Page 29 of Until Forever
“I guess he gets it honestly,” I say so that she knows I’m aware.
“Do you play baseball?” JJ asks.
It’s random, and when Latoya notices it catches me off guard, she explains it for him.
“There’s this tee ball game coming up. He and his friends are playing,” she adds.
I nod. “I used to play in elementary school.”
“Were you any good?”
“Okay, get right to it,” I joke, and she laughs. “I happened to get the most home runs on my team.”
“Can you practice with me? Because no offense, Mom, I love you, but you throw like a girl.”
“Uh,” she gasps. “Excuse you, little man.” Latoya tickles under his chin. “I am a girl. And I’m sure Mr. Jasper will be heading home soon.” She wraps an arm around him, patting his shoulder.
“Actually, JJ, I’m staying for good. I’d be happy to help you practice.”
It’s a promise, one I make with sincerity, and I lock my gaze on her, so she knows I mean it. I don’t want to drop this on him, so I won’t make a scene or demand she tells me, but I’m going to make sure we have this conversation.
“All right, baby. We need to get home, it’s getting late, and you need a bath.”
“Aw, man. Can Mr. Jasper come?”
She opens her mouth but immediately closes it.
Stepping in, I lean forward. “Your mom’s really tired, but I’ll make you a deal. If she says it’s cool, we can play catch this weekend.”
He holds out his hand for me to shake. “Deal. I’m going to keep my room clean all week, so she can’t say no.”
She shakes her head in awe, and I smirk. He’s my kid, all right.
After I pay the tab, I walk the two of them to her Jeep. We move quietly, and I know it’s because she doesn’t know what to say any more than I do. I help JJ into the back seat, watching as he fastens himself in. Then I walk around to the driver’s side.
I step close to her, leaving no space between us. Partly because I need to feel her pressed against me again, but also to keep him from hearing me. Latoya’s back stiffens, and she glances into the back seat to see if he’s watching.
“What are you doing?” she whispers, her breaths catching in her throat.
“I have questions.”
She drops her head and clutches her phone at her side. Without warning, I take it from her, holding it out for her to unlock. I scroll to her text messages and send myself a message.
“I’ll call you in the morning.”
I step back, not bothering to wait for an answer. JJ smiles when I bend down to wave at him through the window. Latoya gets behind the wheel, stealing a painful glance at me before pulling off into the night. For several minutes I stand in the parking lot, even though I can no longer see their tail lights.
A million thoughts percolate in my mind, rendering me an emotional mess.
“I have a son.”
CHAPTER EIGHT
LATOYA
I nestle into my seat,nervously wiping imaginary salt, crumbs, or whatever else from the table. It’s crowded, people coming and going without a care in the world. But I, on the other hand, can’t do anything but care. And feel. I feel everything, my nerves so shot Ifeelwhen the kid at the table on the right drops his fork.
The server sits a Peppermint Frappuccino down in front of me, and I glance up to thank her. She smiles like she always does and returns to work.
