Starla nodded, having known that just from noting Mia’s position in the lineup. “She’s cleanup. I can see why.”
“Pardon?”
Yep. Out here for the glory, not the game. “You want to put your power hitter fourth in the lineup, so they can knock the base runners home.”
“Oh. Sure.”
Ashley was next. With her first swing, she put the ball in front of the pitcher’s mound, so Jared held Mia at third while Ashley raced for first. The pitcher tried to run her down, but with her quick little feet, she made it easily.
Starla figured she would be hoarse tomorrow from yelling.
When the bases were loaded with Mia still at third, shit got real. The hitter dribbled the ball in front of home plate, but Mia had to go. When the other team’s pitcher had trouble scooping up the ball, though, Starla was on her feet again screaming encouragement to Mia, who probably had no chance of making it home before the pitcher got there with the ball, but still. It was a foot race. Both girls reached home. Mia clearly beat her.
“Out!” the umpire yelled.
What the fucking hell?
“Come on, Blue!” Starla yelled, an old fury erupting. “She beat her by half a step!” Pull your head out of your ass and open your goddamn eyes! Hopefully all the words screaming through her head remained there without erupting from her mouth, but she couldn’t be sure. Signs all over the park assured her that foul language would result in automatic ejection from the ballpark, but this was absolute bullshit. She wasn’t the only one protesting, but she was certainly the loudest.
Once the uproar settled somewhat, she sat down again, fuming. Jared was laughing his ass off at her. Shelly was even looking over with an amused smirk.
“You’d think it was the World Series, huh?” the blonde woman to her right said.
Goddamn right it was.
***
One on each side of her, the girls held Starla’s hands as they crossed the parking lot of the pizza joint they’d requested. Their warm little fingers clutched hers tightly, and she tried to tell herself this sensation of being right where she was supposed to be was horribly misplaced. Jared walked ahead of them to hold open the door, grinning down at his daughters as Starla walked past with them at her sides. Oh, that white smile, framed as it was with his dark beard and all the more gorgeous for the way it crinkled his blue eyes, would be the death of her. Last night hadn’t been far from her thoughts all day, but now, in his presence, the memories swamped her.
The waitress who greeted them was familiar with the family, apparently—Ash and Mia ran forward to give her a hug and tell her all about the softball game they’d just won—so naturally Starla received the thorough once-over from the cute blonde. Then a fight broke out between the twins over who got to sit in the booth beside Starla. It was finally determined by Jared’s coin toss, with Ashley the victor while Mia pouted across from them beside her dad. Jared consoled her by hugging her to his side, and Starla had to laugh at her little forlorn face. “Hey, cheer up, kiddo. She’s right there, and you can sit by her next time. Am I such bad company?”
“No, but what if she doesn’t come out with us again?”
Those heart-stopping blue eyes met Starla’s, shining warmly over the table. “Why wouldn’t she come out with us again?”
“Will you?” Mia asked her directly. “And will you come watch us play again?”
“I’d love to,” she assured her, and swallowed past a lump in her throat. Jesus, had anyone in her life ever wanted her around as much as these kids did?
“See?” Jared nudged Mia with his shoulder. “Done. Now you guys go wash your hands before we eat.”
The two ran off, a brawl almost breaking out as they raced each other to reach the bathroom first. Ashley won that challenge too, much to Mia’s outrage. Jared shook his head as the door swung closed behind the girls. “Everything is a contest.” Something clouded in his eyes. “And it probably always will be.”
“Yeah? Still competitive with your brother?”
“Not directly, not really. It’s not competition so much as comparison.”
Starla frowned, but the waitress took that moment to appear and deliver their drinks. She watched Jared’s face as he stirred lemon into his tea, but it gave nothing away. “What do you mean?” she asked after the girl was gone.
“Hm? Oh. Jack’s always been the one who’s had his shit together more than I do, at least in our parents’ eyes.”
Starla scoffed. “Jared, please. I’ll introduce you to my parents. In their eyes, I’m from fucking Pluto or something, and I think they wish I’d go back there. I am no comparison.”
“You shouldn’t say that. I’m sure it’s not—”
“You don’t know,” she said a little more harshly than she’d meant to. Softening her tone, she went on: “I mean, I’m on speaking terms with them, but barely.”