Out of My League: Complete Box Set

by Sharon Cummin

  “We'll see,” Scott said, as he laughed and stepped around me to get his plate.

  We ate, and when dinner was over, we were all stuffed. All of the kids were playing, and the place sounded like a circus, but none of us would have had it any other way.

  Cassie was in my arms half asleep. I heard the doorbell ring, and she sat up. We were sitting closest to the door, so she went to answer it. I got up too, hoping to catch a bit of air so I wouldn't fall asleep myself. Cassie pulled the door open to find a guy neither of us recognized.

  “Is Lauren here?” he asked.

  “Yeah,” Cassie answered. “Hold on.”

  Cassie walked over to the doorway and yelled out for Lauren, and the guy stood staring at me. There was no doubt in my mind that he knew who I was, but he didn't say a word. The moment Lauren walked around the corner and her eyes landed on the guy, I knew she wasn't happy to see him, so I motioned for Lance Jr., and he got up to come too.

  “Lauren,” the guy said.

  “What are you doing here?” she asked.

  “I saw the Christmas card you sent your mom,” he said, and she gave him the strangest look. “We got back together about a month after your grandma died. I asked her about you, but she said she wasn't sure where you'd gone. When I saw the card, I wanted to see you.”

  “Why?” she asked.

  Lance had reached out and pulled her closer to him, and she tucked herself right into his side. The poor thing was already exhausted. I felt so damn bad for whatever it was that was playing out in front of me.

  “Look,” he said.

  “No, you look,” she snapped out, as she stood up and pulled her shoulders back.

  I reached forward, grabbed Cassie, and pulled her in closer to me.

  “You never wanted a child,” Lauren continued, with her voice getting louder. “You left her because of me, and she never let me forget it. You have no idea how bad she made things for me. Not once did you check to make sure I was okay. So, I'm asking you again, what the fuck do you want?”

  “Is this your husband?” he asked, totally ignoring everything she'd just said. “I noticed that your last name was Smith and that the card was signed from you and a guy named Lance. Is this him?”

  “I would be her husband,” Lance Jr. said, in a deep and serious tone.

  “You're too young to be a ballplayer,” the guy said.

  “You're right,” Lance said. “I am too young to be him. Why don't you come in for a minute.”

  “Lance,” Lauren said in warning.

  “Don't Lance me,” Lance said. “Come on in.”

  The guy followed Lance Jr. around the corner, and when his eyes landed on Lance, they lit up. Then they moved over to Scott and Carrie, and that lit up look was gone. When they moved a bit more and landed on grandma, he froze.

  “Wow!” she said, as she looked up at him. “If it isn't the biggest piece of shit I've ever met in my life.”

  “Grandma,” everyone said at the same time.

  “Shit!” the guy said.

  The guys eyes moved over to James, and he took a step back, before quickly moving his eyes back to find Lauren.

  “I just came to see my daughter,” the guy said.

  “For what?” she asked.

  “I was hoping you could help me,” he said.

  “Oh really?” she asked. “Have you met my brother? His name is James.”

  “Lauren,” the guy said, with a slight warning in his tone. “I'm your father.”

  “You know what?” I heard come from next to me and couldn't believe it. Cassie took a step toward him. “That's my brother. You're his sperm donor. He's a great man, and you know why? It's because you left and he ended up with an amazing dad. So, thank you for that. If you weren't such an asshole, I wouldn't be who I am, and I wouldn't have the most amazing brother there is. As for your daughter, you left her too. You know what? Her mom was an asshole too, and that sucks. She wasn't as lucky as my brother. Shame on you for leaving her with someone that blamed her for your leaving. What kind of a man are you? Wait! Don't answer that.”

  My girl was on a roll, and she wasn't even stopping to take a breath. I was watching him, but I wasn't about to interrupt her.

  “The answer to that is already pretty obvious. I just want you to know that your daughter is absolutely amazing. She's a great wife, and she's an awesome mom to a little boy, a baby girl, and a newborn baby boy. She's also an amazing friend, and she's continued to be a great friend to me, even though I was a total bitch to her. Because of you and her shitty mom, she got us. You want to know something about us? We stand up for our own. You know who keeps us all glued together perfectly? The answer is my grandma, and she can't stand you. That tells me more than I'd ever need to know. That woman loves everyone.”

  “Cassie,” Lauren whispered, but my woman wasn't finished yet.

  “Our girl has been through enough because of you, so before you even think about asking her for money because you recognized her real dad's name, you can think again. She will not be there to pick you up when you fall, when you were never there for her. So, you can take your sorry ass right back out the door you came through. She won't be giving you one damn cent.”

  Just when I thought she was done, she went on.

  “By the way, thank you for that too,” she said. “If you weren't such a loser of a father, Lance wouldn't have had the opportunity he did to take care of her, and we would be missing out. So, unless you want to deal with each and every one of us, then you should probably just turn around and go back where you came from. We are a fierce group when it comes to one of ours, think about that and make your decision.”

  The guy was standing there looking like he'd just lost his best friend, but it was more like he'd lost what he thought was going to be his meal ticket.

  “Lauren,” he whispered. “It's not like that.”

  “You've had years and years to come back and be a dad,” Lauren said, “but you never did. I'm ashamed of the man you are. How could you never tell me that I had a brother? How could you leave us both? I'm glad you and mom found your way back to each other. That way, you can be miserable together for the rest of your lives. I hope she's happy having you back, and I hope it was worth losing me. You're not my dad, and you never will be again. So, I think it would be best if you did as my friend suggested and go.”

  “Come on,” he said, almost sounding like he was about to beg.

  “My wife asked you to leave,” Lance Jr. said, as he pulled Lauren even closer.

  Before leaving, the guy looked back at James and then over to Carrie, and before he could even open his mouth, Scott was on his feet.

  “Don't even think about speaking to my son or my wife,” Scott said. “You're lucky you're still walking after what you've done to my family.”

  The guy let out a huff. Then he turned and walked back out the front door. The second he was gone, Lauren walked over to Cassie and wrapped her arms around her.

  “Thank you,” she said.

  Cassie hugged her back.

  “I'm so sorry,” Cassie said. “Thank you for forgiving me.”

  “That's what sisters do, right?” Lauren asked, and they both hugged each other just a bit tighter.

  Chapter 34

  Cassie

  By the time Christmas came, I was exhausted. We'd decorated both apartments. It was a lot of work, but they looked amazing, and all of the kids were happy. That was all that mattered.

  Parker and I spent an entire week looking for a house. He was determined to have it all ready and us moved in before he'd start being gone again. There was definitely more than one argument before we finally found the perfect one. I said I didn't want one too big for me to handle by myself, and he said we could get someone to help me clean. I let him know that was not happening, and he gave me a what I say goes look. When I gave him one back, he laughed. I let him know it would be our home, and we would be the ones taking care of it. It wouldn't always be spotless, but it wou
ld be ours. He wanted each of the kids to have their own room, and I let him know that he was nuts. We ended up compromising. Each child was getting there own room, but it wasn't so damn big that I'd need help. We even ended up with an extra room for guests. When the kids saw the house, they all agreed that it was indeed perfect.

  We signed on the house and got the keys within two weeks of finding it, and Parker wanted to start on it right away, so we did. Most nights though, I was exhausted by the time work was over, so I'd pick up the kids and head home. Parker would come by when he was done working, and I'd feed him a huge meal. Then we'd spend time together, and I'd fall asleep in his arms.

  Three days before Christmas, only one week after getting the keys for the house, something happened. I realized that my being so exhausted had nothing to do with the running I'd been doing and everything to do with me being late. We'd been so busy that it hadn't even entered my mind, not until I was sitting at work, at my desk, that is. I left early, went by the store, and hurried home to take the test I'd just bought. It was nothing new to me, so I did my business without having to read the directions, and before long, the word pregnant appeared.

  I walked into my living room, fell onto my couch, and cried. Was I happy? I honestly wasn't sure. Between Parker and me, we already had five kids. What's one more, you might think, but that wasn't at all what I was thinking. I hadn't wanted more kids. I'd even told Parker that. So, when we looked for the house, we only bought one big enough for the five we already had. The longer I sat there, the harder my tears came. As much as I'd said I didn't want more kids, I couldn't help the happiness that filled me. I was pregnant with Parker's baby. I was happy, but how would he feel? He'd joked about having a little Pete Parker, but it was just that, jokes. Would he want to have a baby with me? Shit! We'd just bought a house. What if things changed? Would he still want to live together? What would he say about the house? I was the reason we got one the size that we did. How could I tell him? When should I tell him? Then it hit me. I knew what to do.

  Christmas came, and we'd all decided to have it at Sammie and James' house. We couldn't have it at our new house yet, and neither of the apartments were big enough. Lauren and Lance couldn't do it either. Between their seven month old and one month old, they were super busy and always tired. Lance and Lucy had offered to have it at their house, but my parents and grandma were already at James and Sammie's, so we agreed to do it there.

  Parker had gone by his ex's house to take the twins their gifts. She wouldn't let him have them for the day, and he didn't want them to have to wait. They loved the gifts we'd picked out. He'd even sent me a few pictures of the twins opening them. I looked at their happy smiles and knew we needed to have them with us more often, especially once they had a little brother or sister, one that Parker still didn't know about.

  Parker was going by his apartment on his way over to get us. He said he'd forgotten something, and I hadn't argued, because I needed him to get something else while he was there. I pulled out my phone, and my fingers shook nervously as I typed.

  Me: I'd like you to wear your jersey today. Would you please get it while you're there?

  You would think the man could just do it, but he couldn't. He had to fuck with me.

  Parker: Really? Is it because you think I'm sexy when I wear it? Is it so you can fantasize all day about your big, muscular Pirate fucking you?

  Me: Yes, babe. That's exactly why I want you to wear it. Just so you know, the kids could have picked up my phone. You need to find a better way of saying what you just said.

  Parker: Okay, I got it. So, you want to think about you and me doing the horizontal polka then?

  Me: You are something else. Goodbye, Parker.

  He didn't reply, and I was relieved.

  When he walked through the apartment door, I noticed that he had on a pair of tight jeans that had my thighs clenching. Then my eyes traveled up, and I saw his jersey. My eyes moved up again and landed on his, to see a smile spread across his face and emotion fill his eyes.

  “Look what we got,” Jenny squealed, as she ran to Parker. “Mommy got us jerseys just like yours.”

  “She did,” he said, without taking his eyes away from mine. “They look awesome.”

  “When we come watch you, can we wear them?” Jenny asked him.

  “I'd love that,” he answered.

  I stood up from the couch, and his eyes grew wide.

  “Is that?” he began, but I didn't let him finish.

  I wrapped my arms around his neck and leaned in close to his ear.

  “This is the very same jersey you've fucked me in many times,” I whispered.

  “We're not calling it that, remember?” he asked, in a whisper. “You mean I humped you in.”

  “No,” I said, as I pulled away. “Definitely not that one.”

  Then I took a step back, reached down, and held up two more jerseys.

  “I got the twins each one too,” I said. “I thought it would be nice if we all supported our guy while he played.”

  “They're perfect,” he said. “Ours match, and theirs match. That's really sweet.”

  “I'm good like that,” I said, as I turned, grabbed the bag of gifts I'd gotten ready, and walked toward the door, so damn nervous for the day ahead. “Come on kids.”

  I knew what was going to happen when we walked through James and Sammie's front door, and my family did not disappoint.

  “Seriously?” Lance asked. “A bit conceited, don't you think, Parker?”

  “Bullshit!” my dad snapped out. “I've not once seen my daughter in a Reid jersey. What kind of shit is this?”

  “Is this some kind of joke?” James barked out.

  “This was all her,” Parker said, defending himself right away. “I had nothing to do with it. She asked me to come back in my jersey. I thought it was just so she could fantasize.”

  “Parker,” I warned, before he could get out one more word.

  “Anyway,” he said, “I thought it was a bit strange myself, but it is also the sweetest thing anyone has ever done for me. The funniest part about it all is that she chose my jersey over all of yours.”

  I heard three growls fill the room all at once.

  “Ass,” I whispered, from next to him.

  “That is the sweetest thing I've ever seen,” Sammie said, as she entered the room.

  “You never did that for me,” James said, in a jealous tone.

  “Seriously,” she snapped. “Like I needed my dad breaking your nose in public.”

  James looked like he was about to lose it, and Sammie burst into laughter.

  “He's even wearing his own jersey,” James said, as he turned to walk away.

  “That's what you do when you want to bump uglies with your woman later,” Parker whispered into my ear.

  I turned my head and narrowed my eyes at him.

  “What?” he asked innocently.

  “Come on,” I said.

  The food was ready, so as soon as we walked into the living room, grandma let us know it was time to eat.

  She'd made more food than I'd seen yet, and I grew up being her granddaughter. Once I was done eating, I knew I'd had too much. So I walked over to the couch, sat down next to Parker, and leaned back against him.

  As soon as I closed my eyes, I heard the word presents being yelled through the house. The kids were each handed their stack of gifts, and before I knew it, they'd ripped open every single one of them. There was wrapping paper on every single inch of the floor.

  “We all put the twins gifts in a bag over there,” Sammie said, as she pointed to a huge bag. “You can give them to them when you see them next.”

  I looked back at Parker. He had so much emotion in his eyes. I turned and snuggled in closer to him, and he held me tight.

  “Thank you so much for including them,” he said. “They're going to be so happy.”

  The kids grabbed their favorite things and took off for the basement to play. The whole process ha
dn't taken nearly as long as I'd hoped it would.

  “You okay?” Parker whispered in my ear, and I nodded. “You sure you don't need a hot beef injection to wake you up?”

  I couldn't help but laugh at his words. As much as I did not want to encourage whatever behavior he had going on, that one had caught me off guard.

  “I'll be right back,” I said, as I got up and walked up the stairs to the bathroom.

  When I heard my phone ding from my back pocket, where I'd totally forgotten I'd even put it, I knew it was him.

  Parker: Was that code for come up here so I can tickle your pickle?

  Me: You are so not funny. I would not tickle your pickle in my brother's house.

  Parker: You were the one laughing, not me. I'm just trying to tell my woman that I'd really like to do some mattress dancing when we get back to her place.

  Me: You're too much.

  Parker: Does that mean we might be boinking later?

  Me: Oh my! You need to stop. I'm about to pee my pants.

  Parker: Thought you were in the bathroom.

  Me: I'll be right down.

  Before he could reply with something totally inappropriate to that comment, I sent him another text.

  Me: Goodbye, Parker.

  When I walked back into the living room, I sat down next to Sammie and listened to Lance, Scott, and Parker talk about baseball. Sammie leaned in close and whispered in my ear.

  “You okay? You've been off all day?”

  “I'm good,” I said.

  I saw Parker on his phone out of the corner of my eye. Then I heard the ding of mine.

  Parker: How about we get out of here so I can get some cock snuggling?

  I burst into laughter and shoved my phone back into my pocket.

  “What is it?” Sammie asked.

  I leaned toward her and whispered.

  “I'm sitting over here hoping Parker doesn't run out of here when he opens his gift.”

  “Why would he do that?” she asked.

  I heard the ding again, and I grabbed my phone.

  Parker: How abut some bow-chick-a-wow-wow?