Tiff sighs, placing her hand on top of her bump. “You can’t expect me not to lift my child for the next four months, can you?”
He nods. “I can. You spend so much time worrying about everyone else in this family, you don’t worry about yourself. I’m stopping that now.”
“Hey, Ellie-Bear, have you checked inside my bag?” I say, pointing at the now squished form at the bottom of my locker.
She shakes her head.
“Check it. There’s something in there for you.”
That makes her eyes light up as she hurries back and unzips the bag.
“Is this a hat?” She squeals, taking in the red and white Raptor ball cap.
“It is. I’m sorry it’s not as fancy as the one you guys got in Hawaii, but I thought you’d like to wear it tonight.”
“Yes!” She bounces on the spot as she pulls the cap onto her head, leaving messy blonde strands to spill out underneath it. “Have you guys seen my hat?” Ella makes her way around the room, asking every one of my teammates she can find.
“You keep doing things like that, and she’s never going to leave you alone,” Tiff says.
“That's the plan. I want to be the favorite Uncle forever.”
“Favorite Uncle? Please.” Dax chortles from across the room. He pushes off the bench and opens his arms wide. “Ellie-Bear, come here. I want to see this hat.”
Ella runs into Dax's arms, and he sits back on the bench, placing her on his lap. “Who's your favorite uncle?”
“You aren't her uncle,” I point out, wrapping my wrist. “You aren't even related to her.”
“Zachary,” my mom says pointedly as she gives Dax a small smile. “Family isn't measured by how closely related our DNA is. You should know that by now.”
“I do, Ma.” She's right. I'm technically not Ella's uncle, I'm her first cousin once removed, but we've never let the details get in the way of the family dynamics.
“Exactly,” Dax says before bopping Ella's nose. “That means you have the choice, Ellie-Bear. Who you got? Me—” He touches his chest with a flourish. “Reese, or that guy over there, Zach?”
Ella looks between all of us, her brows pulling together as she thinks about it. Cute, but I don't sweat it. We all know I'm her forever favorite. I made sure of it with the playroom I made for her.
Dax leans in, looking directly at me as he says, “Take your time. This matters.”
Reese doesn't even look up from his laces. “It really doesn't.”
“Uncle Zach!” She squeals, jumping off Dax's knee and heading straight into my arms. I pull her into a hug, squeezing her tight.
“I love you,” I say, kissing her on the forehead.
“Love you too.”
“I was robbed,” Dax mutters, leaning back on the bench, feeling the defeat.
“You really weren't,” Reese adds.
Jamie clears his throat, getting our attention. “To be fair, Zach has been more than an uncle to her since she was born. He deserves the title.”
I mutter a thanks under my breath, because even though Jamie and I buried the hatchet a long time ago, I still have a hard time accepting a compliment from him. Can't help it. The guygot the girl, has a beautiful daughter with a son on the way, and is living his best life.
All the while, here I am, waiting on the girl of my dreams to realize I'm the only person for her, no head Coach to guide me out of a 2-12 hole, and a hell of a lot of press telling me I'm already done.
Guess being an asshole in high school worked out for him.
Should've taken notes.
