Page 33 of Curveball
“I do, and I should, but I actually called for a reason.Anotherreason, I mean. Other than why you yelled at me this morning.”
“I’m really sorry about that.”
“It’s done. However, Nat mentioned you helped chauffeur her around this week. I want to . . . to . . . thank you.”
“Wow, did that hurt?” she says through a damn chuckle.
I knuckle my beard, because it kind of did.
“Only a little.”
She’s still making funny noises in her throat and I’m not even mad that this amuses her.
“Tough guy,” she says, and she’s mocking me. I know she is, and I’m okay with it. It’s better than angry, or sad, or anything else we’ve been through tonight. Except horny. I still like that best.
“Right. But I think I should do something for you. You know, to make up for the favor. It was a big ask.”
“Youshould?” And Christ, does she ever let up?
“Could. Fucking want to. Jesus, woman, what do you want from me? I thought I could work with your boy a bit, give him some pointers since his coach took a powder, but fuck you if?—”
She cuts me off, and now she seems sincere rather than taunting.
“Look, I appreciate the offer, really. But Natalie . . . your travel schedule . . . you’re gone so much. When you’re at home, don’t you want to spend time with your daughter? Doesn’t she want that? Expect it, even?”
I nod, though she’s not here to see. “Fair point.”
“Dylan’s dad was never much of a father. I understand how disappointing an absent parent is. Do you?”
I scrape my fingers through my hair and again knuckle the scruff covering my chin.
“Hey, I don’t need you to come down on me for how I raise my kid. I hear Dylan and Nat are friends. She’ll want to be there, too. And I’ll need her help anyway.”
“Okay, now I’m curious. Just what do you have in mind, giving him pointers?”
It’s been a gradual shift, this lightening of her mood, but I think that’s a smile in her voice. I’m still on the bubble as to her being my favorite person—my kid’s still on the headmaster’s shit list because of her—but I remember that smile, how it stretches wide and can light up her entire face.
I fall back in the cushioned chair, and bring the phone close. “This is planning ahead some since I’ll be away a few more days, but can you bring him over when I’m back in town? I have a setup in the yard. It’s simple. A backstop with a plate. A mound with an L-screen. A cage that Nat uses for batting practice.”
“That doesn’t sound simple at all.”
“You’ll think so when you see what some of the other guys have.”
A low chuckle comes from her.
“I guess we’re going to have to imagine that. But thank you. Dylan will be over the moon. So far, he only gets to practice with the team and the school’s equipment.”
“I think it’ll be fun for him, and hopefully, he’ll learn something.”
There’s a knock at the door. Probably room service. I abandon my relaxed pose and sit forward in the seat.
“Hey, I’ve gotta go. Someone’s at the door. But, Palmer Girl?”
“Yeah?”
“When I message you tomorrow, you’re gonna want to pick up the phone.”
“You think so?”
