“With you this time.”
“Good. Let’s get settled before the second half starts.”
They said good-bye to Connor. To lighten her load, Sebastian carried the popcorn as they walked up the ramp.
She had on the same jersey he’d seen her in at the last football game. Because of the colder late-November temperatures, she wore a white shirt beneath. She’d stuck the round pin of Dylan to a jean jacket.
“I’m jealous,” he said.
She stopped at the bottom rail of the bleachers. “Why?”
“Connor has something I want. He gets to be around you all week.”
“Ah. Well, the answer’s simple. Quit your job and become a teacher at Misty River High.”
“Don’t tempt me.”
“Don’t tempt me with all this—” she waved a hand at his face— “handsomeness. Honestly, Sebastian. It’s too much.”
“I want to make out with you.”
“No. We’re surrounded by hundreds of people.”
She was right. They were standing in view of the spectators. One of them would be Ben, and Sebastian wouldn’t do that to his friend. It’s just that it was way harder than expected not to touch her. He hadn’t seen her in days.
He followed her up the bleacher stairs.
She pointed to the side. “I’m sitting over here with Tess and Rudy.”
“I’ll say hi to the Colemans, then I’ll join you.”
“Excellent.”
He passed back her popcorn and made his way to the Coleman family section. They welcomed him with their usual loud enthusiasm.
“You’re joining us for church and Sunday dinner at the house, right?” CeCe demanded.
“Yes, ma’am.”
“If you stand me up, I’ll be after you with a shotgun.”
“I’ll be there.”
Hadley Jane jumped into his arms. “I haven’t seen you in so long, Sebastian.”
“It’s been too long,” he agreed. She stayed in his arms while he greeted the rest of the family. Eventually, he reached Ben. They hugged, causing the little girl to giggle when she was sandwiched between them.
“Is it okay with you that I’m here tonight?” Sebastian asked.
Ben gave a good-natured shrug. “You’re welcome to cheer for the Mountaineers anytime.”
“You know what I mean.”
“Yeah. It’s okay.” Ben’s expression looked clearer and less troubled than it had the past few times he’d seen his friend. “What’s been going on lately?”
They used to keep in close enough contact that Ben wouldn’t have had to ask. “Work’s been about the same.”
“Any change on the little girl who needs a heart transplant?”
“What little girl?” Hadley Jane asked.
“One of the babies I take care of at the hospital.” To Ben, Sebastian said, “We had to take her off the transplant list, but then we put her back on. Now we’re just waiting to see if a heart becomes available in time.”
“I hope it does. I feel for her and her parents.”
Hadley Jane’s jaw dropped. “She’s getting a new heart?”
“That’s the plan.”
“I want a new heart!”
“Your heart is already perfect. That’s my professional diagnosis as a surgeon.”
“But I don’t want this old one.”
“Newer isn’t always better.”
“Yeah huh, it is.”
“How’s your baseball team been doing?” Sebastian asked Ben. Ben had played baseball in college and now competed in a men’s league.
“We’re still dominating.”
“And your strained hamstring?”
“Better.”
Ben probably thought he knew how much their friendship meant to Sebastian. After all, Ben had experienced every minute of time they’d spent together. Yet Ben couldn’t know what his friendship had meant to a heartbroken, lonely kid. He couldn’t know what his dependability had been worth to a boy who’d learned young that the world wasn’t a reliable place. “Has anyone seen Luke here in Misty River since he was released?”
“Not that I know of. I’m planning to reach out to his mom soon to see if I can get his number from her.”
Sebastian nodded. “See you at church on Sunday?”
“Yes, and also Tuesday night, for dinner with Natasha and Genevieve.”
“Right.”
“I’m glad you’re going to be in town for the whole week.”
“Same here.”
“Now pass the child.” Ben reached for Hadley Jane. “You haven’t come over to see me yet, little girl. Which means you haven’t discovered the hidden lollipop I brought for you.”
She squealed and scrambled into Ben’s arms.
Sebastian found Leah and lowered onto the bleacher seat next to her.
Leaning back, she introduced him to the older couple sitting on her far side. They were wearing jerseys and Dylan pins that matched Leah’s.
Rudy grinned at him. “Are you two dating?”
“Yes,” Sebastian answered before Leah could say no.
“Rudy,” Tess said to her husband. “That’s not a very polite question.”
“I can’t help myself!” Rudy replied. “I’m just so happy to see Leah with a young man. It’s a pleasure to meet you, sir.”
“The pleasure’s mine.”
“Isn’t Leah the best?” Rudy asked.
“The best.”
“She’s the smartest thing.” Rudy’s glasses slipped down his nose. “The sweetest.”
“I don’t consider myself to be sweet,” Leah murmured under her breath to Sebastian.
“But smart you’ll accept?” he murmured back.
“You better believe I will.”
“Push up your glasses, please,” Tess instructed Rudy, who hurried to do as she asked.
A whistle sounded, and the teams jogged onto the field for the second half. The Mountaineers were down, seven to seventeen.
“Where’s Dylan?” Sebastian asked.
“There. On the sidelines. He played a fair amount in the first half, so I have hope that you’ll get to see him in action.” She held the popcorn toward him. He took a handful.
It tasted like average quality movie popcorn. But he was starving, so it might as well have been the most delicious thing he’d ever eaten.
“Did you have dinner?” she asked.
“Not yet.”
“I’ll go down and get you something. Hamburger? Hot dog—”
“You’re here to watch your brother. I’m here to watch your brother. I can wait to eat until after the game.”
“I really don’t mind,” she told him.
His chest ached with tenderness. He was a doctor, used to the role of caretaker, less familiar with being cared for. “Thanks, but I can wait.”
“Then eat the rest of this.” She passed the popcorn over. “I had as much as I wanted when you were talking to the Colemans.”
“You sure?”
“Yes.” Those thick lashes framed eyes that looked candid. But it might be that he was just a sucker where she was concerned. It might be that she could tell him the sun was made of Play-Doh, and he’d believe her.