Page 130 of Really Truly Yours

Kevin is okay. Overly familiar sometimes, but okay. “Just some family stuff. Getting it worked out.”

He nods. “That’s good.” He stretches one leg into the aisle. “Man, you’re lucky.”

“How so?”

“You get to enjoy your stint in paradise.” He clicks his tongue meaningfully. “I’ve got to keep my nose clean this week. You? You can party.”

I’m remembering now the real reason Kevin rubs me wrong. That band on his finger should keep him from the kind of partying he references. I happen to know it does not.

“Sorry, man. I’ll be walking the straight and narrow myself.”

He throws his head into the seat. “I don’t get you, Smith. I hear you were fun once upon a time.”

And I paid the price. I’m a believer, and I violated my faith and my conscience. Not a good feeling.

I steal a second glance. Forget his flippant words, there’s strain around Kev’s mouth and eyes. I get it. Sin takes its toll, whether you call it what it is or not. “How is Vonnie doing? Will she be in Florida?”

He slings me an annoyed look. “You trying to kill my vibe, dude?”

“Nope, only trying to remind you you got more reason than a game to keep your nose clean.” A kid on the way, too, if I remember correctly.

His affect hardens. Sure, I’m violating bro code, trespassing on the whole what happens away stays away motto of athletes everywhere.

His glare lingers long enough to make me question my judgment. He scrapes a palm down multiple weeks’ worth of beard and blows out a breath. “Von and I are done. She left me.”

Reflexively, I glance at the wedding ring.

“Guess I should take it off, huh?”

The sheer fact that he hasn’t speaks volumes. Weird, actually. “I’m sorry, man.”

He shrugs his one-hundred-percent healthy pitching arm. “No big deal.”

Right. He looks like his childhood pet just died.

“What is it with women? They’re all fun and games until the wedding, and then, poof. The good times end.”

I flip up my palms. “I wouldn’t know about that, but she is expecting, right?”

His eyes darken. “Yeah, and if she thinks she’s taking my kid away, I’m here to say right now, that is not going to happen!”

I sure hope he’s concerned more about the child than his own ego. “Any chance you guys can work things out?”

“Doubt it. She’s gotten all religious on me.” He scowls, but as much as anything, he seems flummoxed. “What am I supposed to do with that? If it’s a saint she wants, I am not her guy.”

“You don’t have to be a saint, man, but you do have to recognize you’ve messed up, and not only with Vonnie.” I don’t imagine any woman wants to enter motherhood with a cheating man.

“What are you saying, Smith?”

I’m in the meddling zone, yet I’m compelled forward. It’s time to step up. “I’m saying you blew it. It’s called sin—and there is a remedy for it.”

He hoots laughter, turning a few heads. “That’s right, dude. I forgot you got religious on us too.” He wags his finger a wee bit close to my face. “Does that God of yours know what you’ve done?”

I guess my hypocrisy last year bought me this ride. “As a matter of fact, yeah, He does. And when I repented, He welcomed me back to the family. How would you like that, Kev? Get right with Him…and maybe Vonnie would take a second look, too.”

Sydnee

Donny pumps his fist as the pitcher on the mound, some guy named Kevin something-or-other, throws his fifth strikeout of the game.

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