned in and kissed me on the cheek. It was quick.

Sofia took a deep breath. “I’ve been thinking a lot about everything. And I realized something tonight, watching you with Max.”

I held my breath, waiting for her to continue.

“You've changed,” she said. “You're not the same man who left all those years ago. You have embraced my son… and right now he needs that. So thank you.”

I took her hand in mine. “You know about my dad leaving… he deserves so much better. I hope I haven’t been overstepping.”