Page 104 of The Moment They Can Never Forgive
“You need to focus now, Leah. Dan’s first base usually, and you’re taking his place,” Zoe said.
“Right, focus,” she muttered.
Game day was always a big deal, but it was an even bigger deal when the two Lyntacky teams were playing each other, like they were today. The bleachers were full of supporters separated into two distinct sections. This had been implemented by Tripp when the heckling turned into fighting a few years back, or so one of Birdie’s emails had told Leah.
On the right sat the Lemon Levelers, and on the left sat the Lavender Leaders. The seats were filled with pastel in support of their teams.
“Do you think Mom’s been a bit giggly this week?” Sawyer asked Brody.
“Giggly?” Brody said as the ball whistled back to Leah from Zoe. The only female Duke arrived seconds later.
“Kinda happy,” Sawyer said.
“Who’s happy?” Zoe demanded. Her cap was pulled down low, the black tail of her hair fed through the back. “And how dare they be.”
“Mom,” Sawyer said. “She’s giggly.”
“Who’s giggly?” Ryder asked. “Better not be you, bro, because the changes in you are hard enough to take, but if you start giggling, Sawyer, we’re going to have problems.”
“Mom,” Zoe clarified.
Leah thought about leaving and even took a step backward.
“Ah,” Brody said. “Noticed that, did you?”
“Shouldn’t we be happy she’s giggly?” Ryder asked.
“My point here is, why?” Sawyer demanded, sounding testy now.
They all turned to look at the stands, so Leah did the same.
“That’s why,” Brody said.
Seated next to Robyn Duke was Leah’s Uncle Callum, and beside him were Hudson and Dan, wearing his sling. Next to them were all the other members of the Duke family.
“What am I looking at?” Sawyer demanded.
“Second row, middle,” Zoe said.
Brody whistled, Sawyer made a growling sound low in his throat, and Ryder sighed.
“I’m just going to?—”
“Nope,” Zoe said, grabbing Leah’s arm as she started to walk away. “Don’t be a shisken shit.”
She’d known, of course, because her uncle had told her that Robyn Duke was a lovely lady who he’d asked out for a meal, and she’d accepted. What she now knew was how her children felt about that. Not happy, if the scowls on two of the males were any indication.
“I say good for you, Mom,” Zoe said. “And you Neanderthals are not saying anything but supportive words about this.”
“If it helps, I can tell you my uncle is a really good guy,” Leah said.
“What do you meanthis?” Sawyer asked, ignoring Leah. “There is no this. That man won’t stay. He never does,” Sawyer said. “He’ll hurt her.”
“Ah, excuse me, but I won’t stand here and let you insult my uncle.” Leah felt a flush of anger. “He’s about the only good relative I have, so no way am I allowing you to do that.”
“What she said,” Zoe added.
“And,” JD said, pushing into the circle of Dukes, “your mom is just having some fun.”
