Even the Score(41)

I followed his pointed finger and cupped my mouth with my hands when I saw Justin. “Yo, Sutter!”

Justin whipped around at the sound of his last name, grinning when he saw me and Logan. He said something quickly to the person he was talking to and walked over. “What’s up, buddy?” He raised his hand high in the air so that Logan would have to jump to high-five it.

After Logan smacked it, Justin clapped a hand over my shoulder. “How’s it going, boss? You guys just get here?”

“Yeah, a little bit ago. Let me see these jerseys.” I pulled the fabric on his chest out a bit. “These are sharp.”

“They’re pretty badass, aren’t they?” He spun in a circle so we could admire his red #9 jersey, special made for the Home Run Derby. The short sleeves were black and had red, white, and blue stars along the hem.

“That’s awesome,” Logan blurted out.

“You think so?” Justin grinned down at Logan after shooting me a quick wink. “They’re selling replicas over there for only like two hundred bucks. You should tell your dad to get you one.”

Logan’s face shot to me. “Can we, Dad?”

“Anything you want, big guy,” I answered Logan before glaring at Justin, who was laughing hard behind his hands. “Thanks a lot, asshole.”

“All right you two, we’re gonna warm up soon, so I’m gonna get going. Cheer for me, okay, dude?” Justin gently smacked Logan in the chest.

“Before you go, have you seen anyone else?” I asked Justin.

“Yeah, I saw Brody and Viper for like five minutes, and I also saw Danicka.”

“You did?” I was surprised. She’d been really quiet at work all week and then said she wasn’t sure if she would make it, so I assumed she wasn’t feeling well.

“Oh, yeah.” His eyes widened and he bit his lip as he looked down at Logan, who wasn’t paying attention, then back up at me. “I saw her. We all saw her. Wow, dude. Wow.”

I rolled my eyes and waved him off. “Get outta here.”

Justin trotted off toward a bunch of the other guys, one of them being Kyle Keegan. That poor tall, lanky kid stood a few inches above everyone else in height and worlds behind them in maturity. After I studied Kyle for a minute, he stepped to the side, and I noticed Danicka was right behind him, looking down at her cell phone. Wow was an understatement. Except for that first night when she was setting up her office, I’d only seen her in skirts and button-down shirts at the office. Tonight she was wearing cut-off jean shorts, a white Cubs jersey with blue pinstripes, and a red tank top underneath. Her long, dark, wavy hair flowed down her back as she turned her head to talk to people, and all I could think about was running my hands through it and grabbing a fistful.

“Sir?” I jumped at the weird close-talker who was standing next to me, leaning in way too far.

I took a step back, glaring at him as leaned in close and repeated himself. “I said that’ll be twenty-three dollars.”

“Twenty-three dollars? For wha—” I caught myself as I looked down at Logan, who’d found a seat and was happily munching on a hot dog, nachos, and a bag of peanuts. He grinned at me with cheese in the corners of his mouth as I groaned and took out my wallet.

“Oooh, whatcha buying me?” Danicka walked up, flashing that million-dollar smile as I counted out thirty bucks and gave it to the vendor. He reached in his pocket for change, but I gently stopped him. “Just keep it.”

“Big spender.” Danicka wiggled her eyebrows up and down.

“Yeah, not quite, but I’m a sucker and can’t tell the kid no.” I put my wallet back in my pocket, stealing a glimpse of the tan, soft skin just below her collarbone as I looked toward the ground. I wanted to touch that skin so damn bad.

She tilted her head. “What kid?”

I took a step back, waving toward the always-hungry miniteenager behind me. “My son, Logan.”

Danicka let out a small gasp, and her eyes grew huge as she looked from him to me. “I’ve never met your son.”

“Logan, stand up. Don’t be rude.” I pulled the shoulder of his T-shirt as he scrambled to stand and not drop any of his food in the process.

“Hi, Logan. My name’s Dani, and I work with your dad.” Danicka leaned forward and pinned her hands in between her knees so that she was down on Logan’s height. I knew exactly what that looked like from his angle, and for just that one moment, I desperately wished I could switch places with my son.

“Hi.” He grinned back, clueless that he was having one of the best moments in his entire life at nine years old.