Trent (Season Two: The Ninth Inning #4) (20 page)

I WALK OUT of courthouse
when I’m finished with my day of adoptions. I only had one kid, but
I had to do another social worker’s cases because they were sick. I
check my watch and figure I have time for a cup of coffee.

There isn’t a long line and
I’m able to quickly order and take a seat at one of the corner
tables. I take out my phone and check my emails, but the app
doesn’t even have time to open before someone sits down across from
me.

Junior Mints...I mean,
Mintzer.

“Ms. Knowles, how are you
today?” He smiles at me.

“No comment.” I sip my
coffee.

“I haven’t seen you at the
gym.” He’s still smiling at me and it’s beginning to creep me
out.

“No comment, and there are
law to stalking people.” I reminded myself I did the same thing to
Trent, but I don’t say it out loud.

“I’m not stalking. I live
near the gym and I like to walk around a lot.”

“No comment.” I look away
from him, hoping he gets the hint.

“Why were you at the
courthouse?” Mr. Creepy-face drops his smile.

“No comment.”

“Was it to see the DA?”

“No comment.”

Junior hums for a second.
“So, where’s your boyfriend?”

“I don’t have a
boyfriend.”

“Trent Baker isn’t your
boyfriend? Are you two already engaged or already married?”

“How dare you?” I growl at
him. “Less than a year ago he lost his wife and the mother of his
child. Have some respect.”

“Would he still be married if
you two weren’t having an affair? Or would she still be alive?”

My blood boils. I’m not going
to sit here and listen to his idiotic questions or his dumb ass
comments. I stand up and look down at him. “You want a quote?”

Junior nods and smirks.

I flip him my middle finger.
“Quote that.” And I walk away.

I can’t get over the
encounter with Junior. I hate him more than anything. When I talked
to Macy, she said if he comes up to me one more time, I could file
a harassment complaint.

I don’t want to tell Trent
about Junior Mints coming up to me this time. I smile at Trent
calling him the same nickname. Trent has been making so much
progress; I don’t want anything to set him back. He needs to keep
looking forward.

The last time we texted, he
had made me feel bad, but I know he didn’t mean to. His daughter
was sick and he needed to keep his attention on her.

I study the dress lying out
on my bed. I purchased it last week for this event and now I need
to find a pair of shoes in my closet to match the lavender silk
evening dress. It’s been forever since I’ve bought anything new for
me like this. I spent two hours shopping for it and, thankfully, I
found it on the clearance rack.

Macy: I can’t come tonight.
Sorry.

My heart drops. I’ve been
looking forward to this banquet all month. I asked Macy to come
with me because I didn’t want to go alone.

Me: Why not?

Macy: A source came through
and I’m going to have to write up a story before it goes to
print.

Me: Fine.

I can’t argue when it has to
do with her job. Macy is so much like me; all we have is our job
and I know how much she loves to be a on a deadline.

I made the decision pretty
fast not to go to the event. I can’t deal with everyone staring at
me and whatnot. I look for my fuzzy slippers and head to my living
room.

The Angels’ highlights from
yesterday's game are on TV. Trent has
two
home runs. Wow,
how amazing for him.

Me: Saw the HRs. Great
job!

I’m sure he’s busy, but I at
least want him to know I saw it.

Trent: Thanks! Best part of
the job. How’s your day going?

Me: It was good until five
minutes ago. How’s yours?

Trent: Good. What
happened?

Me: I was supposed to go to
an event tonight, but Macy backed out. I’m not going now.

Trent: Why not? If you want
to go, you should still go. What kind of event is it?

Me: Nothing big. It’s an
annual party for social workers and a bunch of awards are handed
out. I’m going to find something on Netflix and drink wine. How
Kaelyn feeling?

Trent: She’s all better now,
thanks. You should go! If you’re only not going because she backed
out, then I could go with you if you wanted.

My mouth drops as I read the
screen. I can’t go with him. Can I?

Me: Thanks for the offer,
but you need to spend time with Kaelyn, and I don’t want to put you
out.

Trent: #1: I know how to
manage my time. #2: Can’t put me out if I offered

Me: There’s going to be A
LOT of people there. I’m sure more than one will recognize you.
This wouldn’t be a good idea.

Trent: But you should go.
I’m not worried about other people’s thoughts/assumptions/opinions.
So, do you want me to go with you?

I think it over and we’re
friends. I planned on going with Macy, who is a friend. The only
difference is Trent isn’t Macy.

Me: If you would like to go,
I would like you to come. Can you be ready in an hour?

Trent: What do I need to
wear?

Me: A tux if you have one or
a nice suit is fine too, if you don’t want to wear a tux.

Trent: I’ll be there in an
hour.

It takes me almost the whole
hour to get ready, but I make it. I slip into my dress. My makeup
is perfect, my hair looks okay, and it’s all done by the time
there’s a knock on the door.

“Hi.” The butterflies in my
stomach flutter when I look at Trent in his black suit.

“Hey.” I watch as he glances
over my body. “You look incredible.”

“Thanks. It’s new. I mean I
recently purchased it. Not like it’s this season’s or something.
Never mind, I’m rambling. Are you ready?”

“Ready if you are.”

Trent holds out his elbow for
me to take and my heart skips a beat. He guides me to the car and
even holds the door for me. I’m trying my best to hold back the
glee written all over my face, but it’s hard.

On the way to the event,
Trent mainly talks about baseball. I think it’s a safe topic and an
easy one to discuss. Plus, it doesn’t set me on edge any more than
I already am.

Trent pulls up to the hotel
where the event is being held and valets the car. I attempt to give
him money but he shakes his head.

We follow the long line of
patrons into the grand ballroom. There are already around two
hundred people or so: social workers, directors, and other state
officials from all over Tennessee.

“Do you want a drink or do
you want to go to the table? You’ll be sitting with a few of my
co-workers. If it becomes uncomfortable, we can leave.”

“I’m only here as arm candy,
Scarlett,” he jokes and I feel a bit more relaxed. “Whatever you
want, I’m just tagging along.”

“I need a drink.” I turn on
my heel and head straight for the bar. I can feel people staring at
us. Well, mainly Trent. Everyone in Tennessee knows who he is.
“Told you so.”

He shrugs as if it isn’t a
big deal. “It happens. Are
you
uncomfortable?”

“Very much so.”

We order our drinks, and just
as we leave, I hear my name being called.

“Scarlett.”

“Janie, hello. How are you?”
I beam at my old co-worker.

“I’m outstanding. I’m
retiring in eight days, six hours, and twelve minutes.”

Trent and I both laugh. “Not
counting, are you?”

“No, why do you ask?” She
winks. “Hello.” She turns to Trent. “I’m Janie. I used to work with
Scarlett.”

“Right, sorry. Janie, this is
Trent Baker. Trent, this is Janie Upton. She changed offices a few
years ago.”

“Nice to meet you,
Trent.”

“Nice to meet you as
well.”

“Scarlett, I must say you are
doing so well this year. Over ten adoptions and your kids are doing
amazingly. I can’t believe you didn’t take that promotion.”

I shake my head and look down
at my shoes. “I turned it down because I like the kids I’m working
with right now. I can’t leave them.”

“Well, I heard you took the
call the other night, and had to go to the West End apartment. How
bad was it this time?”

I feel the frown before I can
stop it. “I had to remove eight kids and send them to city foster
homes. It’s getting so much worse down there.”

“Why do you keep volunteering
then?” She tilts her head.

“The kids need to know
someone cares.” There is no other explanation.

“You’re a good person.” She
hugs me. “Trent, nice to meet you. I need to head over and find my
husband before he drinks anymore.”

Once she’s gone, Trent smirks
at me. “So, in additional to your normal hours, you volunteer a lot
of your time, don’t you?”

“Yes. A lot of people I work
with have their own families, and since I don’t, I take a lot of
the night shifts and on-call duties.” It’s not a big deal. I don’t
have a family or anyone waiting for me at home.

“You really are amazing. You
do it because you care, too, not just because you don’t have your
own family.” He squeezes my hand.

I’m embarrassed at his words,
and the heat reaches my cheeks. “Yes, I care. I remember how it was
in my childhood home.” I stop talking. I didn’t want to bring him
down tonight. “Should we find our table?” I change the topic and
point to the crowd.

“Sure.” He places his hand on
the small of my back and we make our way through the people.

***

I EXPECTED A few heads
to turn based on what Scarlett told me, but it seems like
every
head is turning. I can’t blame them considering the
circumstances. I would probably do the same thing. We find our
table after being stopped by someone wanting to say hello to
Scarlett. She truly does amaze me. She gives everything to her job.
That’s worth a lot more than me giving my job my all. She’s doing
so much more and making more of a difference than I ever could.

I pull her chair out for her
to take a seat and sit next to her as those already at the table
fall silent. There’s a man sitting next to me. He breaks the
silence by clamping a hand on my shoulder rather roughly. “Trent
Baker! Huge fan, man.”

“That’s great,” I smile.

“You’re doing extremely well,
all things considered.”

“Um, yeah, thanks.” I angle
myself away from him and toward Scarlett. “Do you think they’ll
have gummy bears with dessert?”

She giggles. “I’m sure I saw
that on the menu somewhere.”

“I’d be happy with either
sprinkles or chocolate syrup, too. Or all three. The dessert
trifecta.”

She laughs louder,
remembering our ice cream day with Kaelyn. “It would be. However, I
don’t think they’ll be serving it tonight. Maybe next time, we—”
She suddenly stops and turns back to the menu. She almost seems
uncomfortable, so I change the subject.