A smile lights up her face, and I notice Max is chomping away on a hot dog next to her. Mustard rings his mouth.
“I didn’t think you were going to make it tonight.”
“I got done earlier than I thought and all the horses are taken care of, so I figured why not.”
Her eyes flit up to my baseball hat. “Not the usual one you wear.”
I smile down at her. “Figured I’d support the Loggers tonight.”
“Mommy, can I get a baseball hat like Sam’s?” Max asks.
“We’ll see, Baby,” she says.
“You can wear this one tonight,” I say, dropping my hat on Max’s head. It falls over his eyes but he doesn’t care.
“Cool.”
“You want to join us?” Joey asks.
“I don’t want to bother you.”
More like I can’t be in her space and not want to touch her. Hold her. Shower her with the affection this woman deserves.
“It wouldn’t be a bother,” she says. “Just…two coworkers enjoying the game together.”
“Mr. Sam. Will you try and catch a ball for me?” Max pipes up, the hat falling farther into his line of vision.
“See? You have to stay. There is no way I can catch one for him,” Joey confirms.
“Fine,” I say, without much heat behind it. Because getting to watch the game with these two? Yeah, it’ll make for a fucking great night. “I guess I’ll join you.”
“Yay,” Max says. “Do you want some of my dinner? Mommy got me a hot dog and French fries.”
I smile down at him as I take a seat across from him and stretch my legs out. Joey is sitting cross-legged next to me in a pair of jean shorts and a red Loggers T-shirt.
“You’re more than welcome to some of our fries,” she says, pushing the basket closer to me.
“You want a bite of my hot dog?” Max shoves a small piece my direction, his fingers caked in mustard.
“I don’t think he does,” Joey says.
“Well, now I have to eat it.” I don’t want to disappoint him. I take the cut-up piece from him and pop it in my mouth. “Delicious.”
“Isn’t it yummy?” he asks.
“The best. Maybe I need to make some hot dogs at home now.”
“Mommy doesn’t let me eat them unless it’s a fun night.”
“What’s a fun night?” I ask.
“Max gets to pick something fun once a week that we do together when I’m not working.”
“It’s fun.” Max nods his head in agreement.
“Cool,” I say. “What’s this week’s fun thing?”
“Baseball!” Max cheers.
