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I could let him. He’s the pitching coach. But no, I’m not going to cower. I need to look her in the eye. I need to tell her I’m proud of her and that this is only one day. It will pass.

I shake my head and start to walk to the mound.

The other girls on the team come closer. Bron steps in front of her like she’s trying to protect her from me. That would make me smile if my baby wasn’t looking green in the face. I extend one hand for the ball and the other for her shoulder. I’m going to pat her back and tell her to go shake off this bad day. She places the ball in my hand and shrugs away from my touch, walking quickly toward the dugout. My fingers only get to skim over her shoulder.

The rest of the team barely reacts as I give them instructions. I could swear Suzie sneers at me as she makes her way back to the mound. Bron’s glare is the most hostile thing I’ve seen.

By the time I get back to the dugout, Ayla is on the far end, talking to Cam. He has one hand on her shoulder. She nods a few times. Then, she disappears into the locker room.

Cam comes back to join me, a half-smile on his face. “She’s the real deal, you know that?”

My eyes are still glued to the door where she disappeared. “What did she say?”

“She said she didn’t have it today. That she knew earlier on, but she didn’t want to let the team down. She’s upset she hurt the team by trying to be a hero.”

“Coño.” I swipe a hand over my face.

“Are you going to talk to me? You’re only half here, Ayla is a mess for the first time since I’ve met her, my sister is not picking up the phone, and my daughter looks like she hates both of us right now.”

I glance at the field and find Bron glaring at us as she and Ayla usually do with Suzie.

“I broke up with Lux.”

His face remains impassive. “That much, I figured. Lux hides when she’s hurt. Is that why Ayla’s been sick all day?”

“I don’t want to talk about this with you. That’s your sister.”

“And you’re my friend, and I love that kid.” He hooks a thumb to the door of the locker room. “I need to know what’s going on. Unlike Chase, I’m not going to punch you before I find out why you hurt her.”

I pinch the bridge of my nose. “You can punch me if you want to. It’s not like he didn’t warn me.”

“Just come clean,” Cam snaps.

“Ayla’s been talking to her mother behind my back for weeks. Lux knew and didn’t tell me that the woman who abandoned us is now back in A’s life.”

His jaw goes slack. “What the fuck?”

His voice is louder than he intends, and thankfully, our relief pitcher strikes out the batter to end the inning.

She jogs back to the dugout, smiling. We both high-five her.

Behind her, Bron bypasses the two of us, like we’re not there, and heads to find Ayla.

I don’t tell Cam anything else. Once the game is over and we do the ceremonial shaking of hands, I set off to find A. She’s sitting patiently by Adri, who stands as soon as she sees me.

She rushes my way. Ay follows Bron inside so she can change.

“Let me take her home with us,” Adri asks.

I shake my head. “We need to go to our home and talk.”

“Please. I think you both need a little time before you talk. She needs Bron. She’s really down about the game.”

“Did you know too?” I brace myself because, at this point, I’m expecting everyone to have betrayed me.

She shakes her head. “I wouldn’t have kept that from you.”

“It wouldn’t surprise me.”