Page 13 of The Ex Next Door (Charming, Texas #8)

T he following week, Declan rushed to baseball practice located at the field where the city recreational grade school team practiced.

He’d promised David he’d be there, and Amy was also counting on him.

While he thought it a good idea they drive together, it worked out that Rob had the kids this week.

At the last minute, Naomi didn’t want to come with them to the practice, so Amy drove to Houston to pick David up.

Declan planned to meet them but hadn’t anticipated Samantha would keep him on the phone so long. She’d grilled him about Amy because he’d made the cardinal mistake of forgetting to mention she’d moved in next door. Sue him, he didn’t think it that important.

“What part about ex do you not understand?” Declan had said.

“The part where she’s young and pretty, living next door and working with you.”

“Well, she needed a job. She’s a single mom.”

“Which means she’s available.”

Declan sighed. “Look, she’s not interested in me, and I’m not interested in her. She was my high school girlfriend, for crying out loud. People change. They grow up and move on.”

“Regardless, I would like to know where I stand with you.”

He’d wanted to gouge his eyes out. They’d had five good dates, and the promise that they each were ready for something real.

It shouldn’t be this difficult to be in a relationship.

But Declan had given up so many times before when things got tough that he reminded himself he shouldn’t.

Not this time. He would try to work it out and see where this went.

Samantha was beautiful and nice, but unfortunately desperately insecure.

It wasn’t his job to constantly reassure her that he was ready for a relationship.

He could talk her up, and he did, frequently reminding her she was smart and capable.

“I’ve got to go,” Declan said, seeing the clock and realizing he was running late. “Talk later.”

He parked now and quickly rushed to the field where the kids were gathering, catching a glance at Amy out of the corner of his eye.

She was seated in an area with the moms, including Bianca, and waved to him.

Declan waited on the sidelines, closer to the action, and where David would see him.

The coaches had gathered the kids together in groups and when they were dispersed, David caught Declan’s eye, grinned and gave him a thumbs-up.

The coach looked on the young side, but that was fine.

You didn’t have to be an expert to coach kids.

All you really needed was a positive attitude.

If he’d learned nothing else from his father, also known as his coach for half his life, he’d learned that tidbit.

Fake it till you make it, sure, but at some point you had to believe in yourself before others would follow suit.

“Declan! What are you doing here?”

Declan froze and slowly turned because he’d recognize his father’s voice anywhere. “Don’t tell me.”

“Okay, I won’t tell you.” His father grinned.

“You’re coaching this rec league?”

“Nope. I’ve come to scout the talent. My Little League team will be starting up soon. Why, are you thinking of coaching? That’s great, son!”

Declan was still absorbing the scouting comment, so it took him a minute to correct his father. “I’m not going to coach. I’m just here to support my other, um, project. You know, the one I told you about.”

Truthfully, Declan hadn’t thought of any of this as one of his goals in a while. Not until he saw his father.

“Ah, yes. How’s that going? When I told your mother Amy moved in next to you, she did a little jig. You know how she adored her.”

Declan shook his head. “We’re just friends.”

“That’s how it starts.” His father clapped Declan’s shoulder. “So, which little guy is yours?”

“That’s David.” Declan pointed. “Amy and Rob’s son.”

His father crossed his arms and spread his legs, coach style. “Well, let’s see what he can do.”

“Dad, look. This is a fun league. We just want him to enjoy the sport of baseball, not start grooming a major league player.”

“Absolutely. I get it. Going all the way is always up to the kid. But let’s face it, it’s fun to win .”

When his father was right, he was right. Yes, winning was fun. That’s why Declan was here to watch. He still loved baseball because the desire had never totally dimmed. The game could be fun and winning could be fun. It was just the “at all costs” part he had a little trouble with.

“Your boy is looking good out there,” his father said.

David was running near the head of the pack.

“He’s enthusiastic, that’s for sure.”

“When are you coming over for dinner? Your mother wants to know.”

“Soon, I guess. I figured you two were happy enough with Finn and Michelle taking up all your time.”

Finn had asked his girlfriend to marry him, and the wedding plans were ongoing.

Declan had grown tired of hearing about flower arrangements and color hues.

He’d check out and was fairly certain Finn did as well but didn’t want to admit it.

Not in front of his lovely fiancée, in any case.

Declan had never seen his brother so in love with a woman and recognized the glassy-eyed “I can’t believe I’m this lucky and she chose me” look in his brother’s eyes.

Declan had seen it in the mirror once before, a long time ago.

“They’re not over all the time. We want to meet Samantha,” his father said.

“Sure, at some point you will.”

Declan wasn’t quite ready to introduce her to the family. He realized that probably said something.

“Still too new, huh?”

“You could say that.”

Finally, the coaches organized the kids into positions on the field and it began to get interesting.

Levels of talent and experience were almost immediately apparent to Declan.

One kid, the one who’d been hanging close to David, was a natural.

Declan could see it in his form, in his easy handling of the mitt and ball. They were well-acquainted friends.

David, on the other hand, seemed to be meeting the ball and mitt for the very first time.

* * *

“Who is that guy?” Amy overheard one of the moms whisper to her friend. “Is he a dad?”

“Is he single?” someone else asked. “Does anyone know?”

From beside Amy, Bianca elbowed her. “Single or taken, he still has that tight ass and wide shoulders.”

“I hadn’t noticed,” Amy said.

Bianca snorted. “Right. Just keep telling yourself that.”

Amy would keep telling herself that. Declan was here for her son and while she was eternally grateful for the interest he’d taken in helping him, she wasn’t going to allow anything else to permeate her active imagination.

Recently, she’d gone back to an old habit of watching old Hallmark movies late at night while the kids were asleep.

Quite a few involved reunions and second chances with couples who didn’t work out the first time.

The idea was certainly enticing because, sure, it would be nice to wind up right back where she started with the one man she thought she’d always love.

The one man she never dreamed would let her go.

But that was all a fantasy and good material for books and movies.

She loved the romance and illusion of it all, but that wasn’t real life.

Real life was broken crayons, eternally lost socks and stepping on Legos while barefoot.

The boys were warming up, and Declan and Mr. Sheridan appeared deep in conversation.

“What’s Declan’s father doing here, anyway?” Amy said.

Though she occasionally saw him around Charming, they hadn’t talked in years. She assumed he’d met Declan here for some reason.

“He occasionally comes out to scout talent for Little League,” Bianca said.

Amy blinked. “Um, what?”

“You heard me. We have high hopes for Matthew.” Bianca sat up straighter. “Mark has been working with him since he was four.”

“Aren’t they a little young for scouting?”

“Oh, no. You can never get started too young in a sport.”

Amy worried now that she’d neglected her son’s physical abilities and certainly Rob had, too immersed in his own career.

“I suppose it’s always good for those scholarships.”

She and Rob hadn’t really saved well for their kids’ college funds. When she’d mention it, Rob would say there was plenty of time for that.

“Exactly,” Bianca said. “That’s what we’d like, a full ride to university. The chances are like two percent so it’s extremely competitive.”

“I had no idea you and Mark were thinking this way.”

“Well, I’d have asked you about it if I’d known your ex was Declan Sheridan .”

“I wouldn’t have been able to help as I hadn’t talked to him in years.”

“But that’s changed.”

“Only because he lives next door, and he was nice enough to recommend me for the part-time cocktail waitress job.”

Bianca scrunched up her nose. “How’s that going?”

“It’s exhausting, sure, but the tips are great.”

It wasn’t exactly a thirty-something-year-old’s dream job, but she was proud of how hard they all worked. Valerie, her kid’s teacher in third grade, was a waitress too when she’d first returned to Charming. She occasionally still helped out even if she was married to one of the owners now.

“I’m glad you got something. Mark said Rob was complaining how you weren’t really trying to get a job because you wanted to stay home with the kids all summer.”

“Excuse me?”

“I shouldn’t have said anything. I’m sorry.”

“It’s okay. Rob should know better.” Her eyes followed Declan, who was now squatting in front of David.

“Hoo, boy, he’s a handsome one. I mean, hell, if I were single… You better believe I’d go after him, guns blazing.” Bianca chuckled maniacally. “Half the moms here would.”

“He’s got a girlfriend.”

“Hey, if there’s no ring on her finger, it’s fair game.”

Amy huffed. “Regardless, I’m not exactly in the position to date anyone.”

“And why not?”

“Because I’m ma—” Amy stopped herself because she was about to say the word married . “Oh my God.”

“Uh-huh. Did you forget? No, you’re not.”

It was possible that she still felt married. After all, the past few months hadn’t been entirely different from Rob being away on business trips. She’d held down the fort before. But now the fort had moved, and she had a job.

“You’re free to date again, to find love again, to rediscover every part of yourself that you’ve buried.”

Amy grabbed Bianca’s hand. “I’m not ready.”

She truly wasn’t ready to be out in the world as a single woman.

“I can’t blame you,” Bianca said. “I talk a good game, but I don’t know what I’d do if I was suddenly single again. It’s scary out there. I wouldn’t know what to do first. Get a tummy tuck? Boob lift? Or take me as I am? There’s a lot of competition out there.”

Competition? Bianca made it sound like a sport. Amy loved sports, from the sidelines, cheering others on. She didn’t want to be in the game!

“I have children,” Amy said.

“Yes, they come first, but what are they going to think if they see their mother wither up and never experience love again? What kind of an example is that? Are they going to feel responsible for you and your future happiness later on?”

Maybe Bianca didn’t realize this, but she was making Amy’s blood pressure spike.

“I’m just thinking out loud here.”

“Well, don’t. Please.”

Bianca patted her hand. “You’re going to be fine. I bet you have someone new before Rob does.”

“Is Rob… Is he seeing anyone?”

Bianca’s husband and Rob were golf buddies, after all. She might know something.

“I… I don’t think so.”

But suddenly Bianca became tight-lipped and watching the kids play of the utmost importance. They were really just throwing a ball around the field, practicing catching.

“Bianca.” Amy pulled on her arm. “You would tell me, wouldn’t you?”

“Yes, of course I would.” She straightened. “He’s not seeing anyone, but he signed up for Tinder.”

Oh my God. Tinder? “So I suppose my children will have to be around this woman, whoever she might be.”

“Well, same goes for you and whomever you wind up dating.”

“I need to talk to Rob about this.”

“Don’t tell him I said anything!” Bianca hissed.

“No, but if we’re going to start dating other people, don’t we need to let each other know? Should our new people meet each other? Do we all have to get along? When is the right time to introduce the kids to the new people? Where do we find the new people? What if they don’t work out either ?”

Amy was vaguely aware her voice had increased in volume and pitch to the point she was on the verge of a full-blown anxiety attack.

“Calm down,” Bianca said. “Breathe.”

“Yes. I’ll breathe.” Amy covered her face with her hands and rocked back and forth in her fold-up chair.

“It’s going to be okay,” Bianca said. “You don’t need to worry about any of this now. There’s time. Hey, look, the boys are having such fun.”

Amy looked up just in time to see Matthew toss the ball to David. Not only did he not catch it with his glove, but the ball also hit him in the stomach and knocked him to the ground.