He points to the door. “All right, well, I better go. I still have homework."
He turns to go, and I call his name. “Hey, Brock."
He stops at his front door. "Yeah?"
I have my keys in my hand, and I jingle them at my side. “Maybe sometime, me, you, and Ollie can go do something... I mean if your mom is okay with it."
A big smile lights up his face. “That would be amazing, Ryker."
I nod and wave as he walks into his house.
As I drive home, I catch myself smiling. I thought being with Izzy was my endgame, but now I’m discovering that Izzy and Brock are what’s going to bring me complete happiness.
CHAPTER 10
IZZY
I'm standing right inside the door when Brock walks in the house.
I try to play it cool and gauge his mood when he comes in. He's smiling ear to ear, and I let out a breath in relief. “So..." I start.
He shrugs. “I like him."
I put my hands on my hips. "You like him?"
He laughs. “Mom, you seem happy with him. Why wouldn't I like him?"
I stand next to him as he takes his books out of his book bag. I have to lean my head back to look up at him. He continues to talk. “Mom, he said he quit baseball to come back here and be with you."
My face heats. How do I explain this to my son? To me, it all feels quick, so I can just imagine how he must feel about this. Before I can figure out the right words, he looks at me. “Mom, he loves you. He gave up twenty-seven million dollars a year to be with you." He shrugs. "I mean, you should do what you want, but Ithink he deserves a chance." He frowns. "Unless he hurt you. I know you dated at one time. Did he hurt you?"
I shake my head, numb. “No, I broke it off with him." In disbelief, I say, “He did not give up twenty-seven million dollars."
Brock pulls out his phone, smiling as he types on it. He holds it up to my face. “Read it.”
I read the headline. “Ryker Kirby turns down twenty-seven million for 2025-2026 season." My stomach turns, and I give my son back his phone. "Uh, I'm going to go shower. Get your homework done and get ready for bed. I'll be there to tuck you in."
He moans. “Mom, I'm fifteen years old, uh, I don't need to be tucked in."
I ruffle his hair. “Humor me, son."
I almost get to the stairs when he calls out, “I love you, Mom."
My heart feels as if expands to three times its size. “I love you too, Brock."
I walk up to my bedroom, close the door, and sit on the side of my bed. I pull my phone out, and before I talk myself out of it, I call Ryker.
As soon as he answers, he starts talking. “I know I screwed up. I should have asked you first before I offered to take Brock and Ollie to do something."
Speechless, I take in what he just said. “You offered to take the boys out?"
He's quick to answer. “Yeah. Brock said since Ollie's mom remarried, the step-dad doesn't want Ollie around. I told him we could go hang out."
When I don't immediately say anything, he continues, “I just thought Brock sounded worried about his friend, and I thought I could help."
He pauses again. “Izzy, say something."
I put my hand over my heart. "You're a good man, Ryker Kirby."
