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Mac was quiet for a fewlot They pulled onto the street and cruised along until they hit their first traffic light He stopped behind a shiny red Corvette and cleared his throat

“You did good out there Who taught you to throw a breaking ball like that?”

“My dad”

Mac glanced at the kid Liam’s voice was soft, with a bit of a tremble

“He knows his stuff”

“Yeah”

Everything about Lia how to break through, Mac remained quiet

He pulled up to his ainst the railing and so about the way she looked, there in the shadows, hit him in the chest

Liam hadn’teither He stared out theat his

“You okay?” Mac asked

Liaed but didn’t answer

Becca took a step down fro

“Good,” Mac said He didn’t want to kick the kid out, but he sure as hell didn’t knohat to do or say “I’ll see you Friday night for the first game”

Lia over his shoulder and opened the door He slid outside, sla it shut behind him, and started up the driveway, his thin fraed toward the house He walked past hisinside without a backward glance

Becca watched her son for a few seconds and then gave Mac a s Liam inside Mac waited until the door closed, disturbed by the quiet sadness he’d just witnessed