The two of them were on the field while the team warmed up. Lily and Gus’s kids were next to them. “I was a teacher before. Gus and I met in college. It was easy before the kids were born to work. I got home early enough in the day and had weekendsoff. The summer off for him and me to travel and do things. But he got traded when I was pregnant and then we decided it was best if I stayed home. Why, did you want to ask me questions for a book?”
Lily’s eyes were lit up. Her loyal readers knew she did those things. “I might at some point,” she said. “I don’t have any teachers in my family. And I haven’t had any in a book.”
“Do you really work in positions like you talk about on social media?” Lily asked.
“I do,” she said. “If I didn’t, I might not leave my house much. Everything I talk about on social media is true. I’m a complete hermit. I’ve left my house more in the past four months than I have in the past four years.”
She almost slipped and said the island but didn’t.
She figured Lily and others knew she lived on Amore Island, but it wasn’t something she volunteered often either.
“I don’t think I could do that,” Lily said. “Do you find it overwhelming coming to games like this with all the people?”
“No,” she said. “I’m good in almost any situation. I’m just lazy and selfish.”
Lily laughed. “I doubt that.”
Emma was grinning when she said, “I kind of am. I think I’ve spent so much of my life alone and doing what I want when I want. It’s hard to change or make room for someone.”
“I think it’s normal to feel that way,” Lily said. “When I had my oldest, I didn’t know how I was going to do it with Gus gone so much. I wanted to go to his games with him, but it wasn’t possible as much. Even the home ones. It’s not always possible now either. We come early when the weather is nice, but once it gets colder, someone is always sick or they don’t want to leave the house.”
“I know that feeling,” she said. “I don’t want to leave my house much either.”
“But you do for me.”
She turned her head to see Warren next to her. “I do,” she said. “How long have you been standing there?”
“A minute or so,” he said. “You don’t seem to notice when I’m around. I’m trying not to be hurt over that.”
She laughed at him. “I’ve seen the bruises on your body after a game. It takes a lot to hurt you.”
He closed one eye at her. “We are all made of flesh and bone.”
“Now you’re quoting my book,” she said, bouncing on her toes.
He laughed. “Those were my words,” he said. “You’re repeating them.”
He got a drink and then put it down and went back on the field.
“You used Warren’s words in one of your books?” Lily asked.
“He helped me write one not that long ago. It’s not out yet. It’s still with my editor.”
“The War Show wrote a book with you?” Lily asked. “I mean, he tells everyone he reads your books.”
“He didn’t write it,” she said. “I did. But he gave me a lot of ideas for the storyline. It was so much fun working together like that. I’ve never done that before.”
“I think that’s sweet,” Lily said. “You two look cute together.”
She giggled. “I don’t think Warren thinks he’s cute.”
“Probably not,” Lily said.
“Hi, Emma. I see you’re back for another game. Lily. We don’t see you here much.”
“Hi. It’s Tiff, right?” Emma knew DeMarcus’s fiancée’s name but was being a little bitchy saying that considering how Tiff gave Lily the once over.
“Yes,” Tiff said. “I heard you’re going to be on TV.”
