AllFreeNovel
Share Us
She nodded frantically. “I … yes. Yup, I am.”
I rolled my lips together to hide my smile, and my eyes wandered to Ian.
Parker held his hand out to my daughter. “I hear you’re the reason we’re doing this practice today. And that you’ve got one hell of an arm.”
As she shook his hand, Sage inhaled shakily. “Th-thank you. I’ve been practicing.”
He smiled. Even though Parker was younger than Ian, and had the same eyes, I couldn’t help but notice that he looked tired.
Then Parker pointed at her shirt. “Jets fan, huh?”
She nodded, a bloom of pink on her cheeks that I’d never seen in ten and a half years of being her mother.
Parker’s grin was big and wide, and even I was a little starstruck looking at him. “Maybe we can convert you if you live here long enough.”
“Convert me to a Voyagers fan?” she asked. Parker nodded. Sage sucked in a quick breath. “I mean, you can try. It’s not like your receiving core isn’t impressive, but your O-line is really weak on the sides when anyone presses the edges too much. It’s why your QB’s got about one-point-nine less seconds on average than any other quarterback in the league. I’d have to see a few things change before I take you on as my side team.”
When Parker’s mouth hung open, Sage gave me a panicked look. Coach Collins coughed loudly.
Ian started laughing, a big, booming, wonderful laugh that had the little hairs standing up along my arm.
Then Parker did too. “Fair enough. Maybe I’ll put you in touch with our offensive line coach.” He stood and gave me a big smile. “Great kid.”
I squeezed her shoulders. “Yeah, I think I’ll keep her.”
Parker finally held his hand out to Coach Scott, who slipped right into official practice mode. “Scott Collins,” he said, voice noticeably deeper than when he’d spoken to me. “Honored to have you all here. Just … whatever you’re willing to do to help the kids is incredibly appreciated.”
Parker nodded to his teammates. “My brother-in-law Beckett wasn’t able to come. He tweaked his ankle in practice, and they wanted to work on him, but we figured we’d get the kids split into two groups. Miles and I will work on offense. Cannon and Jamari will focus on defense and start with some basics if that’s all right with you.”
Sage, the coach, and the four players went to join her team, and Ian came to stand next to me, his shoulders brushing mine. “You look nice,” he said evenly.
My cheeks warmed again. “Thank you. Can’t embarrass my child, you know.”
He made a small humming noise that could’ve meant any number of things. I bit down on the tip of my tongue, stowing the urge to ask him.
We took a seat on the metal bleachers and waved when Sage gave us two thumbs-up as the Voyagers players started lining them up for drills.
“You will have forever brownie points for this one, Ian Wilder.”
“That’s why I do it.”
I cut him a sideways look. “No, it’s not.”
He kept his gaze trained on the field. “Sure it is. That way, when I’m a dick, people forgive me a little bit easier.”
I laughed. “You planning on being a dick soon?”
“Nothing on the books just yet.”
Slowly, I nodded. “I’ll be ready just in case.”
“You and Sage want to have dinner with the family after? Parker is bringing the guys over so he can see Mom.”
The invitation sounded so wonderful that I fought to lay my head on his shoulder and sigh happily. Maybe I would have done it a couple of weeks ago without thinking. I wouldn’t have worried about how it would look or what domino effect it would trigger. But today, I simply glanced in his direction and smiled. “Your mom bake something good?”
“Can’t imagine she didn’t.”
“Then we’re in. Looks like Sage is over her fear of meeting your brother now,” I said.
