Catching Chase

by Michelle Windsor

  “Hey Chase.”

  His little eyes squint as they move to my mouth, his hand following a second after to run over the light stubble around my lips. “Fuwwy.” He giggles, then drags his fingers over the light growth again, turning his head to Megan. “Fuwwy, Mommy.”

  She’s got a wide smile on her face as she nods. “Yes, he’s got a furry face, huh?”

  I laugh, now that I know what he was trying to say, but stop immediately when I feel Chase flinch in my arms, his expression turning to one of alarm as he stares at me. I think I scared him. “You think this is furry? Wait until winter.” I chuckle, relief pouring through me when he seems to relax, both hands clamping on to my cheeks to rub up and down. I talk to him as he squishes my face. “Are you hungry? Mommy says you like lunch when you wake up.”

  His eyes widen, as well as his smile, as he replies. “Yum yums!” He claps his hands then looks at his mother. “Yum yums Mommy.”

  “Okay, okay.” She rubs his back as she turns to walk over to the fridge. “Let’s see what grandma has in here for you.” She looks over her shoulder at me. “You can put him in that seat over there.” She motions to a booster strapped to one of the chairs at the kitchen table. “Make sure you buckle him in, okay?”

  “Um, sure.” I shift Chase over to my hip as I head for the chair, then lower my voice so only he can hear me. “She does know I haven’t done this before, right?”

  “I help!” He offers, clapping his hands together once.

  “Well, alright little dude, let’s do this.” I sit him down in the seat, and somehow, with some actual direction from Chase, I get him buckled into the seat. I raise my hand to celebrate. “Give me five!” He looks at my hand, confusion on his face. How can this kid not know what a high five is? It’s a good thing I’m here now. He obviously needs some male guidance. I shake my head, but then use my other hand to lift his and show him how to smack it against my raised one. “See? Give me five!”

  I show him again, and this time something clicks, his tiny hand slamming into my large one as he yells out. “Gimme Five!”

  “Yeah!” I yell back, excitement pouring through me. I taught him something!

  “Settle down, Champ.” Megan chuckles from behind me. “Get him to go potty on the toilet and I’ll give you a something to cheer about.”

  My brow shoots up as I snap around to look at her. “Something to aim for.” Her cheeks flush, and I’m reminded of a time that doesn’t really seem all that long ago. When all I had to do was look at her to get that reaction from her. We spend the next twenty minutes feeding him. Well, watching him eat really. She gives him some sliced apples, then a peanut butter and jelly sandwich cut into tiny squares, and then one chocolate chip cookie. Which he refuses to share with me. Just watching him is fascinating to me. He is so happy. The simplest things sending him into a fit of giggles. I swear to god my heart has doubled in size since I walked through the door an hour ago.

  After he finishes his cookie, Megan uses a wet paper towel to clean his hands and face, then pops him out of the chair. “Why don’t you go show him what you got him?” She nods her head in the direction of the living room. “I’ll just finish cleaning up in here then meet you in there.”

  “You sure?” I look down at Chase, who’s running in circles around my legs, then back at her. “What if I do something wrong with him?”

  “You’re not going to break him.” She waves me off. “Go. Trust your instincts. You’ll know what’s right or wrong.”

  I heave out a breath, then bend down to scoop up Chase, a yelp of joy sounding when I toss him gently in the air before securing him in my arms. “What do you say Bud, want some presents?”

  “Pwesents!” He exclaims in delight, his head bobbing up and down. “I wove pwesents!”

  I grin from ear to ear, never more excited to share some gifts as I carry him back into the living room. When I reach the couch, I set him down, then dump both bags onto the floor, letting him decide what he likes, or doesn’t. A small thrill bursts right to my soul at the first thing he grabs, then runs over, holding it out to me. “Footbaw!”

  We spend the next fifteen minutes going through everything else I brought, exploring all of it, but when we finish, he goes right back to the football. “Pway catch with me?”

  Sure I’ll play catch with you. Every single damn day if you want. For the rest of my life. Pride courses through me. This is my son. I’m a father. To a boy who wants to play football with me. I ruffle his hair under my hand, then sweep him up, unable to hide the tears glistening as I hug him close. His little body tenses for just a second, but then relaxes, his arms moving to wrap around my neck, one of his hands patting me on the back of the head. “Don’t cwy. It’s okay.”

  “I’m okay.” I give him a little squeeze to reassure him. So not okay. Kind of freaking out here. “There’s no crying in football, right?” I force a chuckle, then lower him to the ground, wiping away the light wetness coating my cheeks before he can see. “Let’s go ask Mommy if we can play outside.”

  “Okay.” He shrugs, stuffing the football under one arm, his free hand sliding into mine like he’s done it a hundred times before. I close my eyes, trying to will my heart not to burst, then open them, my gaze landing on Megan.

  There’s an expression on her face that I’ve never seen before. Although, I doubt I’ve seen even a quarter of them yet, but I keep my eyes on hers for a full ten seconds as I try to figure out what it is. I’m not sure if it’s a sense of peace, or maybe a sense of wonder. What I do know is that she looks beautiful. Before I can ask, Chase tugs on my hand, jumping in place as he pleads with Megan. “Can we go pway outside Mommy?”

  “Sure.” She bends down so she’s eye level with him. “Can mommy have a hug first?” She opens her arms as he releases my hand and launches into her, the football crushed between them. “I love you Bugaboo.”

  “I wove you Mommy.” His tender voice a murmur against her chest.

  She releases him after just a second, then rises back to her full height. She opens her mouth to speak, but then stops, her head tilting in the direction of the foyer as a loud knock sounds at the door. She holds up a finger. “One sec.” She looks at Chase, then back at me. “You got him?”

  “Yep.” I tell her as she head to the door, then flash him a grin. “Toss me that ball, Chase.” He grips it between his hands then lobs it up in the air to me. I catch it then toss it gently back to him. We continue tossing the ball, me coaching him on how to throw it more directly, instead of the lobbing into the air motion he’s mastered.

  “Are we supposed to be throwing the ball in the house?” Megan teases as she walks back into the room a few minutes later.

  My heart lurches when Chase drops the ball to the floor and breaks into a run, throwing himself into the arms of a man entering the room just behind her. “Unca Tom!” I’m getting used to his L’s and R’s being pronounced as W’s, or not at all, so I figure out pretty quickly that he’s calling him Uncle Tom. I also remember that Megan’s an only child. I watch as he spins Chase around, both of them laughing out loud, my hands clenching into tight balls. Who in the hell is this guy? And why does my son seem to know him so well?

  Megan must sense the shift in my demeanor, because she steps between me and Uncle Tom and tells him to put Chase down. She tells Chase to go play with his new toys, which he does, sprinting over to the pile, happy as a clam when he digs in. She looks at me, then looks at Tom. “Tom, this is Chase’s dad, Jasper.” She sweeps a hand in my direction, her gaze snapping to me. “And Jasper, this is Tom Pearson.”

  “Hey, it’s nice to meet you, man.” He takes the three steps needed to close the distance between us, extending his hand to me. I unclench my fingers and grasp his hand in mine, shaking it firmly before I drop it. He continues to talk, and I continue to assess him. There’s something familiar about him but I can’t pin-point it. “Megs told me you would be coming by today to spend some time with Chase. That’s really great.”<
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  Megs? What in the actual fuck? He has a nick-name for her. “Uh, yeah.” I scratch at the stubble lining my chin. I’m not really sure what else to say to him, but it doesn’t seem to matter because he keeps on talking.

  “I don’t know if you’ll remember, but we actually played against each other a few times in college. I was quarterback at Arizona State back in the day.” He frowns, glancing down at his leg, then back up at me. “Was supposed to go play for the Rams, but I guess destiny had other plans for me.”

  “That’s right.” I finally respond. “I remember you now. You had a hell of an arm. I was sorry to hear about your accident.”

  “Yep.” He shrugs. “Sucked, but life goes on, right?” He points to Chase. “But have you seen the arm on that guy though?” He lets out a short laugh. “At least now I understand where the talent came from. It sure wasn’t her.” He looks over at Megan with an affectionate grin.

  And at least now I know why he was so excited when he saw the football. It had nothing to do with me after all. And everything to do with this guy apparently. I feel like an interloper in my own son’s life and it sucks. There’s a part of me that wants to lift my leg and start peeing on what’s mine, but the more reasonable part of me knows that’s not what’s best for Chase.

  I’m about to make an excuse to Megan about leaving so I can take some time to digest this new player and figure out my next move, but freeze when a door slams and a woman’s voice calls out. “I’m home!” A second later, her mom breezes into the living room, at least two dozen balloons clutched in her grip. “Hello babies!” She’s looking at Megan and Chase, but then swings her attention to me. “And you too.”

  She walks over to Megan, hands her the balloons absently, then beelines to me, completely ignoring Tom. “So, you’re the guy.” She takes one of my hands and holds it between both of hers. “You’re Chase’s father?”

  I nod, completely caught off guard, my voice stuck somewhere between my belly and my throat, allowing me to only grunt a one word reply. “Yeah.”

  She openly scans me from head to toe, then nods. “Montgomery would have liked you.” She squeezes my hand and then releases it, surprising me when she pulls me into a hug, speaking softly into my shoulder. “Welcome to the family, son. You can call me Sandy.”

  “Mom.” Megan groans out. “Let go of him, and come say hello to Tom.”

  She releases me after one final pat on my shoulder, then spins around. “Tom! It’s perfect you’re here. Be a dear and go grab the rest of the bags out of the Range Rover, would you?”

  “Sure Mrs. L, anything for you.” He strolls out of the room.

  I take this opportunity to try and make my exit. “Megan, I think I should probably get going.” I glance at the huge bouquet of balloons she’s still holding on to. “It looks like you’ve got some other stuff going on.”

  “No.” She huffs out, forcing the balloons back into her mother’s grasp as she strolls over to me. “This is all my mother.” She swings her gaze over her shoulder to her mom. “I told you I did not want a party, but you never listen.”

  “Oh nonsense Meggie Pie!” She waves a hand in the air dismissing Megan’s comment away like a pesky fly. “You only turn thirty once!”

  “Yes, except my birthday is actually next Saturday, and not today Mom.” She grumbles out.

  Shit. That’s right. I do remember her telling me during the time we spent in L.A. that her birthday was in April.

  “Yes, and since you won’t be here next weekend, you get a party today.” She turns her attention to me. “You should stay Jasper.” She pauses when Megan throws her an evil glance. “What?” She rolls her eyes at her daughter then continues addressing me. “There’s plenty of room here. Unless you got a hotel of course. But you’re welcome to stay. I can have the caterer set an extra place.”

  “For Christ’s sake, Mom.” She’s reached me now and places a hand on my arm as she shifts her focus to me. “I’m sorry about that. About her.” She tosses a glance over her shoulder, then looks up at me. “But yes, please, if you’d like to stay, we’d love to have you. It’s just dinner with some of my friends. Leah’s coming with her new husband. You can meet them.”

  “I really don’t want to intrude.” I look over at Chase, who is content as a fish in water, still playing with the toys I brought him. I crave spending more time with him, and this would at least give me that opportunity. “I didn’t bring a change of clothes.” I frown, lifting my shoulders in a small shrug. “I planned on just driving back to Boston today because I wasn’t sure what our arrangement was going to be for me to see him again.”

  She crosses her arms, her attention swinging to Tom for a second when he strides by, arms full, heading in the direction of the kitchen. When she looks back at me, her lower lip is caught between her teeth. The memory of how I used to use my own teeth to nip it free before claiming her lips in a kiss slams into me. God damn, what I wouldn’t do to taste her again. Before I can take the thought further, she starts to speak again, her voice low. “Jasper, I know this is really strange. It’s a lot to take in. Getting to know Chase is a big enough change for you, but then to have to try and figure out my mother and my friends…” She trails off, shrugging, a knowing smile on her face. “I get it if you want to leave.” She uncrosses her arms and places a hand on my chest, right over my heart. “But, I would really like it if you stayed.”

  Tom waltzes back into the room, coming up behind Megan, without any regard to the conversation we’re obviously having, and drops a hand over shoulder. “I forgot how much your mom likes to order me around.”

  My eyes are laser focused on Megan’s hand as it leaves my chest to move to her shoulder, landing over Tom’s giving it a hug as she laughs out. “I think you secretly love her bossing you around.”

  A surge of testosterone surges through me, sparking the desire to throttle this guy right in the fucking face. That’s my girl. The mother of my child. Not yours. Yeah, I think I will stay a little longer. “You know what Megs, I think I will stay, if you don’t mind.” My voice is laced with fake cheer. “I’d love to help you celebrate turning thirty.” I swing my gaze to Chase. “And of course, spend some more time with my son.”

  “Okay.” Her mouth quirks in a frown, her brow furrowing as she analyzes me, nodding once. “Do you want to take him outside to play for a little while? I’ll make sure one of the guest rooms is setup for you.”

  “Sounds good.” I give her a sly grin, then say something I know I shouldn’t, but blurt it out anyway. “Sleeping under the same roof with you again will be nice.” Then I shoot a glaring look at Tom in an attempt to deliver a silent message; that’s right fucker, she was mine way before she was yours.

  Chapter Nineteen

  What in the world? Did he just try to mark his territory? “What’s his problem?” Tom grumbles behind me as I watch Jasper lead Chase outside through one of the french doors.

  “I have no idea.” I swing around to face him, taking a quick step back when I realize we’re so close. “Jesus, a little space Tom.”

  “I thought you liked when I crowded you a little?” His voice lowers an octave as he steps close to me again, his hand trailing up my arm.

  “What has gotten into you? I take another step back, swatting his hand away. “Are you for real right now?”

  He crosses his arms, a frown tugging one side of his mouth down. “I thought after Leah’s wedding, maybe things had taken a new direction for us?”

  I roll my eyes, then cross my arms as well, mimicking his stance. “First off, I was drunk. Like really drunk. The most drunk I think I’ve been since before Chase was born.” I start tapping my foot, unable to hide the annoyance I feel at even having to explain myself to him. “Making out with you in the coat room was…” I pause, looking for the right word. “-fun.” Then I bring my eyes up to his. “But Tom, that’s all it was for me. We’ve been friends way too long for us to try and go down this road now.” I uncross my arms and thr
ow one in the air. “Besides, your sister would blow a damn gasket if we ended up together. You know she has other plans for you.”

  “Juliette?” He scoffs. “That is so not happening. She’s half a ticket short to boarding the crazy train. I slept with her once and she was ready to move in.” He shakes his head. “Not going there.” He pauses, shifts his stance, and then locks his gaze onto mine. “So, no me and you?”

  “No.” I offer him a small smile. “You know I love you Tom.” I shrug. “But not like that.”

  “Well, I think baby daddy out there thinks otherwise.” He points outside where we can see Chase and Jasper running around. “What’s your game plan for that?”

  I give my foot a little stomp. “If I hear one more sports analogy today, I’m going to snap.”

  “Whoa.” Tom chuckles. “Settle down there, Tiger. I was just asking. It’s pretty obvious he’s still got it bad for you.” His brows rise. “The question is, do you still have it bad from him?”

  “Are you sure you and your sister aren’t twins?” I huff out, throwing my hands up. “I get enough of this from her.” I move past him to head to the kitchen. “Come on, let’s go help my mom.”

  “Fine!” He catches up to me and slings a friendly arm over my shoulder, leaning down as he speaks quietly. “But you’re going to have to figure it out. Don’t think you’re gonna be able to hide from this one, Megs.”

  I scrunch my nose up, turning to flash him a look that could kill. “I don’t need you to be my damn conscious, Tom. So, shut it.”

  He just chuckles, knowing me well enough to end this discussion before I lose my temper. And I will. Because I know he’s right. Even if the last thing I want to do is admit it. Time hasn’t dimmed the attraction I feel for Jasper in the slightest. In fact, seeing him with our son today, probably only added gasoline to an already simmering burn. It was taking every ounce of control I had not to throw myself in his lap so I could feel his arms around me again. To feel the warmth of his body against mine again, his mouth roving over my body in the magical way it did years ago.