So, I look for a different answer that’s equally as true. “Well, the optics aren’t great when a field manager and a player get into it mid-game, now are they? But I’m only guaranteed to be here until the end of the season. So, who knows, maybe I’ll be the one to go.”
“Yeah, Dad.” Miller leans her elbows on the kitchen island opposite me. “I’ve never seen you get in a player’s face like that.”
“He deserved it.”
“I can’t imagine the boss was too stoked about that,” Travis cuts in.
“I wouldn’t know how she feels about it. I didn’t see her post-game.”
“By the way, I really like Reese,” Cody states, his typical happy-go-lucky demeanor switching up the mood. “I think she’s doing a good job.”
That earns my attention. “Yeah?”
“Yeah. And I mean more than just running the team. Did you know that next week is my thousandth game with the Warriors? I didn’t even know that was a thing, but she’s flying my parents out here for the game. I thought that was so cool of her.”
You’d think after everything Reese told me at that minor league game about her love for her family’s team that this wouldn’t shock me, but still, it does. She loves to preach that baseball is only a business, so it’s always a little surprising when she proves herself wrong.
I nod in agreement. “That is really cool of her. I’m glad your parents will be there.”
He smiles. “Me too. My mom is excited.”
“Reese hooked up my family too,” Travis cuts in. “You know when we were in Detroit last week and my mom and aunt came to game two of that series? Well, Reese found out they were going and bought them seats directly behind home plate.” He chuckles to himself. “I could hear those two yelling behind me the whole freaking game.”
“Reese wasn’t even on that road trip,” I remind him, a bit of disbelief laced in my tone.
“Exactly.”
Before I can wrap my head around this new information, Kennedy comes in through the front door.
“Sorry I’m late,” she says, immediately finding Isaiah. “I got stuck at work longer than I planned. It felt like everyone came in for treatment today. Well, except for you three.”
“It was a dessert day,” Cody explains as if that explains anything at all.
Isaiah wraps an arm around his wife, pressing a kiss to the top of her hair. “I made sure we saved one of each of the desserts for you. Other people wanted to eat them, but I said no way. Those are for my wife, and if she wants to share when she gets here, that’ll be her decision.”
Max giggles in my lap, already picking up in his three short years that his uncle is the comedian of the family.
Kennedy cocks her head to the side. “Why do I have a feeling that none of that happened?”
Miller rolls her eyes. “Nice try, Rhodes.”
I don’t hear what else is said, instead distracted with my phone that’s buzzing and the name that’s scrolling along the top.
Hesitating, I stare at the incoming call before I stand with Max tucked under one arm. “Sorry, Bug. I have to take this.”
Setting him on his feet, he instantly climbs onto his uncle’s back instead.
“Everything okay?” Kai asks.
I hold up my phone to show him the screen as I start down the hall. “Nate’s calling.”
His expression matches my own surprise from seeing my former video coach’s name. I’ve called him multiple times since Reese let him go, and he’s yet to answer a single one.
“Nate?” I ask, answering the phone as I slip into Max’s bedroom. I close the door behind me so no one else can hear this conversation. I have a strong suspicion I’m about to get cussed out or called a well-deserved name for promising him a job I couldn’t deliver.
What I’m not expecting is the unmistakenly cheery tone in his voice when he says, “Hey, Monty!”
I’m clearly confused, and don’t do a great job of hiding it. “Everything okay?”
