Page 47 of What I Needed

“I told you I wouldn’t.”

“But you didn’t promise me.”

“You’re ridiculous. I promise not to go back to my house without you, unless it’s an emergency.”

“Bet. So what else do you do during the day?”

“When we get back, I’ll read a few books to her. After I feed her, she’ll take a nap, and that’s usually when I shower.”

“Then what?”

It was cute how intrigued he was about what Riverlynn and I did all day. Besides Sundays, he’d never been home during the day, so he had no idea what our routine was.

“Sometimes I make lunch or start dinner. As you know, I like to read. We hang in the backyard if it’s not too hot.”

We walked in silence for a while, neither of us speaking until we rounded the corner of the block his house was on.

“This is the first time I’ve walked around this neighborhood,” he said.

“Really? That’s crazy because it’s beautiful and very quiet. I assume everyone is working at this time of day.”

“Yeah. I purposely didn’t buy a house in a neighborhood with other athletes and celebrities.”

“Why?”

“The houses were too damn big for a single man with no children, and it didn’t make any sense. My house is very modest compared to my teammates.”

“Your house is huge, so I can only imagine how big theirs are.”

“Yeah. I don’t need a tennis court, a bowling alley, or a movie theater that seats twenty people. If I can shoot around on my basketball rim, go for a swim whenever I feel like it, my neighbors aren’t all in my business, and I have plenty of room for my family to stay when they visit, I’m good.”

“Do you worry about fans finding out where you live and being so accessible?”

He shrugged. “So far, it hasn’t been a problem. If I played for another team and lived in another city, I would probably take more precautions. California is full of people who are rich and famous, and people who are just rich. The only people who care about celebrities and athletes, especially in Black Elm, are women looking for a come up.”

“You have a point. I had no idea who you were when I saw you. My best friend told me.”

He chuckled. “I kinda figured you didn’t because you didn’t react like most women do when they see me.”

We made it back to the house, and he took the handle of the stroller and pushed it up the driveway. He stopped at the front door to remove Riverlynn, and she was so excited when he picked her up. The way she held onto the sides of his face when he kissed her cheek was adorable.

“It looks like she missed Daddy today,” I said.

“Did you miss daddy too?”

His eyes landed on mine, and all I could do was blush before pushing past him and unlocking the door. I went straight to the family room to pick out a couple of books to read to Riverlynn.

“Why don’t you find something else to do and I’ll take care of Rivvy?” he suggested.

“Are you sure?”

“Yeah. I’ll read these books, change her diaper, feed her, and put her down for her nap.”

“Okay. I’m about to do a grocery order for everything I need for dinner. Do you need anything?”

“Nah. I’m good.”

“Do your mom or sister have any allergies?”