“It was my lawyer,” I said.
“What did that fucker do?” he growled out.
“He's not fighting,” I said.
“What?” he asked.
“Jeff,” I said. “He's not fighting. I get the kids, a house, my Escalade, and five million.”
“Seriously?” he asked, with a smile on his face.
“Yes,” I said. “After everything he put me through, I thought he was going to do everything he could to hurt me, but he gave in. Everything is going to be okay. You were right, they aren't taking my babies, Parker.”
Without thinking, I wrapped my arms around his neck and hugged him tight. When I pulled back, he had a surprised look on his face.
“I have to tell them,” I said, pointing out at Lance, Sammie, and Lauren.
He reached up and wiped away my tears.
“You don't want the kids to worry,” he said.
“Of course not,” I said. “Thank you.”
“Go tell them,” he said, as he smiled. “I'm so happy for you.”
I walked out with a smile on my face. As I approached them, I noticed Parker wasn't behind me.
“What was that about?” Lance asked.
“It was my lawyer,” I said, and then went on to tell them what was said.
“About fucking time,” I heard Lance mumble.
“What?” I asked.
“Nothing,” he answered.
“Can I go outside for a few to call James and my parents?” I asked Sammie.
“Of course,” she said. “I'm so happy for you, Cassie. They deserve to be with you.”
A huge smile stretched across my face at her words. As soon as I got outside, I called James. He was so happy. Then I called my parents. My dad answered and put me on speaker. When I told them, I could hear all three of them telling me how happy they were. I told them I'd talk to them later, hung up the phone, and burst into tears. It was real. My kids were staying with me. We were going to be okay.
“Crying again?” I heard Parker say, with a laugh, as he came around the corner of the building.
He pulled me into his arms and hugged me.
“I can't help it,” I said. “At least they're happy tears.”
“You're good?” he asked.
“You have no idea,” I answered. “I'm happier than I've ever been in my life.”
“What are you going to do?” he asked.
“What do you mean?” I asked, unsure of what he was asking me.
“You're going to have a house and money,” he stated. “Are you going back to Michigan?”
The thought of going back hadn't entered my mind. I hadn't even had time to think about it yet. My parents and grandma were there, but so was Jeff. Part of me felt hurt, like Parker wanted me gone or something. Another part felt defensive, like he was saying now that I had things, I didn't need anyone there.
I pushed back out of his arms quickly and looked up to see a sad look on his face. What was that about, I wondered? He was the one basically telling me to leave.
“What do you care?” I asked, in a harsh tone. “You might not even be here at all.”
He lifted his hand, and I felt my body stiffen just as his finger connected with the bridge of his nose. His eyes closed for a moment before opening again, and he let out a long breath.
“First, let me tell you something,” he began. “I have never and will never put my hands on a woman. If anyone was going to get it, it would have been my ex, and she didn't. I might want to spank your ass for every cocky comment that comes out of your mouth, but I will never do anything to hurt you. Do you hear me?”
I nodded but didn't speak, and he continued.
“Second, I do care,” he said. “Do you think I want to be traded? I don't. I barely ever see my kids as it is. If I leave, that bitch is going to do everything she can to make it that much harder for me. I don't want to leave, and I don't want you to leave either.”
“It doesn't matter,” I said. “Pretty soon you'll be too busy to notice if I'm here or not.”
“Cassie,” he hissed.
“It's true,” I said. “I know how much players are gone, Parker.”
“Is that why you pulled away from me?” he asked. “Is that why you don't want me?”
“Never said I didn't want you,” I answered him honestly.
“What is it that you want, Cassie?” he asked.
I knew what I wanted, but I wasn't about to tell him, so I went with a different answer instead.
“The vacation house.”
“What?” he asked.
“I'm picking the vacation house,” I answered. “I could never live in the home I shared with him. That's where his business is. That's where our friends are, his friends really. They were never really mine. I want no part of that life anymore.”
“So you're choosing the vacation house?” he asked.
“Yes,” I answered. “I could keep it up, and I could handle being alone with the kids there. It's really nice. It's away from everything, and it's on a lake. I'm telling you, Parker. It is so relaxing there.”
“So you're moving to the vacation house,” he said, in a cocky tone.
“I didn't say that,” I snapped.
“What exactly are you saying then?” he asked.
“I don't know,” I growled out in a frustrated tone. “I don't know, Parker.”
“I'm glad things are working out for you, Cassie,” he said, as he turned around and started to walk away.
“Parker,” I called out.
“I really am,” he yelled back, and then he was gone.
I leaned back against the wall and closed my eyes. What did I want, I wondered?
When I finally walked back inside, he was gone. I sat down on the bleachers with my phone in my hand and watched the kids play. Sammie was right, I needed to step up, and I was, but I needed to do even better.
I looked down at my phone, pulled up my social media page, and scanned my friends list. Not one of them was checking on me to see how I was. They weren't my friends, and they needed to go. I needed a fresh start. I began deleting them, one by one. Once they were all gone, I went through my pictures. Every single one of them was of the kids with the nanny or just the kids alone. I saved the ones of them alone to my new phone. Then I deleted every photo on my page, along with every post.
From that moment on, every picture on my page would be of the kids and me having fun together. I locked my page up tight too. Nobody was going to see my business unless I considered them a real friend. I truly was starting over.
I looked back at my empty friends list, and a sad feeling moved through me. Then I thought of Parker. We were friends, right? When I typed his name in and his handsome face popped up, I smiled as I clicked the friend button. Then I thought about the clerk from the store again, the one that said I wasn't alone. She was right. I typed in Sammie's name, and I hit friend. Then I continued, sending a friend request to everyone in my family. I'd pushed them away for long enough, and I didn't want to ever do it again. By the time I'd finished sending them each a request, I'd gotten a notification. Parker had accepted my request. I was no longer without a friend. I had him, and that thought eased my mind instantly.
I clicked on his name and began scrolling down his page. It was filled, one post after the next, with women telling him how great he was. He was adorable. He was sexy. He was perfect. Some had even posted pictures of him with them. He stood in each of them with a huge smile on his face and one woman or another hanging off of him in some way.
“That,” I whispered to myself. “That's what I don't want.”
A sad feeling moved through me, and I quickly clicked the unfriend button, shoved my phone into my purse, stood from the bench, plastered a smile on my face, and walked out onto the field to play with my kids.
That was where my attention needed to stay, right there with them. They were all that mattered to me.
Chapter 16
Parker
When I
walked away from her, I was pissed, but I couldn't explain why. I had to get out of there, so I did. The thought of her leaving bugged the shit out of me. It wasn't that I planned to be with her, because I didn't, not at all. I liked her being there. That was it. She was right. There was still a chance that I was leaving and wouldn't be there at all. It was true, and there wasn't a damn thing I could do about it. At the same time, I didn't want her leaving either. She didn't need to be close to the fucker that put his hands on her, and she didn't need to be alone, in the woods, with the kids either. She needed to be right where she was, by her family, the people that would lay down their lives for her.
By the time I got home, I had a bunch of social media notifications. That shit was a pain in my ass, but I had to have it. I rarely read anything on it, and the only time I ever posted was after a game. I did keep track of my notifications though. There was no way I wanted someone doing something crazy on my page without me knowing about it. I pulled up the friend requests first, and I was blown away the second I saw one from her. I accepted it right away and then quickly clicked on her page. There was nothing there. It was blank, and I was her first friend. In a way, I felt honored. That sounded pathetic, but it was true. She'd wanted me to be her friend when she'd had no others. That shit was sweet, and it hit me straight in the chest. By the time I backed out of her page, she was gone. It was the weirdest thing. I went to my list of friends, and sure enough, she wasn't there. What the fuck was that about, I wondered?
The next month went by in a blur. I was practicing with a team I wasn't sure was even mine anymore. When I could, I went to Sammie's place to hang out. The woman was huge. She was only seven months along, but she looked like she was ready to pop at any moment. Jenny and Jeff were there twice a week with Sammie, so I'd play with them along with Jillian and Jackson. They just wanted to have fun, and that was fine with me. It kept my mind off of the shit I didn't want to think about. The kids were making real progress too, so that was an added bonus.
Jenny made sure to cling to me the whole time. She'd tell me how much fun I was and how she missed me when I was gone. She'd even asked me, more than once, to take a picture of the two of us and send it to her mommy.
I'd text back and forth with Cassie each day, but I hadn't seen her once, not since the day she'd gotten the news about the divorce. Also the day she'd friend and unfriend me just as quickly. She never mentioned it, and I wasn't about to look like some desperate fool in need of her attention. I wasn't, not one bit.
I was sitting at home alone when the call came, the one I'd been waiting what felt like forever for, and it was the exact news I wanted. I hadn't wanted to leave the friends I'd made, and most importantly, I hadn't wanted to leave my kids. I didn't want to leave Cassie either, even though there was still a chance she was going to be leaving. We were friends, and that mattered to me.
As soon as I hung up the phone, I wanted to tell her. She was the first one that popped into my mind. I grabbed my clothes, with my phone still in my hand. I hit the button to call her, as I moved around my room, trying to get dressed.
“Hello,” I heard her whisper.
“Shit!” I snapped out. “You're at work.”
“I am,” she said, in a quiet tone.
“I'm so sorry,” I said.
“Are you okay, Parker?” she asked, slightly louder than before.
“I had to tell you,” I said.
“What?” she asked, with worry in her tone.
“I'm staying,” I said.
“Really?” she asked, with excitement in her voice.
“Yes,” I said.
When she didn't say anything right away, I thought maybe I'd lost the call.
“Cassie,” I said.
“That's great,” she said, with seriousness in her tone. “It's what you wanted, and it will keep you close to your kids. I'm happy for you.”
Not a few seconds later, she spoke again.
“Yes, James,” she said. “I'll be right there.”
“Is he mad?” I asked.
“I don't know,” she answered.
“I'm sorry,” I said. “I had to tell you. I have to call my parents, and I'm heading over to Sammie's place to tell her. There's no way I'm letting her hear it on the news. She'd tear me a new ass if I did.”
“I bet,” she said. “I have to go. Boss man is calling.”
“I really am sorry,” I said.
“Don't be,” she said. “I'm happy for you. I really am.”
I finished getting dressed and took off toward Sammie's, calling my parents on the way there. They were just as happy as me. Before I walked into Sammie's, I sent a quick text.
Me: I didn't get you in trouble, did I?
Princess: It's okay. I'm glad you called. Just so you know, James is headed toward Sammie's. He said he needed to talk to her, but it didn't feel right. He was acting weird. I almost got the feeling he knew it was you on the phone. I'm not sure how though?
Me: Thanks for the warning.
Princess: If he asks, it wasn't you.
Was she serious, I wondered? Why the fuck not?
Me: Why's that?
Princess: Really?
I was pissed by the time I read that.
Me: Is it beneath you to talk to someone like me?
Her response shocked me.
Princess: Fine, tell him. It's your funeral. I have work to do. We can't all sit around scratching our asses while we wait to throw the ball around.
Me: Very funny.
Princess: I thought so. Bye, wannabe.
Me: Bye, princess.
She'd said to tell him. I knew she was just being a pain in the ass, saying he'd kick my ass if he knew we were talking, but I didn't care. It was the first time she hadn't made me promise not to tell him something, and I was tired of having him not knowing we were talking looming over me. I just wasn't sure how she'd react if I really did tell him.
I walked into Sammie's place to have four kids run into me only a few steps through the door.
“Parker, “ Jenny yelled, as she jumped up and down. “Sammie said you weren't coming.”
“I thought I'd surprise you,” I said.
“Will you play with us?” she asked.
I looked up to see Sammie and Lance talking. I knew the other Lance was at work. Lucy would be there too. That only left James and Lauren, and I already knew he was on his way.
“Let me talk to Sammie first,” I said, as I pulled away from the kids and began walking.
“Parker,” Sammie called out. “I didn't think you were coming.”
“Where's Lauren?” I asked.
“At home with the little ones,” she answered. “She's being a pussy with the whole being pregnant thing. She's tired.”
When Sammie laughed, I laughed too.
“That's not very nice,” Lance said. “She's not always pregnant like some people.”
“I'll have to give her shit,” I said.
“I don't know,” Sammie said, as a smile crossed her face. “She'll either bite your head off or turn into a ball of tears. That woman has some emotions going on. What are you up to?”
“I came to tell you I'm staying,” I said.
“Seriously?” she asked, and I nodded. “I'm so damn happy.”
She started jumping up and down with her big belly in front of her.
“Settle down, Woman,” I said. “You look like you're about to pop.”
“Shut up, jackass,” she snapped out, as she wrapped her arms around my neck and hugged me.
“I'm so happy for you,” Lance began, “and for the Pirates. They would have lost a great one.”
“Thanks,” I said, as I hugged Sammie back.
“Get your hands off my woman,” I heard James say from behind me. “You got a thing for every woman I'm close to.”
“What?” I asked, as he came closer.
“Take a step back, Parker,” he began, “or Lance busting your nose will be the least of your worries.”
“I came to see my beautiful wife,” he said in a sweet tone, before turning it rough again. “I also came to have a word with my friend.”
“What's that about?” Lance asked.
“He's staying,” Sammie said. “Parker is staying.”
“Yeah, I heard,” James said through clenched teeth.
“How's that?” Sammie asked innocently.
“He called my sister to tell her,” James answered.
“How do you know that?” Lance asked roughly.
“I walked out of my office while they were on the phone,” James said, his voice filled with irritation and anger.
“I just called her to tell her I was staying,” I said innocently.
“Before you came here?” James asked.
“I was getting dressed to come here,” I said, with a shrug.
The man was pissed. There was no missing it, but I wasn't about to give in to him.
“When did you call your parents?” James asked.
“On my way here,” I answered.
“You like her,” Sammie shouted, as her hands went up to cover her mouth.
“What?” I asked. “No.”
“You do too,” she said.
“I do not,” I argued.
“Bullshit!” she said, with a smile filling her face from ear to ear. “You told her before you told your parents.”
“So what,” I said.
“So you like her,” she said, sounding like a thirteen-year-old girl.
“I do not,” I replied.
“You so do,” she said.
“Enough!” Lance barked out.
Sammie looked toward her dad, and her eyes widened. Then she turned back to me.
“You're in trouble,” she whispered, not hiding her smile one bit.
“I can still bust your ass,” Lance snapped at her.
“I don't know about that,” James said, as he pulled Sammie in close to him.
They were one crazy bunch. One I was not willing to get in the middle of.
“Leave her be,” James said.
“Exactly,” Lance snapped.
Just like that, they turned their attention off of each other and back to me. Like I said, crazy bunch.
“I didn't do anything wrong,” I said, still standing by my innocent act I'd started with.
Out of My League: Complete Box Set Page 27
