Page 26

Sam

W e didn’t have much time that morning to relax before we needed to head to the airport. I reluctantly returned to my suite to pack up my belongings, having promised to be back before we needed to go to the airport to help her.

As I zipped up my suitcase, Josie texted me. I opened it to find a photo of Kelsey and me holding hands as we left the restaurant last night. The brief caption noted my name and that I’d been seen with a mystery woman.

Josie: Is this your good luck charm?

Me: Her name is Kelsey, but if you are referring to the perfect game, yes, that’s her.

Josie: She’s really young, Sam.

Me: Twenty-one.

Josie: Wow. We’ll see more of her, won’t we?

Me: I hope so. I’ve asked her to travel with me for the rest of the season. She has limitations with work and the baby, but she’s looking into it.

Josie: You’ve always been so cautious. This is so unlike you. I hope you know what you’re doing.

Me: If all goes well, you’ll host all of us for a night while I’m in Texas.

Josie: Aren’t you in New York next week?

Me: Yeah.

Josie: I don’t think you’ll be able to avoid Dad much longer. He caved and called me.

Dad and Josie were more estranged from each other than we were.

Josie looked so much like our mother that I think she reminded him too much of her.

I doubted that he would make any effort with me if I hadn’t chosen to play baseball.

We’d spent too many years hoping that he’d realize that we were more important than random women and alcohol and now resigned ourselves to limiting our interactions for the benefit of our mental health.

Me: I already know I need to see him while I’m in the City. Hopefully, Gramps will come, too. That will take some of the pressure off.

Josie: Well, just be careful. If you think you might want something serious with this woman, Dad could scare her off or hit on her.

I wouldn’t put anything past him. You might also want to give Luna a heads-up.

I know you two have a very casual relationship, but if you are pursuing Kelsey, you need to cut her loose.

Me: Luna and I have always been clear on what was going on, but point taken, I will let her know.

Luna had been a close family friend for years; she and Josie had gone to college together, and we had many mutual ties.

Josie had always suspected that Luna only accepted what I was willing to give but that she’d eventually push for more.

No one else knew, but Luna was in love with someone else, a mutual and very married friend.

While I knew with certainty that Josie was wrong, I wasn’t at liberty to explain to her why.

When I called Luna, she’d already seen the photo online.

“She’s adorable, Sam. I’d love to meet her when I’m in town next.”

“I would love that. Plus, you can milk Josie's sympathy. She’s convinced that I’ve left you heartbroken.”

“If only she knew. There’s nothing worse than watching a trainwreck from the outside.”

“I think you give Craig far too much credit. He and Alyssa made their choices, and as a result, they are billionaires. They chose to marry each other and dominate the world’s food industry. If he realizes that there’s more to life than money, he has the means to find his way out of that situation.”

“Which we know he never will,” Luna sighed heavily. “Good luck, Sam. Watching your parent’s mistakes influenced you, but you can have a career and a relationship. You aren’t your father. If you were going to cave to the pressures, you would have done that already.”

“I don’t know how far Kelsey will let me in, but this is the first time I wanted to try.”

We chatted for a few more minutes when I realized the time.

We said goodbye and hung up the phone, promising to catch up soon.

Avery had checked in to see how Crew was making out, and I shared Kelsey’s contact information with her directly.

I figured it might be good for Kelsey to have a direct line with someone other than me should she choose to travel with me.

I had a three-hour flight back to Boston with her and planned to do everything possible to convince her while I had the opportunity.