“I’m lots of things,” Via responded before she jogged out toward where the team was gathering around Sadie.

SEBASTIAN COULDN’T HELP but grin as he gripped the chain-link fence. He was surprised she hadn’t broken the bat with that last hit. The ball was going, going, gone. And so was Miss Via DeRosa as she rounded first, gunning for second.

He tried to wipe the smile from his face—he was sure it was bordering on dopey—but he found it wouldn’t quit. It was a joy to watch her play softball. She was powerful and light all at once. Actually, she made the rest of them look like they had their shoes tied together. Also, it didn’t hurt that she looked so damn good with that cap pulled low over her eyes and those leggings that showed two perfectly hollowed ankles.

She was cute. It wasn’t a crime to think she was cute, he reminded himself. It wasn’t like he was going to do anything about it. This game had been all the reminder he’d needed of his age. His knees were already sore from the triple he’d managed to hit last inning. He could only imagine how they’d feel in the morning.

And there she was, bulleting around each base like a little midtwenties hummingbird. He knew she didn’t worry about her knees. She was probably gonna swipe on some lipstick and go dancing with her hair model boyfriend tonight. She was young enough she probably still smoked cigarettes and didn’t worry about the cost. She probably drank sweet drinks out of fancy glasses and showed up hungover to yoga the next morning.

Sebastian, on the other hand, was going to ice his knees while his kid fell asleep during Turbo.

Well, at least he’d had sex in the last ten days.

That was new for him.

“Dad!” Matty yanked on the pocket of Seb’s athletic pants.

“Matty!” Seb parroted.

“I wanna throw the ball for Crabby.” Matty’s big gray-green eyes squinted, his lips pursing like he already knew what the answer was gonna be.

“I have concerns.”

Matty’s face scrunched further. Apparently, his dad’s concerns were tiresome. “I can do it on my own!”

Seb raised one eyebrow.

Matty was already anticipating. “It won’t be like last time. I swear. I won’t throw the ball very far, and I’ll stay where you can see me. Plus, I’m not wearing my nice clothes like before so it doesn’t matter if Crabby gets me all dirty.”

Matty held his arms out to show off his worn T-shirt and ratty jeans. His smile was growing bigger and bigger, knowing he was inching closer to getting what he wanted. He shook his little butt for good measure, knowing it always made his dad smile.

“All right. But right over there, okay? And if he starts running away, shout for me right away. Don’t try to get him yourself. That’s how we ended up in Prospect Park at 11:45 at night last month.”

“Yes!” Matty did one more butt wiggle, this time because he was happy. “Thanks, Dad!”