When Our Worlds Stand Still (Our Worlds #3)(67)

“What if I can’t do it? What if I’ll never be as good as you?” His voice hiccups in the middle of his sentence. My heart constricts at the sound.

Graham drops the bag to the ground and kneels at Ben’s height. “So, what if you’ll never be as good as me? Maybe you’ll be better at soccer or playing the piano, but you’ll never know unless you try, kid.” He smiles at me. “Plus, on the bright side, you’ll always be better than Kennedy at baseball.”

“Hey.” I smack his chest as he stands. “That’s not fair.”

“But Kennedy’s better at dancing than us,” Ben adds.

“Exactly.” I high-five him.

“Are you so sure about that?” Graham does some weird dance/walk, twirling and spinning with more enthusiasm I expect to see from him when it comes to public dancing. His insane, erratic moves have gained us an audience. Ben and I are in stitches when he sweeps up his bag and walks by as if he’s just won a competition.

“He doesn’t really think he’s a good dancer, does he?” Ben tugs on my sleeve.

I ruffle his hair and send him to walk with Graham so I can capture images of the boy I love and the little boy who managed to make him grow up. Through the viewfinder, Graham grins down at Ben, swinging their joined hands between them. The lens of my camera records a moment in time, never to be replaced.

At the cage, Graham insists I go first, arming me in a baseball helmet and a bat to fend off the fast balls aimed in my direction. I stand at the plate, the bat shaking in my hand. The first ball flies by, hitting the rubber mat behind me.

“You can do this, baby. Keep your eyes on the ball,” Graham shouts. I whirl around. His hands hold tight to the fence. His lower abs are exposed. The sight causes my mouth to water. I gulp back any urge I have to run through the gate and wrap my legs around his waist. “Turn back around. The kid’s right here.”

He laughs and bets Ben I won’t hit one ball. Ben takes his offer, putting ice cream on the line.

“Ben, I got this. Chocolate chip cookie dough is all yours.” I swing at the next ball and hear a loud crack. “Holy sh-shoot.” A sweet pair of eyes looks at me. I hand the bat over to Graham. “Oh, ye of little faith.” I smack his butt. “Show us how it’s done, Mr. Black.”

“Prepare to be stunned and amazed at my athletic prowess.” He bows and turns to the machine, no helmet, and yanks out hit after hit.

“I’ll never be that good,” Ben whispers.

“Sure you will.”

Ben runs through the gate when Graham holds the bat out to him. After positioning Ben’s feet and teaching him how to hold the bat, Graham tells him to pick his pitch. Ben will know when it’s the right one. Ben swings his arms, and together, they hit the ball to the other end of the cage.

I jump up and down in celebration. Ben runs from the cage, Graham fast on his heels. His short arms wrap around my waist. I bend down and take him in my arms. Over his shoulder, I peer at the boy I love and allow myself to believe in a world where Graham and I will have a family together. What will our children look like? Will they have his undying devotion to those he loves? Will they find great joy in reading because of me?

*****

“How are you still eating that?” Graham asks, parking the car in the driveway.

“I like to savor my ice cream. Do you have a problem with that?” I answer, rounding the front of his SUV.

“I have something you can savor.” He pulls me in close.

“Seriously? We just got done hanging out with a seven-year-old, and you’re already thinking about diving between my legs?”

“Yes, I’m already thinking about this.” He cups me through my jeans. “And this.” A soft kiss lands where my t-shirt dips into a V.

“You two going to fuck each other in the driveway, or come inside and have dinner with us?” Rick shouts from the front porch.

Neither of us can contain our laughter.

“You should kick him out.” I walk backward, Graham’s hand tucked in mine.

“I heard you, Kennedy. I’m starting to believe you aren’t as sweet as everyone thinks.”

I hug Rick as I pass into the house.

Amanda and Bea are at the center island, drooling over the newest Men’s Health Magazine. I peek over Bea’s shoulder, and instantly, understand why. Mark sets the large table and Sandy turns her back to me and stares holes into Griffin’s temple. Her clear avoidance is understandable, but still grates on my last nerve. I haven’t done anything to deserve the silent treatment.

“Sandy, you got a second?” I nod to the living room.

Griffin mouths something to her before she follows me out of the kitchen. I prop my hip against the sofa, and she stands behind one of the high back chairs.

“I can’t stand the weirdness between us. I know Ashlee’s your best friend, and there’s a loyalty you have to uphold, but you need to understand that, for as long as I’m with Graham, she’s no longer welcome in this house.”

“I’ve spent our entire friendship protecting Ashlee, and for the first time, I can’t justify her actions, Kennedy. I’m struggling with that.”

“You’re a good friend, Sandy. Ignore me if you have to. I’d do the same thing for my friends.”

“I don’t need to ignore you, Kennedy. I’m embarrassed for her.”