Even the Score(42)

“You’re seriously the cutest thing I’ve ever seen,” she cooed at him.

His cheeks grew red and his chin dipped down. “Thanks.”

“You look just like your dad.” Her gaze caught mine, then bolted away quickly as she cringed and realized what she’s just said.

“He does look like me. Little baller.” I held my fist up and he bumped it.

“How old is he?”

I sighed and tilted my head back and forth. “His birth certificate says he’s nine, but if you go by the way he eats and what I pay in groceries every week, he’s seventeen.”

The stadium lights sparkled in Dani’s dark eyes as she giggled. “I bet.”

“Danicka!” someone called from behind her. She turned around and held up one finger before turning back with a sigh. “People keep trying to steal me tonight.”

“Can’t say that I blame them,” I mumbled, louder than I meant to.

“What?”

“Nothing,” I lied.

She narrowed her eyes at me as she turned her head to the side just a tad. “Mm-hmm. I don’t think I believe you, but for the sake of Logan not hearing my sailor mouth, I’m gonna let it go.” She looked down at my son. “Logan, it was very nice meeting you, and I hope I get to see you again sometime.”

“Nice meeting you, too,” Logan responded, spraying her leg with taco chips and tiny pieces of peanut.

I sighed loudly. “Oh my God, sorry about that. Logan!”

“Stop.” She reached out and grabbed my arm as she lifted her leg onto the seat to wipe it. “It’s not a big deal. You forget we work with jocks for a living. That’s probably not the worst thing I’ve had running down my leg.” She winked at me and strode off.

As she walked away, I couldn’t help but stare.

“Oooooh, Andy’s got a girlfriend!” Viper sang loudly as he walked up next to the other side of me.

My eyes dropped quickly down to Logan and back up as I punched him in the arm. “You wanna shut the hell up, please?”

Viper pinched his eyes shut tight and grimaced when he realized Logan was sitting right behind me. “My bad, dude.”

Brody strolled up next to Viper, smacking him hard on the back of the neck. “Isn’t it usually your bad, you moron? What did you do this time?”

“Uh.” Viper panicked as he rubbed the back of his neck. “Our friend Andy here was just looking real close, trying to see what brand jean shorts Danicka Douglas was wearing, and I commented on it . . . loudly.”

Brody peeked around the side of Viper and noticed Logan sitting in the seat. “What’s up, L-Dawg!” he called out, holding a fist out to him. Logan rolled his eyes and punched it back.

“What was the look for?” I asked, annoyed with my son’s manners.

“I’m just ready to start. When’s it gonna start?” he whined.

“Good evening, ladies and gentlemen. Could we have your attention for just a second, please?” a man announced over the loudspeaker. “We’re going to need all the kids who are catching in the outfield to please report to home plate now. We’ll be starting in just a few moments.”

My eyebrows shot up. “Look at that, they must have heard you. Get out there!”

Logan jumped up from his seat, pushed his garbage into my arms, and ran past us, out onto the field.

“Wow. Nice timing,” Brody said.

“Dude, I really am sorry,” Viper apologized again. “I didn’t even see him sitting there.”

“It’s fine.” I crossed my arms as I looked out over the field, trying not to lose track of Logan, who was sprinting out to center field in a sea of other kids.

“You were checking her out, though.” Viper chuckled.

“No I wasn’t,” I lied.

Viper frowned at me. “Hell yeah, you were. Big-time.”

I squinted my eyes, looking for Logan’s red shirt and baseball cap. “Enough,” I said sternly.

“Oooh, I do believe you hit a nerve, Sir Lawrence Finkle,” Brody teased.

“I certainly did.” Viper’s eyes were huge. I’d given him just enough fuel to keep the fire going, but I was doing my best to avoid eye contact, hoping those idiots would go sniff around somewhere else. “So what’s the deal? You like her?”

“No.” I sighed, hoping he’d get the hint and stop pushing the issue.

“Whoa,” Viper said drily. “Did you hear that sigh, Murphy? He totally likes her. Andy wants Dani.”

“I think you’re right. Andy does want Dani,” Brody teased.

Viper slapped Brody’s chest playfully. “Do you know if they got together, their relationship name would be ‘Dandy’?”