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“Hot dog!” Andrew added, cuddling up next to Caleb on the bleachers, even though it was eighty degrees outside and humid.

“I’m good,” Caleb said.

Mom put her hand on my shoulder, guiding me away from the bleachers. When we got out of earshot, she said, “You looked like you were about to murder him, and there were too many witnesses around for me to let that happen... even if I wanted you to.”

I gave her a wry smile and then let out a sigh as we walked over the dirt path between bleachers to the concession stand. After getting hit by a foul ball, I made sure to keep a lookout every time I heard a bat make contact. “It’s just hard to see him swoop in and be the hero when I’m the one handling everything. You know Cora threw a royal temper tantrum yesterday morning because we were already running late and the braid I put in her hair didn’t lookjust like Elsa’s? And Andrew’s teacher called to tell me that he has no interest in doing his schoolwork. He just doodles. Never mind the fact that Levi barely has two words to rub together these days.”

Mom said, “I believe all of that. Especially after all the struggles we had with your hair or talking too much in class. And you too had your teenage moments.”

“Hey, I’m pretty sure I still have nightmares about getting my hair done before school.”

Her chuckle loosened me up a little. “Kids are smarter than we think, and they know who’s there for them at the end of the day.”

We reached the snack shack and put in orders for the kids. Just before we were about to pay, I said, “Hey, can we get some Cracker Jacks, too?”

As the high school kid running the booth went to get our snacks, Mom gave me a curious look. “I thought you hated those?”

“I do. I just... know someone who might enjoy them.”

Mom’s jaw dropped open. “You met someone!” Her light brown eyes danced with excitement. “That’s why you had to ‘work late’ last night, isn’t it?”

Could blushing violate an NDA? Because this blush was definitely giving me away.

A knowing smile spread on my mother’s lips. “I know, I’m your mom, you don’t have to say anything.” The kid came back with the snacks, and I held the nachos and Cracker Jacks while Mom took the drinks and popcorn. “I’m happy for you, though, getting back out there. You deserve to have a little fun,” she said.

I completely agreed.

When we reached the stands, Dad scooted further from Caleb like he needed us to separate them, his arms folded over his chest. And that was saying something because my dad didn’t make enemies.

Cora and Andrew were happy to have their food, and I settled in, leaving the kids between Caleb and me as I asked my dad, “What did I miss?”

Dad opened his mouth to answer, but Caleb said, “Levi missed a grounder.”

Of course Caleb would only notice the negative. Dad added, “He caught a pop fly too.”

A small smile tilted my lips. “Good.”

We cheered for Levi through the first inning, and when he got up to bat, Caleb yelled loudly from the stands.

“GO, LEVI!”

Levi glanced our way on his walk to home plate, and when he saw Caleb there, his jaw fell open. He hid his smile as he walked to the plate, trying to act cool while adjusting his batting glove and then hitting his bat on the ground.

As he squared up for the pitch, I crossed my fingers in my lap.Please hit it, Levi. Please hit it.

“You don’t need to be superstitious,” Caleb said at the same time the ball flew over the plate.

Strike.

“You’ve got it, Levi!” I yelled, clapping my hands together. “You can do this!”

He squared up again, and I crossed my fingers on both hands this time. Cora did the same.

“Just like your mother,” Caleb muttered. It was not a compliment.

Strike.

I glared at him over Cora’s head.