by J. Daniels
“What was that?” he hollered, laughing at me.
“Sorry!” I winced. Your mother is distracting as shit.
“Didn’t you play in college?” Jenna taunted.
I slowly turned my head at that bold-ass question, and when our eyes locked, Jenna giggled shamelessly, looking a little too proud of herself.
Oh, I don’t think so. “Come on,” I said, jogging over to her.
Her eyes went wide. “Come on, what?”
“You want to see how I played in college? Let’s go.” I stopped in front of her, grabbed her hands, and gently eased her to her feet.
“This requires my participation?” She pulled out of my grip to brush the sand off her legs.
I smiled down at her. “I need someone defending me.”
“Me?”
“You or Olivia. Although that hardly seems fair. A beast like her—she’d lay me out.”
Jenna laughed hard, tipping her head back, then playfully gave me a shove. “Okay. You’re on,” she teased, looking over her shoulder. “Olivia, make sure Marley stays with you, okay?”
“Okay!”
Jenna’s expression wiped clean of amusement as she gathered her hair off her neck and secured it using the tie around her wrist. When she grabbed hold of her ankle behind her, giving her leg a good stretch, I crossed my arms over my chest and fought a grin.
“I’m fast,” she shared.
“Me too.”
“Bet I’m faster.”
“Okay, shorty. What’s the wager? Aside from bragging rights…”
Her gaze narrowed. “I’m not that short.”
“You’re very short.”
“I’m five three and a half.”
“Yeah, that’s short.”
“It’s average-ish.”
“Ish?”
“I’m on the cusp of being average,” she explained.
I smirked. “That’s cute.”
“Are you making fun of me?”
“I just said you were cute. If anything, I gave you a compliment.”
Her eyes blinked wider. “Well…you’re not cute. So there.” She stuck her tongue out at me and hastily stepped away, calling out for Oliver to join us.
I quickly caught up to her. “I’m glad you don’t think I’m cute,” I said low in her ear before I brushed past. I gestured for the ball, and once I had it, I glanced back at Jenna.
She stood frozen in the sand, clearly trying to figure out what the hell I meant. I didn’t necessarily mean anything. I could clear up any confusion she had and say I was simply joking around with her…
Or, since I wasn’t confident that’s all I was doing, I could keep my mouth shut.
“What’s going on?” Oliver asked when he reached me. Sweat beaded on his forehead and his cheeks were flushed. “I can keep going. I’m not tired yet.”
“Good. We’re going to play a little touch. I’ll start out as quarterback, and then we’ll switch. Your mom is on defense.”
“What!” Oliver gaped at Jenna when she stepped up beside me. “Mom, really? This is awesome!” He punched the air. “We never get to play like this.”
“Give me your glasses, please.” She took the blue frames from Oliver and then mine when I held them out.
“Are you sure you don’t need these to see?” she teased.
“I gotta give you some advantage. If I’m partially blind, you might have a shot.”
Jenna rolled her eyes and smiled. She set our glasses aside with my clothes and said something to the girls, who were both still hard at work on the castle.
I brought Oliver into a huddle.
“What’s the plan?” he whispered. “I mean, obviously it’s boys against girls.”
“Obviously. We rule, they drool.”
“Yeah…I’m eight. I don’t really say that anymore.”
“Cool. Me either. I never say that.”
“So, what am I doing?”
“Just run. I can put the ball wherever I want—I’ll get it to you.”
He cocked a brow.
“What?”
“You mean, just like the last time I ran for it?”
The kid had a point. “It’s been six years since I’ve played,” I argued. “Cut me some slack.”
That excuse was a bald-faced lie. But Oliver couldn’t know the real reason I overthrew.
Jenna walked back over to us. “Talking strategies?”
I gave Oliver’s shoulder a squeeze, then released him. “Like we need any. Right, O?” I held out my fist and he bumped it.
Jenna looked between the two of us, arms crossed under her chest, appearing amused as hell. “O?”
“What, Mom? It’s cool,” Oliver scoffed.
“Yeah, shorty. Don’t hate,” I added with a smirk.
Smile teasing her lips, she held up her hands in surrender. “Not hating.”
“Let’s do this!” Oliver tossed me the ball. We spread out on the beach.
After taking my instruction, Oliver slid out to my right so he was playing wide receiver. He was excited—it was a position he hadn’t played before and one I was confident he’d excel at. He didn’t have any problem catching the ball. As long as I put it somewhere near him.
I slid my fingers between the laces and faced off against Jenna, who was crouched down, hands on her knees and expression cold. She looked cute as hell.
“Is that your game face?” I asked, smiling.
“Yep.”
“I like it.”
Her gaze sharpened. “Don’t try to distract me.”
“Is that what I’m doing?” I dropped down and held the ball out in front of me like I was taking a hike. Then I tipped my head toward Oliver. “Do you think he’s having fun?”
Jenna smiled then, all soft and sweet. “Yes. Thank you again for this.”
“Are you having fun?”
“Yes.”
“Good. Hut! Hut! Hike!”
Even with the count, I still caught her off guard. Jenna shrieked and lunged forward, stumbling a little as I shuffled back.
I faked left, spun, and cut right, anticipating Oliver’s run, and put the ball into the air before Jenna could touch me.
Oliver caught it and kept running like he was headed for the end zone.
“Ugh!” Jenna pushed against my chest as I grabbed on to her hips, slowing her so we wouldn’t collide. We were both laughing. “I almost had you!” she said, hands gliding to biceps and holding there.
My fingers slid over warm, smooth skin. Her shirt had ridden up during the sprint or it had shifted when I’d grabbed her. I wasn’t sure. But now I held on to bare hips, the shape of them fitting just fucking right in my hands, and it took every ounce of willpower I had not to hold on longer than necessary, which was solely decided by her. The second Jenna dropped her arms, I dropped mine.
“That was awesome!” Oliver hurried back over and tossed me the ball. “Let’s go again!”
We repeated the play. Oliver broke across the middle. I stayed just out of Jenna’s reach, put the ball into the air, and spun around, hands gripping hips while hers braced on my chest, then slid over to squeeze my biceps as we slowed. Oliver caught the ball and took off running.
Jenna was laughing.
I was laughing.
We touched for only two, three seconds before she pulled away and forced me to do the same. Most guys would want more than that. Some would’ve tried for a different play, hoping for an outcome that allowed for longer contact, hands in other places. I didn’t want to change a damn thing. I’d run this play all night.
“It’s my turn to throw!” Oliver announced on his jog back in, excited for the opportunity to switch.
I could feel Jenna’s touch fading from my arms. I almost knew the curve of her waist. I wanted more of those two, three seconds. Just a few more passes…
Oliver stood at our mock line of scrimmage, loosening his arm up, and grinned at me when I asked, “What’s your number going to be when you’re quarterback?�
��
I let him call the plays the rest of the night.
* * *
Marley was still awake when Jenna and her kids left.
I almost asked for help putting her to bed. I thought Jenna was close to offering it before she told me good night, but neither one of us said the words. She was confident I could handle this on my own—that was clear—and strangely enough, I was too. And that was solely because of Jenna.
After getting Marley ready for bed, I sat in the chair with her beside the crib, held her against my chest as I rocked, and rubbed her back as if another hand were still on top of mine, coaxing me to move. Within seconds, Marley was breathing slowly and nearly asleep. I pressed my mouth into her freshly bathed hair and thought back to a memory.
“Your mom rocked you in this chair,” I told Marley, keeping my voice soft. “She loved sitting here with you…She loved you so much, Marley. I’m going to make sure you know her. I promise, okay?”
I looked into the sleeping face of my daughter, then I let my head fall back against the wood and stared at the picture of Sadie on the wall, making silent promises to her too.
Chapter Seven
JENNA
My gaze drifted from the documents I was reviewing to the phone beside me on the couch, taunting me.
Although the whole out-of-sight, out-of-mind thing hadn’t worked very well either. Up until twenty minutes ago, my phone had been in my bedroom charging and I’d still thought about texting Nathan every five minutes or so. I was incredibly distracted today.
It was Wednesday, his first full day home with Marley. I was happy Nathan was getting to spend more time with his daughter, but I couldn’t deny how off I was feeling myself.
I missed her. I’d spent ten straight days with Marley, bonding with her and watching Oliver and Olivia do the same. We’d fallen into a routine together. A routine I loved. And it didn’t matter how prepared I could’ve been for this time apart. Even though I’d see her bright and early in the morning and we’d have most of Saturday together as well, I still couldn’t shake this feeling. I was practically crawling in my skin. I’d never wanted to send a text so badly before in my life.
Just one. What was the big deal? One text to see how it was going. And possibly a follow-up asking Nathan if he needed any help today. That would be it though.
No. I jerked my hand back before it curled around the device. Don’t do it. Don’t do it. Just let them be.
“It’s so quiet in here,” Olivia said, peering up from her iPad to look around the living room. She sighed dramatically and dropped her head against the cushion.
“Way too quiet,” Oliver echoed. His gaze remained laser-focused on his DS screen.
My mouth twitched. It appeared I wasn’t the only one missing our new normal.
“Do you guys want to play Jenga?” I suggested. That game was noisy enough.
“No,” they answered in unison.
“Do you want to go outside? I can work outside.”
“There’s nothing to do.” Oliver hit a button on his device and then turned his head to look at me. “It’s not like at Nate’s house, Mom. We can do everything there. We got the beach. We can play basketball…”
“Kickball,” Olivia added excitedly. “Remember when we played kickball the other day, Ollie? That was awesome.”
“I can take you guys to the park if you want to play kickball,” I said.
“It won’t be the same.” Olivia pouted, sinking lower onto the couch.
“How about a board game? I can play with you…”
Two heads shook in synced twin-rhythm.
Olivia shuffled closer to her brother until they shared the same cushion and whispered loud enough for me to hear, “What do you think Marley’s doing right now?”
I grinned at my lap.
Oliver snorted. “Probably being crazy. I bet she’s running around. Wait.” He sat up, narrowed his eyes at the clock on the wall, and then slumped backward again. “She’s asleep. It’s her nap time.”
“Oh, yeah, I knew that,” Olivia returned.
“She should wake up soon. Then she’s gonna want to eat. You know I’m right, Livvy.”
“Do you guys want a snack?” I asked.
“No,” Oliver answered, while his sister said, “I’m not hungry.”
I wasn’t really hungry either, but getting something to eat would occupy my mind. Obviously, work wasn’t doing it for me. Maybe it was time I took a break.
“I think I’ll make myself a little something,” I announced, stacking the documents together and setting them on the coffee table as I slid to the edge of the cushion. Just as I pushed to my feet, the phone beeped with an incoming message. I palmed it and flipped it over on my walk to the kitchen. The name on the screen briefly halted my steps. It was the CupidMatch guy. I’d deleted the app but forgot to erase him from my contacts.
Wanted to see if you were free this weekend to meet up. I’d like to see you.
I momentarily questioned why this guy would even think I was still interested in getting together—I’d thought I made it clear the other night—until I scrolled back and read the last message I’d sent him. I’d only backed out of our previous date, telling him something had come up. I hadn’t mentioned not wanting to reschedule for another time.
Nothing had changed for me. I still felt the same way.
Just as I was about to respond, another text came through across the screen. This one took immediate precedence over Hookup Guy and possibly anyone else who could be texting me right now.
She’s figured out the power she has over me. Took her a whole 5 minutes. I’m not proud.
I pulled out a chair at the table and took a seat, grinning as I typed my response.
Have you bought her a pony yet?
I will if she asks for one. Jesus Christ I hope she doesn’t.
She’s heard the word NO before.
Not today. I want her to like me.
I frowned at the screen. God, did he really not know?
She’ll love you even if you tell her NO. I promise.
She’ll love you no matter what.
Can I call you?
Of course.
I sat forward and braced for panic, answering on the first ring. “Hey, is everything okay?”
Nathan’s chuckle was low and deep in my ear. “Yeah. Why would something be wrong?”
“Oh, uh…I don’t know. I just assumed, since you asked to call me…”
“There’s nothing wrong. I just wanted to talk to you.”
“Oh.” A fluttering sensation warmed my stomach.
He just wanted to talk to me. And I just wanted to talk to him. I didn’t need a reason either.
“I’m sorry.” I pressed my back against the seat again. “I didn’t mean I was expecting something to be wrong or anything.”
“That’s good to know.”
“I’ve been wanting to talk to you all day, actually.”
He was silent for a breath. “Really?”
“Yeah, I’ve been dying to know how your day was going with Marley. How is it?”
He cleared his throat before answering, “Fine. Good. I think…It’s not like she’s said or anything. I’d actually kill for some reassurance right now.”
I smiled. “I’m sure she’s having the best time with you.”
“Well, I’m basically letting her get away with murder today. You should see some of the shit I’ve allowed.”
Laughing, I tucked my hair behind my ear and stretched out my legs until my bare feet were propped up on the seat beside me.
“What are you doing?” he asked.
I bit my lip. God, I liked how he asked about me. I liked it way too much.
“Nothing right now,” I answered. “I’m trying to come up with something for the kids to do. They’re pretty bored.”
“You could bring them over here if you want.”
Yes, I almost answered, not needing even a moment to think of a response. I wanted to sp
end time together so badly. And I knew the kids would jump at the chance to go. But I couldn’t do that. It was Nathan’s day to be with Marley.
“No, that’s okay. Thank you though,” I said. “I’m sure they’ll occupy themselves somehow. Maybe I’ll take them out for ice cream or something.”
“Oh yeah? Where?”
I smiled against the phone.
Nathan laughed when I remained silent. “Is it obvious I’m fishing?”
“A little.”
“Well, it’s not like you own taking your kids to get ice cream, Jenna. I was planning on doing that anyway.”
“Oh really?” I giggled. “What a coincidence, then. Were you planning on going to the Arctic Circle? Because that’s where we like to go.”
“I wouldn’t think of going anywhere else. That’s our favorite spot.”
“Huh. Ours too.”
“It’s just been a while for us. Where is that one again?”
I was full-on grinning now. My cheeks were beginning to ache. “You know, by the Putt-Putt course and the old drive-in…”
“Right. Yeah, that’s the one we go to. When are you planning on being there?”
I glanced at the clock on the oven. “Probably an hour. You?”
“I’m just waiting for Marley to wake up.”
“Which should be in about thirty, forty minutes, if she went to bed at twelve thirty…”
“She did.” I could hear the smile in his voice. I wished I could see it. “Marley’s really looking forward to getting ice cream today.”
“Oliver and Olivia too. They…can’t wait. It’s basically all they’ve talked about.”
Holy crap, I was flirting hard with this guy. I was certain my face was bloodred.
“We can’t wait for what?” Oliver asked, sneaking up beside me. He stood at my shoulder and stared curiously at the phone.
I jerked upright, dropping my feet to the floor. “To get ice cream,” I blurted out. “You know, ’cause we’re going in, like, an hour. I told you.”
“We’re getting ice cream? Cool! I didn’t know that!”
