“How does he look?”
“Perfect. God, Liam, he reminds me so much of you, just younger. He’s just standing there waiting for the next batter. Even Junior looks good. Pitch is on the way. Strike!”
“He’s got this.”
“Strike. I’m so nervous.”
“He’s doing fine, Josie. Where’s Aubrey, why aren’t you sitting with her?”
“Strike out. Um, I don’t know.”
“Katelyn?”
“She’s here, but refuses to sit with me right now.”
Liam laughs, but I don’t find it funny at all. My best friend should accept me no matter how crazy I get during my son’s sporting events.
“Two outs, Liam. He has one more and we’re on to districts.”
“I’ll be sure to be back for those games.”
“He’ll like that. I know he misses you.” Noah doesn’t say much about Liam being gone. It’s been a week and our lives have been pretty normal. I think it’s easier knowing Liam’s just a plane ride away, not that he can’t hop on a plane when he’s on tour but it’s different. If I call him now and ask him to come home, he will. He doesn’t have any scheduled obligations in LA right now.
“Ball.”
“Strike.”
“Foul ball.”
“One and two with two outs. I think I’m going to have a panic attack.”
“Don’t worry; Katelyn is on her way over.”
I look up and sure enough she and Peyton are walking toward me.
“I had Harrison text her, asking her to fill in for me.”
“You do love me,” I say as Katelyn and Peyton sit down. Katelyn wraps her arm in mine and gives me a side hug. I know why she doesn’t sit with me; I’m bat shit crazy and Nick often has to tell me to zip it. I can’t help it. That’s my boy out there.
“I love you more than words, Jojo.”
Before I can respond, I’m standing and screaming in his ear again. Everyone is rushing Noah on the mound with Junior being the first one there. The kids are jumping up and down, cheering loudly.
“We won!”
“I figured, baby. Tell Noah I’m proud of him and I’ll call him later. I love you.”
“Love you too, bye.” I hang up and make my way to the field. Peyton is hot on my heels as we walk out to congratulate Noah and the rest of the boys. I’m not the only parent out here; Candy Appleton and her current beau of the month, plus some others are also on the field.
Candy offers me a smug smile and a stupid finger wave. I mentally flip her off. I’ll never get over finding her and Liam sitting next to each other, smoking, at her party. Of course, every chance she gets, she twists the knife a little deeper on how she spent graduation with him while I was too busy with my family.
Noah runs to Nick first and I try not to let that bother me, but it does a little. I’m his mom. He should be looking for me first. Nick picks him up and swings him around. I know he’s proud of Noah. They both worked so hard to get here.
I’m lost in thought when Noah starts yelling my name. “Mom, did you see my home-run?”
“I did!”
He stalls and looks at the stands. “I wish Dad saw it.”