Fragile

Chapter 2 - Number Swap

Riggs's face lit up instantly. "Leah!"

I grinned down at him. "Hey, bud."

Evelyn's gaze flicked between Beth and me, her smile more reserved. "It's nice to see you again."

Beth, being the extrovert she is, immediately took charge of the conversation, asking Evelyn about her favorite coffee, her thoughts on the match, and how Riggs managed to charm an autograph out of me. Evelyn laughed softly at that, her voice low and warm, and I caught myself studying her—the way her fingers absently smoothed down the hem of her son's sleeve, the way her eyes softened when she glanced at him.

I chimed in when I could, though my usual composure felt just out of reach. Mostly, I let Beth carry things, grateful for her ease. Evelyn didn't seem fazed by the attention, answering thoughtfully but with a kind of quiet reserve I couldn't help but admire.

Eventually, Beth stretched dramatically. "Right, I need to check out. I got something for my partner that I need to bring back. Thanks for humoring us, Evelyn. It was lovely to meet you." She shot me a pointed look as she grabbed her basket, her smirk practically shouting, Don't mess this up.

"I'll walk you out," I said to Evelyn, standing before I could second-guess myself.

We stepped outside, the cool evening air a welcome contrast to the store's warmth. Riggs was still buzzing, recounting every detail of the match to Evelyn, who listened with the patience only a mother could have.

"This was...unexpected," Evelyn said finally, glancing at me as Riggs skipped ahead.

"Mom can I go to the park over there?" Riggs pointed to the play area.

"Stay within eyesight, okay?" He nodded and ran off. "Sorry." She looked back at me.

I shrugged. "It's all good." I took a breath. "Good unexpected or bad unexpected?" I asked, daring to meet her eyes.

She smiled, tucking a stray strand of hair behind her ear. "Good, I think."

We reached her car, an older model with a few scuffs along the side, and she turned to face me.

"I meant what I said earlier," I told her, leaning slightly against the door. "About thanking you. It wasn't just for my ankle—you didn't have to step in like that."

She shrugged, her gaze dropping briefly. "It wasn't a big deal. I'm a nursing student—I was there to learn."

"Well, it was a big deal to me," I said, softer now. "You didn't just help me. You gave me a reason to pause. Riggs's excitement, the way he looked at the autograph—it reminded me why I love this game."

Her eyes lifted to mine again, and for a moment, the air between us felt charged, like we were teetering on the edge of something unspoken.

"I should get going," she said finally, but her voice held a note of hesitation.

"Wait." The word slipped out before I could stop it. "I—can I have your number? Not for anything weird," I added quickly, mentally kicking myself. "Just... I'd like to stay in touch. With you and Riggs."

Her lips curved into a soft smile, and she tilted her head slightly, considering.

"Okay," she said, pulling her phone from her pocket.

I handed her mine, and she typed in her number before giving it back to me.

"Thanks," I said, feeling an odd mix of relief and exhilaration.

She opened the car door and put her bags in the back. "It was nice seeing you again, Leah."

"You too."