by Raine Thomas
Happy fucking Father’s Day, Will thought darkly as he stormed into the clubhouse after the game. Way to ruin it for your teammates and everyone who paid to see the game.
The other players and the coaching staff gave him a wide berth as he went to his locker, grabbed his things, and headed to the showers. He didn’t blow saves often, but when he did, he took it hard. That meant he had the showers to himself as he did his best to shed his anger so he didn’t take it out on anyone else.
It worked. By the time he toweled off, the worst of his ire had dissipated. It wasn’t his first blown save and it wouldn’t be his last, he reminded himself. He just had to learn from it, much as he advised Jasmine when her first audition hadn’t gone as she’d hoped a couple weeks ago.
Don’t pitch sliders to Andre Baines, he mentally noted as he returned to the locker room, especially if it’s fucking raining.
Though he’d worked through his frustration, he wasn’t enthused about facing his teammates as he made his way back to the locker room. He passed a few who had the obvious intent to hit the showers now that he was done. They avoided his gaze, telling him he wasn’t the only one pissed about the loss.
Some of the guys had stopped by the team’s café to grab a meal before heading out. Others were meeting with the trainers in the gym. Despite that, there were quite a few players still standing at their lockers or sitting in the nearby plush armchairs provided for their use.
He knew most of his teammates didn’t blame him for the loss anymore than he’d blame any of them if they made a costly error. Games were a collection of decisions and actions made by the team that had to come together perfectly for them to win. None of that made him feel any better as he walked past his teammates to his locker.
“All I want for Father’s Day is an hour-long uninterrupted nap,” short stop Austin Duvall said to the small group gathered near Cole’s locker a few feet away. “The baby hasn’t slept through the night once in three months.”
And the team had been listening to Austin complain for most of those three months, but Will didn’t mention that.
“Stretch out in the lounge before you go home then,” Evan said.
Much like always, Will couldn’t tell by the Aussie’s cool tone if he was irritated by Austin’s griping or if he was trying to be genuinely helpful.
Seriously, he wondered as he secured his watch around his wrist, how did Dorsey ever become best friends with Cole Parker?
“Maybe I will,” Austin said. “Thanks for the suggestion. What’re you guys doing for Father’s Day?”
“Everly and I have our six-month pregnancy photo shoot scheduled with Sierra,” Cole answered, “so we’ll be hanging out with Dorsey and the family. Grilling up some steaks and letting the kids swim and play.”
“Gettin’ all their energy out,” Martinez chimed in. “Smart plan. We’re headin’ over to my in-laws’ place. Wife figured we should hang out there since we’ve got the Family Fun Day thing next weekend.”
Family Fun Day was an event hosted by Caroline Sanderson for her players, coaches, trainers, and other team staff once a year. She opened up the stadium to the team and their families, arranged special activities and games, provided food and drinks, and otherwise allowed them to appreciate the time with their families since they sacrificed so much of it while traveling during the season.
Will had skipped it the year before, knowing Katie wouldn’t be comfortable around so many strangers. He’d been waffling about bringing her this year. She’d come a long way in the nearly three months she’d been working with Jasmine, but was she ready to engage with other kids?
At a team meeting earlier that week, Caroline made it clear she expected her players to make an appearance at the event. A lot of time and money went into planning it, after all. But both the team’s owner and most of his teammates knew about Katie’s challenges, so if he decided it wasn’t in her best interests to attend, they would surely understand.
“I got my Father’s Day gift this morning,” Duane said with a big smile on his face.
“We don’t need to hear about your wife’s wake-up BJs again, Fry,” Austin grumbled.
Duane gave Austin a shove. “Get your brain outta the gutter, man.” He paused, then tacked on, “But Shannon does give some mind-blowin’ head.”
When everyone groaned and started turning away, Duane laughed. “I’m playin’ with y’all. Naw, my gift was hearin’ my little angel say Dada for the first time.”
Longing struck Will so painfully that he hurried to put his wallet in his back pocket and headed out without saying a word to anyone. Actually, it wasn’t the yearning that drove him out of the clubhouse so much as the rather shameful amount of resentment he felt toward his teammates over their seemingly perfect families.
Of course that was unrealistic. None of them actually had perfect home lives. At times like these, though, he more clearly felt the disparity between them.
You’ve got more to be thankful for than a lot of people, he reminded himself as he started his truck and headed home.
He had a supportive father and siblings, and a beautiful, talented little girl. Sure, Katie communicated differently than most kids. Maybe she hadn’t ever called him Dad or Daddy. Maybe she hadn’t expressly said she loved him. That didn’t mean he wouldn’t ever hear those things from her. Gareth assured him Katie would develop those types of bonds at her own emotional pace.
And, hey, she’d drawn hearts on the Father’s Day picture she made of the two of them, proudly presenting it to him before his game that day. Hearts were the equivalent of love in silent-kid-speak, right?
Somehow, his mental pep talk only made him feel sorrier for himself.
Since self-pity wasn’t his thing, he tuned the radio to his favorite alternative rock station and cranked the volume. Focusing on the music rather than his thoughts, he absently reached up and took the pendant he wore between his thumb and forefinger. As it had since he received it the year before, rubbing the circular charm offered him comfort. He habitually brought the circle to his lips before he took the mound, considering it a sort of talisman.
By the time he turned onto his street, his head was back where it needed to be. It seemed like a good omen that the sun was shining here, as though the gloom remained at the stadium. He prepared to spend a fun evening playing games with his dad and Katie.
When he spotted Jasmine’s car in the driveway, a blend of confusion and excitement coursed through him. She wasn’t due for a lesson that day. Had she come for a visit because she wanted to?
He tried not to get his hopes up. They had managed to sneak in a few incredible rounds of sex in the past couple weeks since they made their “pact,” but she hadn’t given him any indication that she wanted things to move beyond that. If anything, she talked more about focusing on her upcoming auditions than she used to.
Then he had another thought.
Was something wrong?
He made a sharp turn into the driveway, slamming the truck into park, and disconnecting his seatbelt so fast he almost gave himself a contact burn as it zipped back into place. He hopped out, shoved the door closed, and started toward the front door at a jog.
He was in such a rush that he almost missed the sidewalk chalk artwork. Only because it covered every inch of the four rectangles between the driveway and the front door with bright, cheerful color did he finally slow enough to look down. Realizing that he had stepped on the first rectangle, he eased back onto the grass so he could fully appreciate what his daughter—and Jasmine, as there was no question of her involvement—had done.
Each of the rectangles looked like framed pictures. The first one was surrounded by an ornate, bold yellow frame. Inside it were the words “Welcome home, Daddy!” written in fancy script.
He stared at it for a long moment, unable to believe he was seeing it after the thoughts he’d had on the drive home. It was like he made a wish and Jasmine made it come true. It didn’t even matter that the sentiment had bee
n written by her. The childish scribblings accompanying the words told him Katie had been on board with the project.
How had Jasmine known?
His heart gave a hard squeeze as he moved along to rectangle two. This one’s simple blue frame enclosed a big red arrow. Written inside the arrow was the message, “Right this way.” Beside that, the third rectangle bore a bubbly orange frame and the words “Are you ready?” The last rectangle featured a surprisingly good drawing of a ballerina on a stage. Rather than a frame, this one included a banner reading, “It’s time to dance” and another arrow pointing to the front door.
He looked up and found Katie standing there in a glittery white and gold ballet outfit he didn’t recognize. Her bright smile told him everything she couldn’t put into words. Behind her, Jasmine stood with her hands on Katie’s shoulders. Her smile was softer, as though she knew how special this gift was to him.
“I took pictures of it already,” she said. “I was afraid the rain might get here before you.”
Of course she had.
“Wanted proof that your sidewalk chart art isn’t half-bad?” he asked as she opened the storm door and he stepped over the sidewalk to the front stoop.
“It’s only half-bad today? You must be in a good mood.”
He stepped into the house, stopping mere inches from her, and met her gaze. “I am.”
Her gaze heated, sending blood rushing to his lower body. “Good.”
Katie grabbed his hand and gave it a tug, turning him from his inappropriate thoughts. Kneeling, he drew her into a hug.
“Thanks for the beautiful artwork, my little ballerina,” he said. “Now what’s all this about a show?”
Ten minutes later, he sat in one of two chairs that they brought up to the loft from the dining room. His dad sat beside him wearing a shit-eating grin. Will crossed his arms and gave him the side-eye.
“What do you know that I don’t?” he asked.
“You’ll see.”
Jasmine took her position beside an iPhone dock with a built-in speaker that she must have brought with her. “Okay, Katie,” she called.
Will turned with his dad to watch Katie make her way up the stairs. She held the rail with her right hand and took the steps in a measured rhythm that told him she had practiced it. She no longer smiled. Instead, she wore a look he recognized…the same one he wore whenever he approached the mound to face a batter.
She looked like she was about to kick ballet’s ass.
Since his dad held his phone to record the performance, Will just sat back to enjoy it. Katie moved into the middle of the room and struck a graceful pose. She didn’t move until Jasmine pressed the play button and the opening strains of the song began.
It wasn’t a song Will recognized, but it had a country vibe. He listened to enough of the lyrics to pick up the phrase “Daddy’s little girl” in the chorus. If he had paid more attention to the music, he might have gotten worked up about that. Instead, he watched with increasing astonishment as Katie performed a dance he hadn’t seen before at any of her lessons.
She was extraordinary.
By the time the song ended and his daughter finished the dance with a perfectly held pose, his jaw was hanging. His dad chuckled and elbowed him in the side.
“Isn’t she something?” Frank asked, lowering his phone and getting to his feet.
Will followed suit. The two of them gave Katie a standing ovation. Jasmine joined in, smiling as Katie did a joyful little hop and took her bow.
“Honest to God, I’m just blown away,” Will said, stepping forward to give Katie a big hug. “Thank you. That was the best Father’s Day gift a guy could ask for.”
Katie gave him one of her giggle sounds, making the moment even sweeter.
When it was his turn to give Katie a hug, Frank said, “Great job, sweetheart. You nailed it.”
“You really did, Katie,” Jasmine added. “You should be so proud of yourself.”
When his dad released her, Katie turned and threw her arms around Jasmine. Jasmine gathered Katie against her and smiled down at her. The sight of the two of them just like that solidified all the feelings Will had been processing for weeks now.
He was certain he was looking at his future.
Seeing Will’s expression, Frank cleared his throat and said, “All right, little lady. Let’s get you changed before dinner. Come on downstairs with Grandpa and you can free Gump from his crate.” To Will, he said, “Dinner will be ready in about an hour. I can keep her occupied for a bit.”
“Thanks.”
Once the coast was clear, Will took Jasmine’s hand and led her to the short staircase leading to the top floor where the master suite was located. She’d been up there once before while his dad watched Katie so they could “review the lesson plan” for Katie’s next lesson. The moment they were upstairs, she stepped up to him and encircled her arms around his neck, giving him a bewitching smile.
“Thanks for my present,” he said.
“You’re welcome.”
He reached up and tucked a strand of hair that had escaped her braid behind her ear. “You were working on that while I was on my road trips, weren’t you?”
She nodded. When his hand moved to the side of her face and his thumb brushed lightly over her full bottom lip, her pupils dilated and she leaned more heavily against him.
“I’m not imagining how talented she is, am I?” he asked.
“No. You have a very special little girl, Will.”
There was so much more he wanted to say but he knew she wasn’t ready to hear it. So he spent the next forty-five minutes doing his best to convey the words in other ways. Whether she interpreted them or not, she was completely on board with his plan. By the time they joined Katie and his dad for dinner, they both wore satisfied smiles.
Sensing the mood was right for it, Will took a chance halfway through the meal and brought up the Family Fun Day event.
“There will be all kinds of fun games and activities,” he told Katie. “And you’ll get to hang out on the field where I play. Do you want to go with me?”
Katie’s lips twisted to the side in a way that said she was considering it. It had Will gripping his fork tighter.
She hadn’t outright refused.
“There will be kids your age there,” he went on, suddenly desperate for her to agree to go. It would be such a huge step for her. “Maybe…” Looking at Jasmine, he asked, “Would you be willing to go with us?”
Katie’s face lit up.
Jasmine’s eyebrows lifted. “To your Family Fun Day? Oh, I don’t think—”
“Please,” he pressed when Katie’s smile started to fade. “I’ll have to step away for photo ops and I wouldn’t want to leave Katie alone. It would help a lot to have you there since Dad and Gareth both have plans that day already.”
Her gaze moved from him to Katie. Whatever she saw on Katie’s face had her hesitating.
“I suppose I could talk to May about changing my shift,” she said at last.
Part of him felt bad for coercing her. The other part wanted to do wild, uncoordinated cartwheels of joy through the family room.
“I really appreciate it,” he said.
Jasmine stayed to help clean up after dinner before heading out. Will and Katie waved her off from the front door. Once she was out of sight, Katie skipped back to the family room to start setting up Candy Land.
“You know,” Frank said as he approached Will with a beer, “I don’t recall having any plans for next weekend.”
Will grinned and lifted his beer to tap it against his dad’s. “Then I guess you’d better make some.”
Chapter Twenty-One
The following weekend, Jasmine stood on the Atlanta ball field in the early afternoon heat debating if she had lost her mind before she agreed to attend this event with Will and Katie. She wasn’t a family member, she reminded herself at least ten times as she ventured with them from one food station or activity to the next. She wasn’
t even close. She was Katie’s teacher and Will’s…
What, exactly? His lover?
She supposed that sounded better than his fuck buddy.
And what did it even matter, she told herself yet again. There wasn’t a need to put a label on it. Their casual arrangement was convenient for them, that was all.
Though that was becoming more and more difficult to believe. Would a casual acquaintance have agreed to attend a family event with her student and that student’s parent?
Apparently if the student was Katie, Jasmine would.
Her gaze fell to the child where she stood a couple feet away listening to another little girl chatter while the girl stuffed cotton candy in her mouth. Somewhere in her ongoing monologue, the girl tossed out the name Makayla, which Jasmine assumed was hers. Katie looked unnaturally still next to her new companion. It was like she didn’t know what to make of the creature with the two puffy brown pigtails and sticky blue lips.
But Jasmine knew what an accomplishment it was that Katie stood there without trying to hide behind her father’s legs. In fact, she hadn’t tried to hide at all so far, which thrilled Will. Up until Makayla approached her, Katie had clung to either Will or Jasmine’s hand.
“Want some?” Makayla asked, holding her cotton candy toward Katie.
Katie hesitated and then took some. She looked at it curiously before putting it in her mouth.
“Has she never eaten cotton candy?” Jasmine whispered to Will.
“Not that I know of.”
Judging by Katie’s smile, she liked it. She started to reach for another pinch.
“Come on,” Makayla directed, reaching for Katie’s hand. “You can get some too.”
Jasmine bit her lip, worried Katie would have a dramatic reaction to the personal contact. Instead, Katie just trotted alongside Makayla and got in line with the other kids waiting at the cotton candy machine.
“Did you see that?” Will asked.
