Page 467 of Small Town Firsts
“Nora?”
“Yeah?”
He sat beside me on the couch. “If you don’t want to do this, it’s okay.”
“No!” I put my head in my hands. “No, that’s not it. Just nerves. I mean, we’ve known each other forever. I just...”
“Never saw me that way?”
I wasn’t sure that was true.
I’d never been part of the popular crowd until Booker had started dating me. Before we got serious, I had a feeling Booker’s attention hadn’t solely been on me. He was the best hitter on the IVH team and had many admirers.
After I started going to games to see what the fuss was, I did notice Sully. He was quieter than most of the guys on the team, but it seemed as if he was always in his head or helping out the coach instead of messing around.
I ignored that long ago tingle mostly because Booker had been so overwhelming. He’d always had a mercurial temperament, but when he was on a high, I’d get swept into his orbit. Swept so fast, that I didn’t even see the current coming for me. By then, it had been too late.
“Nora?”
“Sorry, dipping into the past.”
“Thinking about Booker?” His voice was even, but tight.
I shook my head. “No. Well, not really. More like I was remembering you on the field. The first time I noticed you. So serious about the team. Like you were five steps ahead.”
He flushed. “Yeah. I could never really fall into just the rhythm of the game. I was too worried about the next inning, the next hitter. Was the pitcher having an off day?”
I turned so my knees were pointed toward him. “Because you take care of people.”
“Ripley is the oldest, but he was always one foot out the door. I was the defacto eldest.”
“You take care of all your brothers and now Danny.”
He nodded. “I just got Danny back.”
I frowned. “What do you mean?”
He settled back on the couch. “My ex is...not the best. She took off with Danny in the middle of the night.”
I reached over and touched his thigh. “Oh, Sully.”
And a few things that didn’t make sense clicked into place. No wonder Danny seemed a little apart from everyone. Well, not the dog and certainly not Anna, but around everyone else, he was perpetually watching. Maybe even making sure he wasn’t going to make anyone angry.
“Yeah, she decided she didn’t want to play mom anymore and dropped him back off for Christmas.” His fingers fisted on either side of his legs.
I reached for his hand, cupping both of mine around it. “How long was he gone?”
“Four years.”
“God.”
He turned to look at me. “Sexy conversation, hey?”
I laughed. “He’s important to you. As he should be, but now I can see why—” I cut myself off.
“Why we’re a little strained? We’re getting there, but it’s been a slow process. He doesn’t talk about his mom, and I’m not entirely sure he even misses her. It’s more that he’s afraid?—”
“He’s going to be taken away again.”
