As usual, Lincoln, Hazel, and Monroe come down to say hello.My mom brings Tanner down since she’s pretty much taken over all Tanner-related tasks since she’s been in town.
Hadley and I have had to sleep together for three nights, and tonight will be our fourth.The first night, we spooned.The second night, my hand was on her ass when we woke up.And this morning, she was snuggled up to my side, her hand on my chest and her leg wrapped around me.Each time I woke up with a hard-on that refused to go down.
With a household full of people, I can’t even find a private moment to beat off either.There’s been no taking the edge off.
It’s all making me want her without caring about the consequences.
So as much as I love our fan group, I’d really like Hadley to come down here and give me a good luck kiss.But as she has since my parents have been in town, she stays up in the stands with my dad, giving me a wave.
“How is he doing?”I ask my mom, taking Tanner’s hand and kissing his palm.
His little fingers wrap around the netting, and my mom pulls him back.“He’s perfect.”
“To you, he always will be.”
“He’s my grandson, what do you expect?”She smiles.“Can I just take him back to Lake Starlight with me?”
I shake my head and chuckle.“Knew that was coming.”
She laughs.“You can’t blame me.He’s too cute not to want to.”She puts her face in his, and he latches onto her hair on both sides of her head.“Help.”
“Serves you right, trying to take my kid away.”
Monroe and Hazel help my mom, laughing at Tanner and playing with him as my mom holds him out to them.
“I like her.”Talk about an abrupt subject change.
But I knew she’d corner me at some point about Hadley.I just didn’t think it would be right before my game.
Decker glances at us.
“You’re good for each other.”My mom gives me her most honest, heartfelt smile.
I glance at Decker, mostly so my mom can’t see my look of panic.
I know my parents have questions on the whole marriage thing.Why did we rush into it?Why didn’t I mention Hadley before?My dad is more skeptical than my mom, but neither has outright asked me what’s going on.To them, I wouldn’t marry her unless I loved her.Especially when I’ve been so adamant that I didn’t want to be married until after my baseball career is over.
My mom has been so concerned about whether I’ll ever settle down and if the Kenzie and Lance thing screwed me up for good that she’s probably just happy to ignore the signs that something isn’t quite right.
I nod.“I think so too.”Hadley and Iaregood together.Look what we’re making work.
Seeing my mom so happy at me supposedly being in love makes me sad for the day I have to tell her we’re getting a divorce.She bonds quickly with everyone, but she’s really attached herself to Hadley.This morning when I came out of the bedroom, the two of them were drinking coffee and talking on the couch.Last night, my mom FaceTimed Harper for them to have a proper introduction.
When I agreed to this marriage, I didn’t realize how much it would soak into my family life or how much I don’t mind Hadley being intertwined with my family.
“We gotta go.”Decker slaps me on the shoulder.
“Have a great game.”My mom lifts Tanner’s arm.“Say good luck, Daddy.”
“Daddy doesn’t need luck.”I wink, and my mom rolls her eyes.
I look past my mom and Tanner and meet Hadley’s eyes.She smiles and blows me a kiss.All I want to do is scale this net, climb up the stairs, and kiss the living shit out of her.And not just to prove to everyone that we’re legit.
On the way to the dugout, I try to get my head on straight.We need to be platonic.We cannot cross the line.We’ve got a good thing going, and sex will only fuck things up.
Hayes comes over to me, all geared up after coming from the bullpen with McIntosh.“Thinking pretty hard there.Want to talk about it?”
I jog down the steps and sit on the bench.Hayes sits next to me.The game will start soon, and I need to push all this other shit to the side.
