Page 9 of The Seal's Promise
Wesley nodded. “You hear from Levi?”
“No. Doesn’t he usually stay in Atlanta for the season?”
“Yes, but he was injured last season, and I think he’s downplaying it.”
“When his shoulder was torn?”
Wes nodded. “He’s going to risk a major injury to secure his next contract.”
“This is his last year with Atlanta?”
“Yep, and they may not renew his contract if they know he’s injured, then he’ll be a free agent next year.”
“He’s had a great run with the same team. It’s not uncommon to get traded multiple times in a career.”
“Try telling our little brother that.”
“At least he has a degree to fall back on.”
Wes scoffed. “You mean the one he didn’t finish because he went pro a year early?”
“I thought you convinced him to finish it.”
“Damn, Dalton, I thought you had to be good at math to go to medical school. Levi did three years at state college then joined the MLB when he got an offer from Atlanta. Said he wouldn’t need his degree to make the Baseball Hall of Fame.”
Dalton gritted his teeth. Wes was right: he’d missed the details, and it was his own fault.
“She barely ate any breakfast, maybe you can make sure she eats a healthy lunch?” Wes walked away to the door.
“Got it.”
“You know she only married Tyler Banks because you never came back.”
His head popped up and he stared at his brother. “What?”
“Brooke. I think she only dated and married your enemy because you left her behind. Unfortunately for her, you might be the only reason Tyler ever thought he was interested in marriage. He couldn’t resist going after Brooke, knowing she’d meant something to you once.”
“I think you’re giving Tyler too much credit, and Brooke wouldn’t marry someone she didn’t love.”
“Oh, I think she did love him, so much so that she didn’t see the truth about him. Of all the Banks brothers, she chose the worst one. The one that just so happened to be too selfish to love her back.”
“Does he at least love their son?” Dalton asked, a sinking feeling in his gut.
Wes stepped one foot out the door. “Probably as much as anyone who thinks the world revolves around himself can. But Miles goes to all of Max’s games and donates enough money for their jerseys and team equipment. He seems interested in his nephew, or maybe he’s just interested in Brooke,” Wes said before the screen door slammed shut.
For some reason that annoyed Dalton even more than knowing his childhood friend had married his enemy. But that was all old news, a stupid feud between the two oldest families in this beach town. Brooke was far too good to be used as a revenge tactic.
*
The next dayDalton found himself walking into the hospital after his morning run with a tray of coffee from the diner, looking for Brooke.
“Dr. Hart, it’s nice to see you again so soon,” Nurse Nora said, sitting behind the intake desk.
“Good morning, Nora, I was out on my morning run and thought I’d stop by with coffee to bribe you and Dr. Tommy into talking about my grandmother.”
Her head fell back in a laugh that shook her entire body, and she reached for a coffee.
“I would never turn down a cup of diner brew. I’ll never understand those posh mocha frappe latte drinks posing as coffee.”
