Page 41 of Chasing the Sun

But of course I did.

She was by the playground, her tanned legs flashing in the sunlight as she chased after Winnie, the kid’s high-pitched giggles carrying across the grass.

Elodie lunged, grabbed her niece around the waist, and tumbled into the grass, both of them dissolving into playful laughter.

I clenched my jaw.

She was wearing a stupidly cute red sundress, the hem flaring around her thighs as she rolled onto her back, breathless from chasing her niece.

She had nothing to do with this game. Nothing to do with me.

So why the hell was I still looking?

I exhaled sharply, rolling my shoulders back, turning away.

I shifted my weight at first base, pounding my glove once against my palm, keeping loose. Hayes was at shortstop, scanning the field with that quiet, brooding intensity that made it look like he was plotting something other thansoftball. Brody, the only guy who took this league semiseriously, was on the pitcher’s mound, already talking shit to the batter. Wes, stationed at third, had his hands on his knees, grinning like he was having the time of his life. We rotated positions sometimes, but tonight this was the lineup.

The game started, and I told myself I was done thinking about Elodie, but my body had other plans. I was acutely aware of her, my eyes sneaking glances to see if she was watching me just as intently as I was watching her.

During the game, everything clicked. My swings were clean, my throws were sharp, my reflexes wereon. I wasn’t even thinking—I was just playing. For the first time in weeks, we weren’t losing and the team’s energy was high.

Every time I glanced up, Ellie was still there. Sitting on the bleachers now, shaded by the old oak trees, watching the game.

She was thigh to thigh with Selene, whispering and smiling as they watched us play. Winnie had lost interest and was twirling in the grass next to the field, completely unaware of where she was standing.

My senses prickled, danger alerting in my brain—the little girl was too close.

Crack.

The unmistakable thwack of a bat connecting with a foul ball.

The sound was too fast, too sharp—and I realized the ball was headed straight for Winnie.

I moved before I could think. My feet pounded against the dirt as I lunged, grabbing Winnie, twisting my body just as the ball slammed into my flank.

A sharp grunt of pain tore through me, but it barely registered. My focus was on the tiny human blinking up at me from the grass.

With a grimace, I looked down at her wide-eyed face. “You okay, kid?” I grunted. “I didn’t crush you, did I?”

Winnie, completely unfazed, grinned. “That wasawesome.”

I huffed out a laugh, shaking my head as I steadied her on her feet. “Yeah, awesome. We’ll go with that.”

I barely had time to process what had happened before Ellie and Selene were there. Selene reached Winnie first, dropping to her knees. “Oh no, Win, are you hurt? You scared me half to death!”

Winnie shook her head. “Mr. Cal saved me.”

Selene looked at me, emotion thick in her voice as she held on to Winnie. “Thank you.”

I nodded. It’s what anyone would have done. I didn’t look at Ellie, but I could feel her eyes on me.

Fuck, my side hurts.

Selene glanced between Winnie and Elodie. “Maybe we should go.”

Winnie pouted, stamping her little foot in the grass and pointing. “But Uncle Hayes is playing.”

Ellie let out a shaky breath, smoothing a hand over Winnie’s hair before finally looking up at me. “Are you okay? Man, that must have hurt.”