“It does matter what you think! I’m sorry I’ve made you think otherwise.” He put his hand on top of hers. “You’ve already modeled love and sacrifice for your little man. I’ve never had to care for anyone but myself. Look what you’ve done for him.”

She pulled away then, coming back to her senses. She was unsure and unhappy, and that was in part because of him taking advantage of her friendship, which she hadn’t offered to anyone in a very long time. She was glad he’d been honest with his boss, but she had her own problems. She didn’t know him and he didn’t know her, not really. He couldn’t. He didn’t have the capability to care about others, and she didn’t have the strength to show him how. She clasped her hands together, pinching the web of skin, trying to keep the composure she’d fought hard to regain before leaving Gabriela’s salon.

He put a finger under her chin, made her look at him. “What’s going on, Angel? I understand you being mad at me, but why didn’t you do your practicum thing?” When her glistening eyes widened in surprise, he said, “Your friend at the clinic told me you missed some review. Is it that son of a bitch Collins? She said he was mad at you.” He licked his lips. “You didn’t have something going with that guy, did you?”

“Sweet Jesus, boy, how could you ask that?” hissed Gabriela, unable to stop herself from jumping in. “You have no damn idea what is going on.”

“Gabriela, it’s alright.” Angel regretted telling her what had happened. She needed to deal with this in her own way. She reached up to push Gabriela into her seat, but quickly put her hand back in her lap and tugged her sleeve into place. Angel didn’t want to have to answer questions about the dark bruises circling her wrist.

“No, it’s not. I’m goin’ to beat that man’s ass into the ground, then—”

“Stop, Gabriela.”

“No, don’t stop, Gabriela. Tell me what you’re talking about.” Duke’s eyes were narrowed. “Angel, seriously, what is happening?”

There was a commotion on the field. The batter was warming up, but the pitcher for Jose’s team was paying attention to something behind him. A teammate. The boy playing shortstop had dropped to the ground without warning. The pitcher yelled at him, but the boy stayed on the ground, not moving.

“Is that—”

Angel leapt to her feet. “Jose!” she screamed.