Page 44 of Verdict

"She was and she would have loved Ellie… she would have loved you." He glanced over at me.

"I wish I could have met her," I said, unable to look at him, as I traced the thin gray veins that ran through the marble floor. The sentiment made my chest feel tight—my heart ached for him. I forced down the lump in my throat and decided to change topics. "Did you always want to be a professional baseball player?"

He tilted his head side to side. "I think originally I did, like any young kid that finds their passion. I never thought it was a real possibility though, so it was never something I was striving for. But my mom saw my talent and did everything she had to do to get me the training and opportunities I needed. I owe it all to her. When I went off to college it ended up becoming a goal of mine. Not for me, but for her. I wanted to go pro so her life would be easier. I'd pay off her house, all her debt, everything. She could retire and just enjoy life." He stroked the back of Ellie's head softly. "But you know how that turned out," he said sadly.

Silence stretched between us, I wasn't sure what to say. The loss he had experienced was unimaginable, something I couldn't even bring myself to understand.

But there was one thing I knew for certain…

"She would be really proud of you, Cohen," I said with a watery smile.

The door to Ellie’s room clicked shut behind me. Thanks to Cohen, she’d finally settled into a deep sleep. I grabbed the monitor from my room before heading into the living room.

Cohen was leaning over the island in my kitchen, scrolling through his phone.

I cleared my throat to catch his attention. “Thanks for everything tonight. I don’t know what I would’ve done without you here. Truly.”

He pushed off the counter and shrugged, stuffing his hands into his pockets. “She’s my daughter, Ava. I’ll be there whenever either of you needs me.”

I glanced at the floor, suddenly feeling awkward at his sincerity. “Well… I think she’ll be out for a while. You don’t have to stick around—I’m sure you have things to do tomorrow.”

Cohen shook his head as he headed for the couch and sank into it. “Nah. I’m off tomorrow. I want to be here in case she wakes up in the middle of the night.”

“Are you sure?”

He grabbed the remote and flicked on the TV. “Yeah. Could you grab us some chips? I’m going to find a movie.”

I stood rooted in place, staring at the back of his head as he scrolled through Netflix like this was any other Tuesday night.

When I didn’t move, he glanced over his shoulder. “Trouble. The chips.”

“Right. Sorry.” I hurried into the pantry and grabbed a couple of different snacks.

Once I settled onto the couch with an array of snacks spread out between us, I leaned my head back and inhaled slowly. For the first time tonight, I felt like I could breathe.

Until his phone vibrated.

Again.

And again.

I nudged my chin toward the phone on the table. “Do you want to get that?”

He shook his head, eyes still on the television screen as he shoveled a handful of chips into his mouth.

His phone buzzed a fourth time.

I couldn't help myself. “It could be that girl you were with in San Francisco—or the one you went on a date with the other night. It’s not very nice to ghost them,” I teased, even as my heart lodged itself in my throat, waiting.

He stopped mid-chew. Hazel eyes flicked to mine.

Keeping his gaze locked on me, he reached for his phone—making a goddamn production of it. He glanced at the screen, then set it back down. “It’s just your brother asking about Ellie. You know how he rapid-fire texts.”

I rubbed my hands down my thighs. Smooth, Ava.

“And just so you know,” he continued, lifting the remote and pausing the TV as he turned fully toward me, “that girl in San Francisco was with Beckham.” His voice dropped. “And I haven’t slept with—let alone kissed—another woman since you.”

Chills erupted across my skin. My stomach dipped.