Perfect Song (Mason Creek Book 2) by Lauren Runow (christmas read aloud .txt) 📕

Michelle sits ramrod straight as Tucker’s leg bounces up and down.

The first pitch is thrown, and Matthew fouls it off. He takes a few pitches and misses another to bring his at-bat to a full count. Tucker squeezes my hand in a nervous twitch. When I look in his direction, it seems as if he’s holding his breath as the pitcher throws the ball.

I watch as Matthew swings the bat and hits a deep ball to center field. He takes off running as the center fielder does the same. The player dives, missing the ball by a few inches, and we all erupt in cheers as the kids round the base, bringing two runs in and Matthew getting to second base.

He claps his hands together one time while cheering when he stands on the base. Michelle is screaming at the top of her lungs while Kenneth stands to give Tucker a high five, but Tucker just nods at him with acknowledgment.

After he sits back down, I whisper to Tucker, “Not a fan of the new husband, huh?”

“Who, Kenneth? He’s fine. We’ve known each other for years.” His tone shows their current friendship is anything but cordial.

I blow a breath through my teeth. “That sounds awkward.”

“Just another day in the life.” He tilts his head in a sarcastic way.

“Seems awkward, having your ex-wife married to someone you know. How are you able to stand it?”

“Easy.” He points to Matthew, who is taking a leap off of second in an attempt to steal. “Everything I do is for my son.”

I think that speaks volumes about Tucker’s character. When people split up, feelings can be hurt, and I’ve heard horrible stories of people never getting along again. Whatever brought these two to break up, it was obviously hard, but I love that they can come together to celebrate their son and his accomplishments.

A young girl comes up with her hair in double braids down the sides under her ball cap, with a baseball jersey on, and sits next to Michelle. “Sorry I’m late. What did I miss?”

“He just hit a double!” Michelle says, still reeling from the high.

“Dang, when I heard the cheering, I tried to rush over. Bummed I missed it!”

Tucker introduces us, “Justine, this is Matthew’s girlfriend, Hannah.”

“Oh! This is her!” Hannah says with a huge smile on her face.

Tucker laughs. “Why is everyone so surprised I met someone?”

“Because we never thought you would,” Michelle says with a low chuckle.

“Very funny,” Tucker deadpans.

We spend the rest of the game laughing, cheering, and enjoying the summer day, all together. I’ve never felt so at home with people I just met. I guess that’s because I’ve never met someone new from this town. As soon as I graduated high school, I left and moved to New York, where strangers are anything but friendly.

Yes, I made friends—really good ones in fact—but there were still these barriers up until you really got to know people. In big cities, everyone is on edge, weary of each other in some ways.

Not in small towns. In small towns, a handshake and a friendly smile are all you need. I guess I never got to experience that aspect of living in Mason Creek. Funny how things I hated, growing up there, are the same things that make me more comfortable with being back there, no matter what the circumstances were.

After the game, we all wait for Matthew to have a meeting with his team and gather his things. When he exits the field, we’re all standing by with big hugs. Well, from everyone, except me. I wait to be introduced, wondering if I’ll get the same response I got from everyone else.

When it’s my turn, Tucker places his hand on my back and says, “Matthew, this is Justine.”

Matthew reaches out his hand to shake mine. “It’s really good to meet you, Justine.” I smile, but before I can say anything in response, he turns to Tucker, hitting his arm. “Nice, Dad.”

“Oh jeez,” Hannah says. “Way to be discreet.”

We both laugh, and I smile big. “It’s nice to meet you, Matthew. That was a great game. I’m glad I got to tag along.”

“Yeah, thanks for coming,” he responds as we all head toward the parking lot.

Once everyone says their good-byes and we all get in our own vehicles, I turn to Tucker. “Why is everyone so surprised you brought someone?”

“Because you’re the first woman I’ve even talked about with them since my divorce from Michelle,” he says nonchalantly. Like he didn’t just drop a huge bomb in my lap.

I gasp in a breath as I sit, a little stunned by the thought of what those words really mean.

Once we’re on the road, he instantly puts his hand back on my thigh. I run my fingers through his, and he gives me a smile in return.

I turn to him. “So, Kenneth and Michelle?” I ask cautiously.

“Still intrigued by the ex-wife and the old friend?” He shakes his head slightly.

I smile as I look down at our joined hands. I am intrigued. It’s possible because I don’t know how I would react, having to see my ex the way he does so often. Maybe it’s because my mom said there was gossip around him and his ex-wife. Mostly, it’s because I’m fascinated by everything that has to do with Tucker.

“I’m just realizing that the man who everyone in town says is a mystery isn’t one at all.”

He arches a brow. “No?”

“If you’re paying attention, you can see everything that you’re about is right there on the surface, just waiting to be admired.”

He lifts our hands and kisses mine before putting his focus back on the road.

Our drive home is just as relaxed as it was on the way there. As we pull up to my place, I glance in his direction, not wanting our time together to end.

He puts the car in park and turns in his seat to face me. Reaching his hand over to grab me, he says, “Thank you