Strike Out Read online

He put his arm around her. He didn’t care who saw them or what they thought. The woman he loved was in pain, and he would do anything he could to comfort her.

  “He wasn’t himself at breakfast that morning,” she said, lowering her head. “He seemed distracted. I knew he was thinking about what I was going to do.” She put her feet up on the empty bench in front of them. “Maybe he was distracted on the job. Maybe it was my fault—”

  “Sssh,” Zach said, resting her head against his good shoulder. “Don’t say that. Nathan was a professional. He wouldn’t have brought his personal problems into a situation like that.”

  “But what if that’s what he wanted?” she asked, looking up at Zach with tears in her eyes.

  “What are you talking about?” The scars surrounding her husband’s death obviously went deeper than he’d suspected, and it tore him up that she blamed herself for something she had no control over.

  “He told me so many times that Tyler and I were his life. He said he didn’t know where he’d be without us, that if he ever lost us…” She shuddered, and Zach tightened his grip, knowing her impulse would be to pull away. “Maybe that’s what he was thinking about when he walked into that fire.”

  “Rennie, your husband wasn’t on a suicide mission. He was just doing his job.” Zach couldn’t imagine living with those tortured thoughts every day. It was no wonder she refused to take off his ring. “You have to let this go.”

  “I know,” she said, inching away from him. Squaring her shoulders, she sat up straighter. “That’s what my therapist said. I’m trying. It’s just going to take some time.”

  They watched the rest of the game in silence. Zach knew she needed time with her thoughts of Nathan and he couldn’t say anything more to ease her pain. He’d told her she hadn’t changed, but he was wrong. She wasn’t the same woman he’d fallen in love with years ago. She was living with the torment of believing she’d played a part in her husband’s death, of fighting her feelings for a man who’d betrayed her, of her fear of losing her son. No one could withstand that kind of turmoil and come out on the other side unscathed.

  Tyler jogged toward them at the end of the game with a huge smile. They’d won 4-2, and he’d pitched a solid game. “What’d you think, Zach?”

  “I thought you were awesome, kid.” Zach meant it. He saw similarities between Tyler and himself at that age. They had the same fire in their bellies. Paired with Tyler’s natural talent and the right coaching, he could go all the way. His old man’s connections wouldn’t hurt either.

  “Thanks.” He grinned when Zach slipped his arm around his shoulder. “I’m starving. Can we go to dinner now?”

  “You should change and grab a quick shower first,” Rennie said. “I have an apple and some crackers in the car. That should tide you over until we get to the restaurant.”

  “I have my clothes from yesterday,” Tyler said. “Couldn’t I just wear that to the restaurant? It’s not dirty or anything.”

  Rennie and Zach shared a smile before she said, “Where do you plan to change?”

  “My place isn’t too far,” Zach said. “We could—”

  “Yeah!” Tyler said before Zach could finish his thought. “Could we go back to Zach’s place, Mom? Please?”

  “If you’re sure you don’t mind?” Rennie asked.

  “Of course not.” Zach couldn’t wait to share his home with them. If all went as he hoped, one day they would never want to leave.

  “Can I ride with Zach?” Tyler asked, looking hopeful.

  Zach was driving the yellow Ferrari again since he was hoping to give Tyler that ride he’d promised him. “I sorta promised him a ride at his birthday party,” Zach explained to Rennie. “You don’t mind, do you?”

  Rennie looked at the car as though she was gauging its safety. “Promise you won’t go over the speed limit?”

  “I promise,” he said, tongue in cheek. “I know you’ll be right behind us, watching every move I make. I wouldn’t dare step out of line.”

  She pressed her lips together. “I seem to recall speeding was a way of life for you, Foster. Remember how many speeding tickets you got in—” She stopped herself and looked down at Tyler with a fake smile. “You know, I’m pretty hungry too. We should—”

  “You guys used to know each other?” Tyler asked, looking up at Zach for confirmation.

  They’d let him believe they just met when Rennie contacted him about her applicant’s wish. Of course, Tyler would find out the truth soon enough, but Zach knew a parking lot wasn’t the right place to have that conversation. “Your mom and I grew up in the same small town. Why are you so surprised we knew each other back in the day?” Zach didn’t want to lie to Tyler, but he didn’t want to say more than he should and upset Rennie either.

  “Why didn’t you tell me?” Tyler asked as he watched his mother carefully. “I talked about Zach all the time. Why didn’t you tell me you guys were friends?”

  “I… uh…” Rennie looked at Zach helplessly.

  Zach laughed and put Tyler in a headlock with his good arm. “Man, you ask a lot of questions. You sure you wouldn’t rather be a lawyer when you grow up?”

  “No way!” Tyler laughed as he tried to get Zach to loosen his grip. “I wanna be a pitcher just like you.”

  “Just like me, huh?” Zach said, unable to ignore the fact his heart seemed to swell at the innocent comment. His son wanted to be just like him. “Well, if you want to be just like me, you have to get used to eating like an athlete.” Zach knew it might help if Tyler believed he was choosing to eat well instead of being forced into it.

  “How do athletes eat?” Tyler asked, stopping near the passenger’s door of Zach’s car.

  “Lots of lean protein, veggies, grains, fruit, a bit of dairy, and we drink a ton of water to stay hydrated.” He caught Rennie’s smile out of the corner of his eye. He knew he was doing the right thing. “Think you can handle that, Tyler?”

  “That’s kind of the way I eat now.” He wrinkled his nose. “Not because I want to but because Mom makes me.”

  “Your mom’s smart. Think about it,” Zach said. “You really think you can be a professional athlete if you put a ton of crap into your body?” He didn’t see any reason to mention Tyler’s condition. Like Rennie, he didn’t want his son to feel his diabetes made him different.

  “I guess not. Oh, I forgot my water bottle on the bench. Do I have time to go back and get it?”

  “Sure. Go ahead,” Zach said.

  “Thanks, I’ll be right back.”

  “Thank you for doing that,” Rennie said, watching their son sprint across the field. “He really looks up to you. Right now, your opinion holds a lot more weight than mine. If we’re on the same page, it would help a lot.”

  “I’ll do whatever I can to help,” he said. “I hope you know that.”

  “I keep a cooler in the car for Tyler,” she said, walking toward her vehicle. “Just some fruit, crackers, nuts, and sunflower seeds. He should have a quick snack. Do you want something?”

  “Sure,” Zach said, winking. “I have to set a good example, don’t I?”

  Chapter Thirteen

  Rennie was mortified when Tyler ran from room to room in Zach’s six thousand-square foot home, shouting about every new find.

  “Mom, you gotta see this games room. He has huge Pac Man and Donkey Kong machines!”

  “I see you still like to play games?” Rennie joked, smiling. The way Zach looked at her made her realize he’d read more into it.

  “I’m not playing games, Ren.”

  “I know that,” she said, wandering into the gourmet kitchen. Cooking in a kitchen like his instead of her little galley kitchen would be a dream come true. “Should you take one of these before we go?” She held up the plastic prescription bottle on the granite countertop.

  “You can’t help yourself, can you?” he asked, reaching for the bottle. “You’re such a caretaker.”

  “You say that like it’s a bad thing,�
� she said, trying not to feel defensive. Their friends in high school and college had always teased her about mothering them. She always made sure no one had been drinking if they drove. She brought extra sunscreen to the beach and water to the baseball games. Maybe she was maternal, but she didn’t see that as a character flaw.

  “It’s not at all.” He tipped one of the little white pills into his palm and replaced the plastic cap before setting the bottle on the counter. “It’s served you well. You’re an incredible mother, Ren. Tyler’s lucky to have you.” He popped the pill into his mouth and stepped closer.

  She watched him dry swallow the pill as her breath caught in her throat. Surely he wouldn’t try kissing her with their son downstairs. Would he? “Thank you.” She stepped back, trying to put some distance between them, but her backside hit the counter instead.

  “I’m lucky too,” he said, lowering his voice.

  “How so?” She knew she probably shouldn’t ask, but curiosity got the better of her. With Zach, she could never leave well enough alone.

  “I couldn’t have picked a better mother for my son.”

  Rennie smoothed a hand over her black cotton dress to keep her hands busy. He was standing too close, and the temptation to touch him was almost impossible to ignore. “That’s sweet of you to say.”

  “I mean it. I always knew you were the one… the woman I wanted to be the mother of my children.”

  Children. He’d said children. Just where did he see them going? Before she could ask, Tyler ran into the room, and Zach stepped back. Her voice trembled when she spoke, but thankfully Tyler didn’t seem to notice. “Hey, you’re still wearing your uniform. I thought you were supposed to be getting changed.”

  “I will, in a minute.” He looked from his mother to Zach and back again. “How come there’s a picture of you and my mom downstairs?”

  Zach darted a quick look at Rennie before returning his attention to Tyler. “I guess I forgot that was there.”

  “You guys were all dressed up. Where were you going?”

  Since Rennie didn’t know which picture Tyler was referring to, she couldn’t respond. Zach had accompanied her to almost every formal event throughout high school and college, so it could have been any one of a dozen nights.

  “I was… uh… taking your mom to her senior prom, I think,” Zach said, looking uncomfortable.

  Senior prom. That night had been magical. Zach was two years older than her and he’d already left for college, but he came back because he wanted to be a part of her special night. He gave her a beautiful sapphire ring that night with a promise that they would always be together. She still had that ring in her jewelry box. It was the one memento from their relationship she hadn’t been able to part with.

  “You were kissing in the picture,” Tyler said, looking confused. “I mean… really kissing. That was you, wasn’t it? It was next to another picture that looked just like you.”

  Rennie touched her throat, searching for something to say to eradicate the awkwardness of the moment.

  “You got me,” Zach said, raising his hand in surrender. “I was crazy about your mom.”

  “You were?” Tyler asked, his mouth dropping open as he stared at his mom.

  Rennie tried to tamp down her annoyance that her son was incredulous that a handsome, wealthy professional athlete could have had a thing for her. “That was before the hump on my back.”

  Zach laughed. “Your mom was just about the prettiest girl I’d ever laid eyes on.” He sneaked a glance at Rennie. “In fact, she still is.”

  If Rennie managed to hide her embarrassment about the picture, she couldn’t anymore. “You don’t have to say that, Zach.” She wanted to believe it, but that would be foolish. She’d seen some of the women he’d dated over the years. The list of beautiful women went on and on.

  “It’s true,” he said, looking her in the eye. “Don’t ever question that.”

  “So why didn’t you marry her if you liked her so much?” Tyler asked, crossing his arms.

  “I wanted to,” Zach said quietly.

  Rennie panicked. She wasn’t ready to have that conversation. She needed more time to prepare herself, to prepare Tyler. Surely Zach could see that. “Why don’t you go and get changed, Tyler? I’m starving.”

  Tyler sighed. “Aww, but I wanted to hear about—”

  “I’ll tell you the whole story someday,” Zach said. “I promise.”

  ***

  Zach couldn’t remember ever enjoying himself more. Going to Tyler’s baseball games, family dinners, movie nights, and quiet nights at home was a routine he could easily see himself settling into. Zach wanted it all, and as he walked Rennie and Tyler to their door, he thought about how he could make that happen.

  “You really didn’t have to follow us home,” Rennie said, dropping her keys into Zach’s open hand when he reached for them.

  “It was my pleasure.”

  “Maybe you could come over for dinner tomorrow night,” Tyler said. “Unless you have to be at a game or something.”

  “No, it’s an away game.” Zach stole a glance at Rennie as he tried to gauge her reaction. He wanted to spend more time with them, but he didn’t want Rennie to think he was pushing for too much, too soon. “As long as I’m on the disabled list, I don’t have to travel with the team. In fact, they prefer it if I stay behind and keep my appointments with the physical therapist.”

  “Don’t you have people who travel with the team?” Rennie asked, obviously trying to avoid Tyler’s dinner invitation.

  “Sure, but the guy I’m working with is based in Arlington, and he’s one of the best.”

  “I see.” She waited for Zach to unlock her door and return her keys. “Thank you for dinner and coming to Tyler’s game. It was a lovely evening.”

  “So can you come to dinner tomorrow night?” Tyler asked.

  “I’d say that’s up to your mother.” He smiled at Rennie. “Don’t feel you have to say yes because your kid’s got you backed into a corner.” He knew he wasn’t playing fair, but he wanted to spend more time with them. If he had to wait for Rennie to extend the invitation, he may be waiting a while.

  “We’d love to have you,” she said, offering a tight smile.

  He’d love to have her, but he couldn’t say that with their son looking on. One day, the truth would come out, and he’d have her alone. No guilt or remorse, just the truth that they were still attracted to each other and there was no point denying the inevitable any longer. They belonged together. “In that case, I’d love to come. But only on one condition.”

  “What’s that?” Rennie asked, looking uncertain.

  “You let me grill.”

  She grinned, looking relieved. “You’re on, Foster.”

  ***

  Zach felt restless sitting around his house. With his sore shoulder, he couldn’t do any of the things he normally did to pass the time. The pool and exercise room were off limits. He couldn’t shoot pool or play video games, and he didn’t feel like reading a book or watching TV. So he went to High Rollers, knowing at least one of his buddies would be there. Even though they’d built a posh corporate headquarters building in Arlington, one or more of them was usually at the bar keeping an eye on things—mostly sports highlights and the cute waitresses.

  “Any of the boys here?” Zach asked the bartender.

  “Yeah, Matt’s in the office.”

  “Great, thanks.” Zach tapped on the door in case Matt was in a meeting with one of their employees. Even though his job was PR, he managed to get involved in just about every aspect of the business.

  “Come in,” Matt called. He grinned when he saw Zach. “Hey, there he is. How’s the shoulder, man?”

  “Okay.” Zach claimed the seat across from his friend. “It doesn’t look like I’ll need surgery, so I guess that’s a good thing.”

  Matt frowned as though he was trying to decide whether he should take his partner seriously. “You guess that’s a good thing? W
ouldn’t you be out of the game a hell of a lot longer if you had to have surgery?”

  “Yeah.” Zach folded a leg over his knee then sat up straight again. He was antsy, which wasn’t like him. He’d been frustrated when he woke up to an empty bed. He wanted Rennie and Tyler there with him, where they belonged. She’d admitted she still had feelings for him. They shared a kid. Their passion still burned bright enough to shame the sun. To him, it was a no brainer, but she seemed determined to let the past dictate their future, and he didn’t know how to convince her that was a mistake.

  “What’s got you so bummed, besides the injury?” Matt pushed the swivel chair back and laced his hands over his flat stomach.

  “It’s complicated,” Zach said, knowing Matt would try to understand. He was sensitive, a good listener, the kind of person who was always there when needed. Even though Zach and Jaxon went back years, Matt was often the guy he came to with problems.

  “Try me.” When Zach couldn’t find the words, Matt asked, “Does this have anything to do with Rennie?”

  Zach looked up. He’d trusted Jaxon to keep his big mouth shut. “Did Jaxon say something?”

  “He didn’t have to. I saw the way you looked at her when y’all came in here the other day.” Matt smirked. “I, uh, couldn’t help but notice the way you cut in when she was dancing with that dude at the fundraiser. Looked to me like you were jealous.”

  “Of that loser?” Zach rolled his eyes. “Gimme a break, Hudson.”

  “So, what’s the story with you two?” Matt pushed aside a plate holding a half-eaten sandwich.

  “You know we were engaged, right?” Zach’s friends all knew a girl in his past had ruined him for other women.

  “Jaxon may have mentioned she was the one who did a number on you back in the day,” Matt said quietly. “I can’t believe she came back after all these years. Man, that’s wild.”

  “Yeah, it gets even better.” In Zach’s mind, Tyler made everything better. Whether Rennie liked it or not, they would always be a part of each other’s lives through their son. “I have a kid with her.”