Left Field (New Hope #4)

Chapter Fifteen

Blake

Deep booms soar through the town of New Hope. Bursts of multicolored light explode across the night sky, their flames raining down over the Delaware River. The reflection on the water makes the fireworks doubly spectacular, but I'm not paying attention.

Looking, yes. Seeing, no.

My family is gathered on the riverbank in the front yard of my brother's giant farmhouse. Aidan is all about fulfilling his kid's wishes. A yellow home for Kendall, a basketball court for Sean, fireworks for the twins, and a waterslide for Freya. The entire town gets to enjoy his generosity on the Fourth of July.

The eldest Allard-Reeves child is studying ballet in France, but the remaining four are dancing on the bank, waving sparklers in the air and squealing every time another rocket shoots into the darkness.

Aidan and Olivia watch over their pack, grins stapled to their faces. Payton has his arms around Grace, his chin resting on her caramel-streaked hair. Mom and Mason are cuddling on the porch swing. My aunt and uncle are in the house, having a deep discussion about one of their sons. Even my ancient grandparents are at the edge of the small dock, hand-in-hand.

And I've never realized how shitty it feels to not have someone to share the holiday with. Not just anyone—Lucy. It's been two days since I dropped her off in front of Orlova's building. I miss her. I miss her so much it hurts. I'm not eating, but still feel as though I have food poisoning. I'm not sleeping, yet getting out of bed is intolerable.

Gordon dragged my ass into the octagon last night, hoping he could punch the gloom out of me. It didn't work, and now I have to deal with bruised ribs and cracked knuckles on top of everything.

"Uncle Blake!" My ten-year-old nephew, Sean, jogs across the lawn toward me, his school friend in tow. "Harry doesn't believe you can do a 540 kick. Can you show him, please?"

"Uh..." I glance down at my choice in pants. "I'm wearing jeans, buddy."

He widens his eyes. "Please."

"Alright," I relent with a sigh. "Give me some room."

"Yes!" Sean shouts, pumping his fist in the air and reminding me of a certain nymph with fiery hair. "Watch this, Harry."

I twist my body, crouch, and launch forward, spinning my right leg to land the kick. When I plant both feet on the grass, my ribs ache from the contortion, but far be it for me to disappoint my only nephew.

"Awesome!" the skeptical Harry applauds.

It's been like this all evening. Performing various stunts for Sean, helping little Freya find items in her hidden objects activity book, teaching my teenage nieces how to block unruly boys on Instagram.

"Seany, baby, leave your uncle alone," Olivia scolds in a loving tone, patting her son's back as she walks toward the house. "It's dangerous to do karate while brooding."

"Taekwondo," I grumble.

Entertaining the children hasn't been wholly altruistic on my part. My nieces and nephew don't question why Uncle Blake is quieter than usual. On the other hand, the adults are wondering where my new 'girlfriend' is. When Mom inquired after Lucy's whereabouts, I simply shook my head. She gave me a pitying smile, but dropped the subject.

This is why I never bring women around my family. It messes with our dynamic, and I don't want to deal with their disappointment. I have enough of my own. My whole plan was to fake a breakup and earn their sympathy, but I don't actually want it now that the heartache is real. I'd rather have Lucy.