Preston Brothers The Complete Series by Leslie North

Author:Leslie North
Language: eng
Format: azw3
Published: 2020-04-14T04:00:00+00:00

9

The last place Charlie ever expected to find himself in the middle of this weekend was the public baseball fields, with everything going slightly wrong.

When he’d woken in the morning, Stephanie wasn’t in his bed. That was probably for the best. If she’d still been there, he’d have had a very hard time getting up. And with her boss and his brothers in Vegas, it was time for him to do something nice for her. Something almost as nice as what they’d done last night.

He’d wanted to give her a day off.

Which was why he was at the baseball fields, watching Jasper hang back while the other kids on the T-ball team practiced fielding grounders and running around the bases.

The coach, Mark Jefferson, was a friend of Charlie’s from just after college. He’d posted on his social media profile early that morning that the team was still looking for kids, and the plan had fallen into place in Charlie’s mind.

He’d take Jasper for the day. They’d spend time getting to know each other, and Stephanie could have her first real day off in God knew how long.

But Jasper had only played T-ball a handful of times the previous summer. And now he stood away from the other kids, brand-new glove by his side.

Charlie left his spot by the fence and went to stand by the little boy. “How’s it going?”

“I don’t know how to play this game,” said Jasper anxiously. “All the other kids know how to play.”

“That’s not true. Mark’s daughter needs someone to toss the ball with.” Mark’s girl was busy following the coach around at close range, throwing a baseball into her glove over and over, like a seasoned pro.

Jasper grimaced. “I don’t know…”

“Give it a shot,” he coaxed, then summoned Mark with a wave. Inside of a minute, the two kids were tossing a ball back and forth, and Charlie’s pride surged strong in his chest. He was doing this. He’d introduced Jasper to something new, and now he was…well, if not excelling at it, at least trying it. That was all Charlie could ask for.

The T-ball practice sped by, ending with the kids taking turns hitting the ball off the tee. Jasper went last. Charlie held his breath as he wound up and let the bat fly, whiffing it. Mark was right there to encourage him. “It’s all right, bud. Give it another try.”

Charlie took his phone from his pocket. He needed to get a video of this.

He hit record just in time to catch Jasper absolutely nailing it, the ball soaring into the outfield. Is this what it’s like, being a dad? He was so proud that it was almost like being high, with none of the terrible side effects.

“That’s it, kids!” Mark called, and Charlie looked up to find that the rest of the parents had arrived while he’d been focused on Jasper. The little boy ran to him, tugging off his glove as he came, and Mark was close behind.

“My man,” Mark said.

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