Page 56 of Break Away
“You want this, girl?” He tossed the ball andLucy caught it neatly, looking at him with the ball in her mouthand her tail wagging.
“Lucy, drop.”
At the order, Lucy set the ball neatly onLevi’s foot, staring at it intently as if waiting for it tomove.
“Did you teach her to fetch?” Brad asked.
“I didn’t have to teach her a thing, she wasa natural with it. If I didn’t know better, I’d think she was partlab. Her favorite thing is the Frisbee, and it’s even better if Ithrow it into the lake. It doesn’t matter how cold it is, she’llrun into the water to retrieve a Frisbee all day if I let her.”
Levi picked up the ball. “Will she run off ifyou unleash her?” Zoey shook her head and unhooked the leash. Levimade sure Lucy was following his movements and winged the ballacross the field. Lucy was off like a rocket, chasing down theball, at the same time Jack hit one into left field. When Lucy sawthat ball arcing toward her, she outran Monica and managed to getit in her mouth along with the first ball.
Levi let out a whoop. “Way to go, girl. Bringthem back, baby.”
“The balls are going to be all slobbery,”Zoey told Brad.
“No worries, this is great. During a break inthe game, we can have her fielding balls. Maybe get the FD’sDalmatian out there, too,” Brad mused. “I’ll have to work out thedetails, but the crowd will love it.”
After getting Lucy to drop the balls, Zoeyattached her leash and led her to the bleachers so the guys couldget on with their practice. They had to go behind the home dugoutto the opening in the chain link fence. As she passed through, sherecognized the thin woman with the bleached hair from the postoffice walking hurriedly away from her toward the parking lot.
After practice, Zoey joined the team fordinner at a Mexican food place that had recently opened on MainStreet. Waiting in line to order, she overheard Brad on his phone,saying something about Levi and Zoey like they were a unit. Wasthat how people were viewing them, like they were a couple? Theitchiness turned into a spike of panic.
She started chewing on her lip as they movedup in the line. Several of the players, including Brad, opted toorder their meal as takeout. Zoey sat next to Levi under an awningin the outdoor seating area while they waited for their order. Bradcarried out two large bags and stopped at their table.
Levi raised a brow at the bags. “Your kidseat tacos?”
“Tacos are Owen’s favorite food. He’d eatthem for breakfast if we let him. Amaya is in a quesadillaphase.”
“Good choices. Guess you’re not joining usfor a beer before heading home.”
“Not tonight. Latest news update is thatAmaya got a hold of a tube of her mother’s lipstick and now boththe cat and her brother are pink and everyone needs baths.”
Levi tipped his head back in a full laugh.“Have fun, brother. Glad it’s you and not me going home tothat.”
“Never a dull moment.”
That evening as she readied herself for bed,Zoey found her mind refusing to settle. She brushed her teeth, usedher facial cleanser, applied moisturizer, performing her nightlyritual, but found that the process didn’t calm her like it usuallydid. She couldn’t stop thinking about Levi. Levi telling Jack tolook away so he could kiss her. Levi’s delight in Lucy’sball-catching prowess. The strong column of his throat that hadlooked exceedingly bitable when he had laughed at his brother’sparenting challenges.
Maybe they needed distance. It was all tootempting to slip into a life that included check-in calls,impromptu dinners, and mind-blowing sex in the evenings. Not thatthere’d been more than that one night of mind-blowing sex, butstill. They were acting like a couple, people were viewing them asa couple, and she didn’t know if she was ready for that. If she’dever be ready for that.
She pulled down the covers and plumped herpillows against the headboard so she could lean back with the sheetover her knees. Once she was comfy, she picked up her phone andopened her favorites list. Seconds later the phone on the other endof the line was ringing.
“Hey, my girl.”
“Hi, Mom. How’s it going?”
As her mom talked, telling her about astudent in her caseload, then about meeting Charlie’s girlfriend,Zoey felt some of her disquiet ease.
She smiled at the description of Charlie’sgirlfriend. “A very nice girl,” according to Dawn Hardesty, whoalso had a brother with autism.
“She seems to get Charlie,” Dawn said.“Nothing fazes her. I met them for lunch and you know how he can besometimes when there’s a crowd, and she rolled with it. If I couldcreate the perfect person for him, she’d be it. And he’s over themoon about her.”
“That makes me so happy. All your hard workwith him has paid off.”
“Allourhard work. We three were ateam. You worked as hard as I did to help Charlie become an adultwho could cope with the world.” Dawn paused. “You know, sometimes Ithink you had it the hardest.”
“Me? You’re kidding. Charlie had it thehardest. Or you, a teenage mom, then mom to a special needs child.If Charlie and I are productive, somewhat well-adjusted adults,that’s due to you.”
“Thanks, my girl. But I worried about youtoo. You worked so hard to help me, to help your brother, thatsometimes I wished you could’ve been just a kid. I allowed thatbastard Paul Clauson in our house. I will never forgive myself forthat.”
