Page 44 of Don't Hurt Us
“I just got off the phone with Coach Tom.”I settle onto the edge of the coffee table, placing myself right in front of Danny.
“You did?Will he be better in time for the season?”Danny’s gaze lifts and there’s so much hope staring back at me, impatiently waiting to know if something else will change his life in a huge way.
“Nah, I don’t think he will… But someone else will be your new coach.He’ll continue your weekly practices and games.”
“Really?Who?”Danny’s face lights up immediately.He’s so excited it makes a smile spread across my lips.I love this kid and his enthusiasm for baseball.
“Me.”
“Seriously?Thank you, Maverick!”Danny leaps off of the couch and throws himself into my arms.It knocks me back, but I'm able to right myself before we both tumble off the coffee table.“You’re the best!I'm so happy to have you in my life!”
He pulls away and swipes at his cheeks.He reminds me so much of myself when I was his age.Baseball was my entire world back then.I would’ve been crushed if something like this happened to me.
“I'm going to call Jeremy and let him know baseball isn't canceled!”He runs out of the room before we can even respond.
“You didn’t have to do that, Mav,” Sydney says softly.
“I didn’t, but I wanted to.Look at how excited he is.”I take Danny’s place on the couch and wrap my arm around her shoulders.
“When will you have time for that?”
“Don’t worry about it.I’ve got everything handled.”I press a soft kiss to her head.
Sydney doesn’t know I have more help at the bar.I’ve been keeping it quiet until I knew the new people I hired are a good fit.I’d hate to get her hopes up for nothing.
“I'm worried about him,” she whispers.
“What do you mean?”
“He’s doing so well right now…” she trails off as she nibbles on her bottom lip.
“And?”I prompt, unsure of where she’s going with this.
“I think Pecker’s going to move to Philadelphia.He says he’s sticking around for as long as I need him, but he loves Sophia.I can't make him stay.He deserves to have his own life.Even though I’d hate to see him go, at least he’ll be living next to Wyatt.”
“Are you upset because Peck will be moving or worried Danny will lose it again?”I ask softly.
Sydney’s such an amazing woman.I know she’s worried more about her kids than she is about herself, it’s just the way she is.
“Yes,” she whispers, giving me a small smile.“I just got my brother back and found out I have a second brother.Now, I'm going to lose them both to Philadelphia.”
“We can go visit them whenever you’d like.”
“We?”She arches a brow in my direction.
“I told you, I'm in this for the long haul.And Danny will be fine because I’ll make sure of it.I won't let him fall off the deep end again.I’ll make sure I'm here whenever he needs someone to talk to.”
“You can't do that.You have an entire business to run.”
“I was waiting to tell you because I wanted to make sure it works out first… But I hired two more people.With them working, I won't need to work at all.If someone is sick, I might need to go in, but for the most part, I won't need to be at the bar unless I want to be.”
“Maverick,” she whispers, staring up at me as tears fill her eyes.
“We’re a team, Syd.I don’t expect you to do anything alone anymore.If Peck moves, we’ll be fine.When you have to work, I can take care of the kids.”
“Thank you.”She throws herself into my arms and hugs me tightly.“I don’t know what I’d do without you.”
“You’ll never find out,” I murmur, holding her close.
