Hardball

by V.K. Sykes

Holly had so much fun at dinner at Maddie and Jake’s that she almost lost track of her worries.

  Almost.

  Since talking to Mrs. Crump earlier in the day, she’d been puzzling over Lance Arnold’s behavior. If he disappeared from Tyler’s life, it would be hard on the boy and hell on the grandmother. But could it be worse than if he stayed? He’d already heaped psychological abuse on both of them. Physical abuse couldn’t be far away. If Arnold left, it would be bad. If he didn’t, it would be worse, especially given his history of violence.

  Either way made her heartsick, and she couldn’t get the family out of her mind.

  Still, Holly knew one thing for certain. She could give Tyler Arnold a new heart valve—one that would significantly improve his chances of long-term survival. She told herself to concentrate on that and leave the rest behind, at least for now.

  Maddie had cooked vegetarian lasagna to die for, and Jake replenished Holly’s wine glass with her favorite wine. After dinner, they sipped decaf green tea and coffee and played Scrabble. In her case, hopelessly. Holly was good with words, but both Jake and Maddie had trounced her. She’d expected it from Maddie, a journalist with a Swarthmore degree, but from farm boy turned baseball player Jake Miller? That surprised her.

  Still, it was all good fun, and Holly was grateful that neither Jake nor Maddie brought up the subject of Nate. Not once, thank God, because she would have turned into a blithering idiot if they did. Her knees still went weak every time she thought about that outrageous encounter in her hallway, and it terrified her how much she wanted Nate back in her life. And he seemed to want to be there with her, although all the big questions between them remained unanswered.

  Yet, he’d been a rock during one of the worst crises of her life, and that had to count for something, didn’t it? And that remark he’d tossed at her on his way out the door…everything’s changed. Did he mean he’d changed? Or did it mean that her sexual surrender to him made him think she’d capitulated to his take on how their relationship should work? If that was the case, he was in for an unpleasant surprise, because no way would Holly give in on that point—no matter how painful the subsequent breakup would be. She’d done it once, and she’d do it again if she had to.

  In the meantime, she could nothing but stew about it and hope things really had changed for him, because one thing was certain. She loved Nate Carter with her entire body and soul, and giving herself to him in that wild moment of passion had confirmed it. Maybe it wasn’t so wrong to hope, after all, and to give the man a chance to prove himself.

  If only she knew how to do that.

  Jake drove her home at eleven. They barely saw another car in her dead-quiet neighborhood. Despite Holly’s protests, he insisted on accompanying her into the house and doing a quick check to make sure everything was safe. Only when she snicked the deadbolt into place behind her did she hear the sound of Jake’s footsteps moving off the porch.

  She went from room to room turning on even more lights, not exactly sure why. She only knew the house felt empty without Nate. How easy it had been to get used to having him around. To rely on him to make her feel safe.

  Muttering to herself, she made one last circuit to check all the doors and windows. Her safety was her responsibility, and she’d keep telling herself that until it sunk in. Eventually the situation with Arnold would resolve, and then she could turn her mind to the unresolved issues with Nate.

  Holly returned to the kitchen and put the kettle on, hoping a cup of chamomile tea and a hot bath would help her sleep. As she waited for the water to boil, she glanced at the stove’s digital clock. Eleven-fifteen. What would Nate be up to now? The game would have been over for at least an hour. Was he back at the hotel? Or out at some bar or nightclub with his teammates?

  Flirting and dancing with other women?

  Why did she have to think like that? For once, couldn’t she just trust him, especially after what had happened this morning? Nate deserved better than speculation and suspicion from her, at least until proven otherwise.

  Maybe she could give him a quick call, just to ease her anxiety. But what would she say if he answered? Hi, I had a nice dinner at Jake and Maddie’s. Just thought I’d touch base. By the way, what are you up to, anyway?

  He’d think she’d lost it. Or that she couldn’t stand to be without him.

  She heaved a little sigh. Grain of truth there.

  The kettle whistled. She poured the boiling water into her cup, dropped in a tea bag, and went to retrieve the novel she was currently reading from the kitchen counter. Best to just take her bath and get some sleep. Nate would be home tomorrow, and all questions could be asked and answered then.

  She’d just grabbed her book when a thunderous crash sounded behind her.