“But, uh, did you want me to pass her a note to find out if she likes you? Maybe chaperone the two of you at the movies?” Cameron is a sophomore transfer. Funny guy and super talented ball player. Because of the transfer rules he has to sit out this year, but he’s going to be a force next season.
“Actually, smart ass, that gives me an idea. Can you guys make yourselves invisible tomorrow night? I want to invite Rylee and Indie over to the house.”
Cameron looks like he might make another crack, but Shaw claps him on the shoulder and squeezes. “Whatever you need, man.”
“The place looks so much bigger when it isn’t packed with people.” Rylee tilts her head up and scans the entryway. I remember all too well what it was like walking into this place for the first time. I couldn’t believe I was going to get to live here. Still can’t.
“I thought we could let Indie run around in the court while we study.”
Rylee smiles tentatively. “Admit it, you’re trying to convert our daughter into a jock?”
Our daughter. My chest feels a little funny hearing those two words. Three nights of hanging out as a trio, and I can feel Rylee starting to trust me a tiny bit.
In the gym, I flip on the lights and Indie takes off running. She heads straight for the rack of balls. It’s amazing, I thought this place was childproof, but within seconds I have a vision of her pulling the entire contraption down on top of herself.
I jog to beat her there, grab a ball, and put the rest in the small supply cabinet.
She holds the basketball in two hands. She’s so small, but she clings to it with everything she has while eyeing the hoop. Lifting her, I say, “Show me what you got.”
With a lot of lift and a little extra help getting the ball over the rim, she makes her first basket. More pride than I’ve ever felt making a shot fills my chest as she squeals with joy. Rylee claps from the sideline.
When I put her on the ground, Indie takes off for her mom. Rylee hugs her tight and twirls with her. I rebound the ball and dribble it over to them.
“What about you, Mom? Got any sweet moves?”
“On the court, no.” Her lips twist into a teasing smile and blood rushes through my body with a million sexy thoughts of all the moves I’d like to see from her.
“Gonna want to see those later,” I say, my voice gruff.
We sit together on the far side, backs resting against the wall and our books laid out in front of us. Indie eventually tires out and rummages through the bag of toys and books Rylee brought to keep her entertained.
I run interference as much as I can so that Rylee can get some studying done, knowing I’ll have time later when they leave.
“I should get her home soon,” Rylee says, as our little girl starts to cry for no reason. Or, well, I’m sure there’s a reason but I haven’t a clue what set her off. Indie doesn’t talk a lot. Rylee had mentioned that the first night I found out I had a daughter, but I was too overwhelmed to be concerned at the time. Now, though, I wonder if it’s something I should be worried about.
“I set up a crib in my room if you want to try it out. Maybe she can rest a while here and we can keep hanging out?”
“You bought a crib?” Rylee’s head tilts to the side as she studies my face.
“Yeah. I wanted to be prepared in case…” I trail off. “I just wanted to be prepared.”
“I hate the idea of her staying anywhere without me. I guess that isn’t fair. I know you’re trying, and I appreciate it.”
“I don’t want to take her away from you. You’re an amazing mother, Rylee. Truly, I just want to help. Well, no, that isn’t all I want. I want to be a dad to her and a partner to you. If that means she naps here while you study or I take her for an afternoon or a night, then we’ll do it at a pace you’re comfortable with.”
Indie’s meltdown pulls us away from the conversation before we’ve finished.
“Let’s try out this crib then,” Rylee says. I can tell she’s uneasy, but she scoops up our daughter and I lead them down the hall to my room.
Indie goes straight for the purple corner of my bedroom. I take Rylee’s hand. Her soft palm and slender fingers curl around mine.
It doesn’t take a lot of coaxing to get Indie to lay down inside the crib. I take the baby monitor and tuck it into my back pocket, and Rylee and I leave.
With our backs against the hall wall, we wait and listen. After a few seconds of silence, my attention is taken by the woman next to me. Her dark hair falls past her shoulders. She’s wearing her glasses again tonight. I’m choosing to believe it’s because she knows I dig them. I’m also choosing to believe the faint scent of perfume was for me.
I’ll be honest, I’m looking for any reason to convince myself she’s into me. Maybe my memory of that night is better than hers. I don’t know if she’d be here if it weren’t for Indie, but I know that I’ve hoped to see her again a thousand times over.
“I think she’s asleep,” Rylee says. “I can’t believe she didn’t fuss.”
I’m in a bit of a daze staring at her, relearning every detail from the light smattering of freckles on her cheekbones to the deep green of her eyes. Rylee’s gaze drops to my mouth and then slowly moves up. The air around us is charged.
I stroke her cheek and then let my thumb slowly slide down to one side of her lips. My heart is hammering in my chest as I bring my lips down to hers. Tender and careful, I slant my mouth over hers. For several moments, neither of us moves. I lavish in the pleasure shooting through my body. Simple, uncomplicated, magic. All the things our situation is not. Our bodies say otherwise. Or, well, mine does.
I move my lips only a millimeter so I can speak. “I missed you.”
Breathing her air, talking to her, kissing her, just being nearby. It was only one night, but it set the bar for every woman I’ve met since her.
And here she is trampling over the bar like it was nothing. So much more than I ever could have imagined.
“I’d normally invite you up to my room, but there’s another girl occupying it currently.”
She smiles. “I hope it isn’t serious.”
“Oh yeah, really serious, but I’m pretty confident I can juggle both of you.”
Rylee giggles. The sound and the playful tilt of her lips make her look younger. Man, she’s been through so much. Life is crazy. It’s a wonder she doesn’t hate me. Or at the very least resent the hell out of me.
I’ve been living it up at college like everyone else and she hasn’t been able to.
“Come on. I have a backup plan.”
Taking her hand, I lead Rylee downstairs. The house is quiet. I’m a little surprised that the guys heeded my request so easily and made themselves scarce. Shaw is probably at Sydney’s apartment, and Benny and Cameron mentioned going to The Hideout with some other guys on the team. I’m not sad about having the place, and Rylee, all to myself.
Before we get to the theater room, I pause and kiss her again. “Wanna watch a movie?”
“Sure,” she says, breathless.
Pulling her into the room, I come up short and Rylee walks into my back.
Shaw’s bare ass blinds me.