Page 5

5

CADE

I can feel Dean’s eyes on me as I tuck into my salad. He whistles softly then says, “Who was that?”

I use my cloth napkin to wipe off the ranch dressing from my chin which buys me time before answering. “Her name is Georgia,” I settle on.

His brows jump. “Georgia, huh? You know her?”

“You could say that.”

“I just did. She is lush. What’s the story?”

“What makes you think there’s a story?” I prevaricate.

“Got my eyebrows singed by looking at the two of you.”

I bite back a grin. “Long story. I’ll tell you later.”

“Is she single?”

“No idea. I haven’t talked to her since I got traded to San Diego two years ago.”

His eyes widen. “Oh, it’s like that then. I think I can fill in the blanks.”

“Some of them.” I wolf down my salad in record time, my leg bouncing in anticipation for the serving of our next course.

“I can’t believe you let that babe get away.”

“My biggest regret,” I admit. Dean and I came up together in Triple-A and have stayed in touch even after he got called up to the majors a year before I did. He plays centerfield for the Cutters and I’ve been placed in left field, so our bond has only strengthened since my return.

“Never too late.”

“She might beg to differ. Didn’t end well,” I say.

“My motto, try to live so you won’t have regrets. You’re single, right? Worth a try.”

I huff out a breath. “It’s a little more complicated than that, my friend. I’ll tell you all about it later.”

“Here she comes,” Dean says, nudging me. I definitely didn’t need him to tell me that, since my radio dial is fully tuned into channel Georgia. She’s carrying that large tray with the grace of a dancer so I think she’s no stranger to waiting tables. Our table is last so I lean my chair back and watch her flit in and out of the kitchen. Dean isn’t wrong, she is lush, even more so since I left her. She’s pretending like the elephant isn’t in the room, that’d be me, but I know better. There is only her and me. I know it, she knows it. Her cheeks are flushed when she finally reaches my table and has to address me.

“You had the seafood, right?” she asks me.

“Yepper. Thanks.” She sets my plate down.

“Welcome.”

She places Dean’s roast beef and mashed potatoes smothered in gravy in front of him and he pats his belly smiling. “Glad we worked out today, Cadester.” Her eyes dart towards me then quickly away.

“I’ll admit I’m having a bit of order envy,” I say.

Georgia finally smiles and says, “The fish is excellent. You’ll like it.”

I feel my heart beat a little faster from the attention, then remember that it’s damn likely she’s been lying to me for two years about a son I never knew I had. She’s not going to charm me out of my rightful anger.

“Does your son like fish?” I drawl and immediately regret it when the color drains from her face. I’m a real asshole. Low blow. I’m sure she feels threatened.

“Um, well, um… yes he does.” She serves the remaining plate to Max “Chill” McCallister, our third baseman, then hastily makes her exit.

“A kid huh?” Dean says watching me intently.

“Yep.”

“Is that why you left her?”

“Thanks for your character endorsement. What kind of jerk do you think I am?” I snap.

“Whoa! I just meant raising someone else’s kid can be complicated. Raising any kid really. Baseball means a lot of sacrifice and flexibility for the family.”

“I’ll vouch for that,” Max pipes in. “I don’t know how Ginny puts up with me. It gets lonely on the road sometimes and I miss her and the kids a lot. Gotta be a real baller to stay focused on the game. It’s all worth it though, not complaining.”

We’re all quiet as we dig into our entrees. She’s right. The fish is excellent. After I finish, I stand up and find my way to the kitchen. Poking my head in the door I search the room but don’t see her.

“Are you lost?” I recognize one of the servers and smile.

“Looking for Georgia,” I say.

Her eyes widen then she studies me appraisingly. “She’s taking a quick break.”

“Is she outside then?” I ask.

She waves towards the emergency exit. “Out there.”

I smile. “Thanks.”

“Good luck tomorrow night. Glad the Cutters picked you up.”

“Well, thank you,” I say before sprinting to the door. I push out into the warm summer night. It’s approaching dusk and the earlier humidity has dissipated some. I turn and there she is… leaning against the brick wall, watching me as if she’s been waiting.

I step tentatively toward her not sure what I’m going to say. I haven’t worked that part out yet. When I reach her, her big green eyes are filled with tears. I tip her chin up forcing her to meet my gaze. Dammit!

“He’s mine, isn’t he?” I ask softly.

She nods then begins to cry. I pull her into my chest and rest my chin on the top of her head, patting her back while her body shudders against me. I murmur soothing nonsense and inhale her delicious scent.

“Shh. It’s okay Gigi.” She stiffens as her old nickname slips out of me like there aren’t two years standing like a brick wall between us.

She pulls away and wipes her eyes with shaky hands. I feel empty. It’s all I can do to keep from hauling her back in my arms. That would be a boner move.

Her breath hitches. “I can’t do this right now. I’m at work,” she says.

“I know. I just came to get your number. We need to talk. That’s all. Okay?” My anger has deflated like a punctured balloon.

She nods again and pulls out a folded slip of paper handing it to me. “I was going to drop this off at the table.”

“You were?”

She gives me a watery smile. “Of course. What do you think I am?”

“I can’t answer that. You’ve kept it from me for almost two years.”

“I know. I reckon I’ll burn in hell for eternity but I didn’t know what else to do. You were called up to the big league. I didn’t want to hold you back by saddling you with a child.”

“What’s his name?” I ask softly.

Her face softens. “August Jacob. But mostly we call him Auggie.”

I grin. “Auggie huh? I like it.”

“He acts just like you. Stubborn as a mule but sweet as pie at the same time.” She covers her mouth realizing what she’d let slip out.

“Stubborn huh?”

She nods, her eyes soft with love. “You have no idea. Listen I have to get back inside.” She takes in a shaky breath. “Call me tomorrow and we’ll talk.”

“I’ll call, but I don’t want to talk about this on the phone. I want to make a date to meet you somewhere.”

With trembling fingers, she tucks a strand of hair behind her ear. “I figured. But not with Auggie. Not yet.”

“I know. I’ll call you tomorrow. What time do you get up?”

She rolls her eyes. “August seems to be an early bird like someone else I know.”

“Good. I have a game tomorrow night and I’ve got to be at the stadium by one o’clock. I’ll call you at nine.” Her red lipstick is slightly smudged so I use my thumb to rub it off. Her eyes meet mine and there’s no way I can even begin to decipher the range of emotions that flash between us. “Georgia, it’s all good. You don’t have to be afraid of me.”

She shrugs a shoulder and says, “It’s hard. It’s been him and me. That’s all about to change. I know it’s right, though.”

I squelch the anger that rises thinking about what I’ve missed. I don’t need to tear her down at this point. We’ve both made mistakes. “We’ll talk tomorrow.”

She pushes off the wall and heads inside. I stare down at the slip of paper with her flowery writing and feel the same kind of charge I felt when I got the call from San Diego. My life is about to change in a big way. I’m a dad! Hard to process everything I’m feeling right now. I follow her inside in a daze and join my table for dessert.