Charlotte followed behind climbed up the bleachers at the ball field Tuesday night for the first game. She wore her new t-ball mom t-shirt, even though it was a bright orange she never would have worn otherwise. On the front it said, “I teach my kids to hit and steal” and on the back, it said, “Chester Cheetahs” and Taylor’s name and number.

“Oh man, it’s hot,” Jill complained.

“And it’s only May,” Charlotte said, sitting down in their usual spot behind the magpie mommas.

“It won’t be any cooler in Dallas,” Jill said, “But at least I’m inside in the AC most of the time.”

“You won’t have as much fun stuck in your stuffy office though, admit it.”

Jill opened her mouth to answer, then shut it. “Who is that?”

“Oh my gosh. That’s the Alexa chick I told you about. But what is she wearing?”

Jill raised her sunglasses for a better look and laughed. “Well, who doesn’t wear a pristine white halter-neck jumper with gold embroidery to a small-town t-ball game.”

“She belongs on the cover of Vogue, not these dusty bleachers. Is she crazy?”

Jill grinned. “Nate does have a way of collecting loony women. Not that I’m implying anything about you.”

Charlotte narrowed her eyes at her friend but didn’t comment. She was too busy watching Alexa prance her way towards them. Poor Sam walked behind her. It was the first time she’d seen him in anything but business clothes, but he didn’t look any more relaxed in slacks and a polo shirt though. Maybe because he was clearly on escort duty.

Jill’s laugh rang out. “I hope Nate is paying that man well.”

“I know, right?” Charlotte chuckled.

“Where’s she going to sit? Oh my gosh! She’s coming this way.”

Alexa turned her fine-boned face their direction and wrinkled her nose—though that could have been because the sun was shining in her eyes. Then with a slow, cat-walk worthy swing to her hips, she moved to the bleachers and climbed up, her heels clacking on the metal with each step.

She didn’t move to sit next to Charlotte, but on the same row across the aisle. First though, she turned to Sam and said, “Oh no. Sam, will you be a darling and clean that for me so I can sit down?”

For a moment, Sam seemed lost, but he brushed his hands over the metal bleacher, cleaning it with his bare palms. When he was done, he stared down at the red dust on his skin, helplessly, then brushed them off on his slacks. Oblivious to his difficulty, Alexa sat down and perched her designer handbag on her lap.

“Hello,” she said, smiling at them with wide, glossy lips.

“Um, hello,” Charlotte said. Alexa’s smile seemed totally insincere, but Charlotte was determined to be nice if it killed her. “Do you like t-ball?”

“I have no idea. I’m here to see my man at work.”

Charlotte swallowed as a knot formed in her throat. “Your man?”

Smiling like a cat who caught the canary, Alexa said, “Nate. You know. Oh, we’re not an official couple, but I figured you would have guessed we’re in a relationship by now.”

Jill leaned around Charlotte. “You do know there are many different kinds of relationships, right? You might want to check with him what kind you have.”

Alexa narrowed her eyes, then smiled like a cat. “I’m not sure who you are, but trust me—he made our relationship abundantly clear last night.”

Charlotte thought she was going to be sick right there on the stands, until Sam said, “Do you mean before or after you left at eight o’clock?”

Sam hadn’t even taken his eyes off the field as he spoke, but Charlotte had a sudden urge to hug him. It had already been six-forty-five when she left, so Alexa had only been there for an hour.

Alexa didn’t bother to answer Sam. He’d called her out so perfectly. But that still left fifteen minutes where anything could have been said between Nate and Alexa. And heck, under different circumstances, she’d do more than talk if she had fifteen minutes alone with the man.

Jill, who was trying but failing to smother her laughter after what Sam said, waved when she saw Delynn walking up. To Charlotte’s surprise, Delynn climbed up a few steps and asked in her carrying voice, “Hey girls. Who’s the high dollar hooker over there?”

Alexa gasped and Jill sputtered a laugh behind her hand. Charlotte glanced sideways at Alexa’s tight face. “Delynn, be quiet. Her name’s Alexa. She’s here visiting Nate.”

“I thought you and Nate were together. What’s she doing here?”

Charlotte lowered her voice. “I don’t know, but would you please be quiet?”

“Sorry, but her nose is so far up in the air, she’ll drown if it comes on to rain. Have you got an opening on Friday? My niece is getting married and needs a hair appointment real bad.”

Charlotte couldn’t help but smile. “For you? I’ll make it happen even if I’m booked solid.”

“Thanks, girl. Let me know if you have any trouble with the Ice Queen over there.”

Charlotte could have sworn she heard Sam choke down a laugh, but before she could confirm it, Jill tugged on her sleeve. “Look, Taylor’s up to bat.”

Smiling with pride, Charlotte got her phone out to take a video, excited to see what he would do in an actual game.

Besides watching Taylor play with a focus and intensity that made her proud, Charlotte enjoyed watching the other kids. There was a tall boy who was a great runner, but couldn’t throw the ball for anything, so if he fielded a hit, he preferred to chase the batter down. One time, the batter led him on a merry chase in a figure eight around first and second bases, totally oblivious to the coaches’ pleas to touch the base.

Another kid was really small for his age, but clearly wasn’t going to let that stop him from being the biggest play maker on the team. To him, this meant sliding into every base and diving for every ball with spectacular gymnastics. When he was put at catcher, he slid three feet to grab the ball every time, even if it had already come to a stop against the fence. This resulted in his shoe getting tangled in the chain links at least three times. Jill unabashedly took videos of him.

“So we can laugh about it later as much as we want,” she whispered to Charlotte. “Because we can’t laugh now, in case his mama hears and comes over to whip our butts.”

During the game, Charlotte occasionally glanced over to Alexa who was always either staring at her phone or looking painfully bored. Luckily for her, t-ball games were only forty-five minutes long, regardless of how many innings had been played, so her suffering was of short duration.

Charlotte and Jill stayed in their seats while the teams shook hands and then ran to their dugouts to get their game treats and gather their belongings. Alexa however, stood and pranced over to stand by Nate on the field, where she was largely ignored, except by Justine, who gave her the stink-eye. Sam stayed where he was, looking miserable.

Charlotte leaned towards him. “You don’t get paid enough for that.

Sam smiled, which he didn’t do often. “You have no idea how much I’m paid.”

Charlotte shrugged. “Doesn’t matter. It isn’t enough.”

“At least she’s flying out tomorrow,” he said.

Hesitating only a minute, Charlotte asked, “Does she always sleep somewhere else when she comes for a visit?”

“Yes. Nate always insists she get a room somewhere. She stays at his house in Tampa sometimes, but he knows it would cause talk in a town like this.”

“No kidding. I went to dinner with him once and you wouldn’t believe what I’m being accused of.”

Charlotte hated the way Alexa and Nate looked so perfect standing together. Clearly, they had a history she knew nothing about and Nate cared enough about her to protect her reputation. He didn’t seem nearly as worried about hers.

Taylor loped up the bleachers, grinning from ear to ear. Charlotte gave him a high five and congratulated him on his game. Jill tickled his armpits and teased him about the time he threw the ball and got it stuck in the fence.

Charlotte smiled at their interaction, but her eyes wandered over to watch Nate and Alexa again as they walked back toward the bleachers. Sam stood, and so did Charlotte. It was time to go.

She tugged on the brim of Taylor’s cap. “Come on, buddy. What do you say we all go get some ice cream to celebrate since Jill is leaving tomorrow?”

Taylor jumped and whooped. “Yes. I want chocolate.”

Grabbing his shoulders, she steered him down the bleachers. Nate and Alexa stood below, obviously waiting for Sam. Feeling awkward, Charlotte smiled politely, but didn’t quite meet Nate’s eyes before she moved to walk by. But then a strong, gentle hand grasped her arm. She looked up, meeting Nate’s eyes. They were intense and questioning.

“Not even going to say hi?”

“I didn’t want to intrude.”

Nate’s jaw clenched for a moment. “You could never be an intrusion. I wish…” he lowered his voice and leaned closer, “I wish I was free tonight.”

Charlotte tossed Jill her keys and motioned for her to walk ahead with Taylor. “Alexa made it clear that she has some claim on your attentions.”

His whole expression darkened and he led her a few feet away. “Did she? I promise you, the only claim she’s ever had on me was one of friendship.”

He still grasped her arm, and his thumb began running back and forth over her skin in a subtle caress. “I’ve got some meetings I can’t miss tomorrow, but can I come over and see you, even if it’s late?”

“I don’t think that’s a great idea.”

“Just to talk.”

Charlotte sighed. “Okay. You’d better get back to Alexa before she kills me with that glare of hers.”

Nate dropped his hand and Charlotte stepped away, calling over her shoulder, “See you later, Sam.”