One Day His (The Someday Series Book 2) Read Online Free Page A

’cause your mom’s hurt? Are you coming home?” the boy asked hopefully as he raised his head and stared expectantly up at Cat.
    She brushed long blond strands of hair off his forehead as she explained, “I’m just here for a few days and then I go back to college, but I’ll make sure to say goodbye before, okay?”
    “Pinkie promise?” he asked.
    Cat reached down her hand and hooked her pinky around his. “Pinkie promise.”
    I was confused. I thought only girls pinkie-promised.
    “Christian!” the voice called louder.
    “You better go. Your Grandma’s waiting.”
    The minute the words came out of Cat’s mouth, the boy’s face fell like she’d just broken the news to him that Santa Claus wasn’t real.
    “Come on,” she said encouragingly. “I’ll race you!”
    She took off running, and just like that, in an instant, Christian burst out laughing as he ran after her giggling. The scene made my chest ache. Cat really was magic. Everything she touched, she made better.
    Bending over, I picked up the discarded ball and I started after them, dusting the sand off it. They hadn’t made it that far. I found them just around the rocks, standing at the edge of a walkway that led to a house equally as impressive as Cat’s home. An older woman stood out on the porch, a colorful knit shawl draped over her shoulders, her salt-and-pepper hair in tight curls on her head.
    “Hi, Mrs. Robbins!” Cat waved in a cheerful greeting.
    The woman’s wrinkled face came to life when she saw Cat. “Catherine, it’s so good to see you home! How is your mother, dear?”
    “I think she’ll be okay.” Cat’s voice might have sounded normal to anyone else’s ears, but I could clearly hear the tension at the mere mention of her mother.
    “Oh good,” the woman said as she lifted her arm and motioned for Christian to come in. “Come on, boy. Let’s get that belly fed.”
    “Bye, Cat,” Christian let out a puff of exaggerated breath as he gave a half-hearted wave as his shoulders slumped in defeat and he started up the walkway.
    “Bye, Christian.” Cat answered with a forced, upbeat vibe. Still, a hint of sadness bled through, probably for the boy’s reaction to having to leave her.
    “Hey, little man,” I called.
    Christian warily peered over his shoulder at me.
    “Don’t forget this,” I said as I tossed the ball to him.
    His hands flew up, and as it hit him in the chest, he wrapped his arms around it. After a split second, his head shot up, his blue eyes wide with shock. “I caught it!”
    Beside me Cat clapped and whooped. Mrs. Robbins was cheering, and Christian looked like he’d just hit a home run in the World Series.
    I wasn’t exactly sure what was going on. The kid had caught a ball. I was clearly missing something.
    “Thanks, Jace!” Christian enthused happily before running up to his still-cheering grandmother.
    Mrs. Robbins waved at us when her grandson made it up to her. Putting her hand up to cover her eyes from the setting sun, she called out, “Who’s your gentleman friend, dear?”
    Cat’s fingers wrapped around my bicep. I loved the feeling of her soft hand wrapped around me. “This is Jace. Jace Butler.”
    “Nice to meet you, ma’am,” I spoke loud enough that my voice could be heard and raised my hand to greet her.
    “Oh my.” Mrs. Robbins fanned herself. Not metaphorically—she actually pulled a paper fan from God knows where and began fanning herself. “Those looks and manners. He’s a keeper.” She smiled then waved as she ushered her grandson in the house.
    Shifting my attention to Cat, I was going to ask what the big deal was about the kid catching the ball when I noticed that she was gazing up at me with that look. The look she used to get on her face before our ‘break,’ before Natalya had forced her way into my life, before I’d caused that look to go away. The look I’d never wanted to see in a girl’s eyes—directed at me. Before Cat. Then, when it had gone