Her eyes widen. “Thanking me?”
I nod. “Yeah, spending time with you and Brock… well, it’s been great.”
Even though I want to kiss her, I point over my shoulder. “I should probably go. It looks like I’m about to have a talk, man to man.”
“Ry…”
I squeeze her shoulder. “It will be okay, Izz. I promise. This is all going to work out.”
She looks doubtful, and I hate seeing that look on her face. If anything, Izzy has always been the one that sees the possibilities in everything, so I don’t like that her spirit has been hurt like this.
“Goodnight, sweetie.”
She sighs softly. “Night, Ry.”
I walk over to where Brock is standing next to my SUV. He’s set down his school bag and the bag holding his dinner and has his arms crossed over his chest. He’s a kid that smiles a lot, so I’m a little worried to see the pensive look on his face. “What's on your mind?"
He moves his hands to the pouch in the front of his sweatshirt. "So, uh, a lot of people have talked about you being in town."
"Yeah," I answer, wondering where he's going with this. Whatever it is, I need to be upfront and honest with him because I know Izzy. If her son doesn't want us together, she won't be with me.
"There's a lot of rumors going around, and well, I've heard you're going to rehab, that you've lost your mind…"
When he pauses, I tilt my head to look at him. "What do you think?"
"Well, you don't seem like you're on drugs."
I nod my head. "I'm not."
He continues. “And well, for the crazy part, maybe because they say you're giving up twenty-seven million a year."
I run my hand through the scruff of my chin and nod again. He might as well know. “I don't think I'm crazy, but yes, I am turning down twenty-seven million next year."
Shocked, he looks at me incredulously. "Why? I don’t get it. I’ve watched you play. You love baseball."
I lean against my car so I'm not towering over him. "Because I found out your mom is single."
He doesn't seem too surprised by my admission, so I’m sure he’s heard more about Izzy and my past. He clears his throat. “Uh, so if you dated in high school, and now you’re back, I guess you're planning on dating my mom?"
“I am… You okay with that?"
He tilts his head and looks at me. "My dad wasn't good to her. She's been hurt... a lot."
My hands automatically tighten into fists. I'm getting a really clear picture of what kind of husband and father Allen was.
Brock clears his throat. “I just want my mom happy. I can tell she's different with you."
I start to relax. This is going way better than I had imagined it would. “I want your mom happy, too. I won't hurt her."
He lets out a loud sigh, his relief evident.
I shift my stance. “Anything else you wanna talk about?"
He nods and seems hesitant now, but when he starts to talk, it comes out in a rush and one big breath. "My friend Ollie, his mom just got remarried, and well, his step-dad doesn't want Ollie around. I just want you to know I'm a pretty easy kid. You're good to my mom, I won't be any problem. And in three years, I'll be going to college and?—"
I cut him off. Fuck, I knew I would love Izzy's son just because he's a part of her. But I didn't think I'd like him as much as I do. “Please don't finish that sentence. Don't say you'll be out of our hair. Your mom loves you, Brock. I'm just asking to be a part of your lives... if you'll let me."
He seems surprised but nods his head. “I'd like that."
