“Yeah,” Paisley agrees. “I think you’re going to be just fine.”
“I’ll grab Jett,” Parker says. “Cam will flip out if he finds out I let you carry him.”
“I’m fine. I’m pregnant, not injured.”
“I’ll get him.”
“I want Uncle Griff,” Jett tells them.
“Well, all right then.” Parker laughs. “Just leave your bags in the back. Unless you need something from them?”
“I’m good,” Oliver and I say at the same time.
“Let’s do this.” Parker and Paisley climb out of the SUV.
I fumble with the straps of the car seat, but I’m able to release them and lift Jett into my arms. “You’s big like Daddy,” he says.
“He is tall like Daddy.” Paisley smiles at her son.
“I want Daddy,” Jett says. It’s not a cry, more like a statement.
“He’s working. They’re surprisingly off today, but they had practice. He and Uncle Holden will be here later.”
“I hab lots of uncles.”
“You have two uncles,” Parker says, winking at me.
My chest swells for this little boy and this family who have been so accepting. Well, so far. I have yet to meet her parents, and I’m nervous because I want them to like me.
“We’re here!” Parker calls out.
“Come with us,” Paisley tells us.
With Jett still perched on my hip, I follow them down the hall and into the living room. I can feel Oliver standing beside me in silent support. This is a big deal for me. I’m meeting my girl’s parents, but it’s also a big deal as a baseball fan for Oliver and me. We were both huge fans of Easton’s growing up, so this is surreal for us in that aspect as well.
“Mom, Dad, this is Griffin and his best friend, Oliver. Griffin, this is our mom, Larissa, and our dad, Easton.”
“It’s a pleasure to meet you both.” I offer Larissa my hand first, and she waves it off, hugging Jett and me at the same time, making him laugh. She steps back, and I offer my hand to Easton. He stares at it until his wife elbows him in the ribs, and he finally reaches out and shakes my hand.
“Come to Pappa.” He holds his arms out for Jett.
“Uncle Griff gots me,” Jett tells him, and I can practically see the steam coming from Easton’s ears.
“He’s not your uncle.”
“Mommy said so,” he tells Easton.
“That’s right. I did,” Paisley tells him. “Pappa just forgot what Griffin means to Aunt Peyton.”
“And he made Mommy swoon,” Jett adds helpfully.
I make a mental note that this kid doesn’t miss anything.
“Be nice,” Larissa tells her husband.
“He’s stealing my grandson,” Easton counters. “And my lady,” he mumbles, but we all hear him.
“Come on, Dad.” Paisley rolls her eyes. “No one is stealing anything.”
“Fine. We’ll lay it out then. He’s a college ballplayer. He found out that your sister was connected to the game in more ways than one, and now he’s using her to get to us and to get to the league.”
“Hey, Jett. Why don’t you go to your aunt Parker?” I hand him to Parker. “Can you take him out of the room for a minute?” I ask her.
She looks at Paisley. “Record this,” she mouths, and Paisley grins but pulls her cell out of her pocket. If I weren’t so pissed off right now, I’d laugh at their antics.
I wait for Parker to leave the room before I open my mouth and let my emotions take over. “I didn’t know who she was, at least not the way you’re insinuating. To me, she was a beautiful woman with a smile that lit up the already bright sky. I wanted to spend more time with her before I found out her last name and your family’s connection to the game I love. Yes, I love baseball. I’ve played since I was Jett’s age, and I’m damn good at it. I’d love to be one of the lucky ones to make it to the league, but I know that’s a long shot, and I’m planning for that not to happen, just as much as I’m planning and wishing that it would. That’s my dream, and it has nothing to do with your daughter. That’s a new dream and one that came to be after I met her. I know regardless of my future with the game that I love, that I’ll be able to provide for her and the family that we will hopefully one day have.”
“You just met her,” he counters, crossing his arms over his chest.
I shrug. “You met your wife and fell for her instantly. What makes you think that I can’t do that as well?”
“How do you know that?”
“Peyton. We talk about everything. I feel like I know her better than I know myself.”
“Then you know she wouldn’t appreciate you talking to me like this in my home.”
“Actually, sir, I’d like to think that she’d be proud of me. You see, your daughter also knows that growing up, I was a huge fan of yours. Oliver too.” I nod to my friend, who has a smirk pulling at his lips. “She knows that about me, but do you know what else she knows?”
“Enlighten me.” Easton crosses his arms over his chest.
“She knows that she comes first for me. I’d walk away from all of it today if it meant I could be with her.”
“Then why don’t you?” he fires back.
“She won’t let me,” I tell him honestly.
“You could do it anyway.”
“I could,” I agree. “But I have a full ride where I am, and I’ve already got league scouts coming to see my games. I’m fifteen minutes from my family, and if my dreams of one day going pro come true, I’ll more than likely be moving away from them. Peyton told me to stay… that it’s better to be close to them while I can.”
“That sounds like her,” Larissa speaks up. “She’s always been wise beyond her years.”
“Daddy!” Jett’s cheers filter into the room.
“You’ve already met my husband and future brother-in-law,” Paisley says, smiling at her dad, and he grumbles under his breath. “Why don’t we go say hi.”
I nod, but I’m not finished yet. “I care about your daughter. I more than care about her, but I think she needs to hear those words from me before you do.” With that, I turn and follow Paisley and Oliver out of the room.
Parker holds her hand out, and Paisley hands over her phone. The group gathers around, watching the scene that just went down in the living room.
“My man.” Holden holds his hand out for me to shake, followed by Cameron.
“We calmed him down for you,” Cameron jokes.
“Right? You got off easy,” Holden agrees.
We all chat for a few minutes before we settle once again in the living room and wait for Peyton to arrive.
“I think we should lock the door, and you should answer it.” Parker claps her hands with glee.
“I’ll gladly be the first person she sees,” I tell them. They all laugh as Parker scurries to lock the front door.
CHAPTER 15
Peyton
It’s been five weeks since I’ve seen Griffin in person and not through a computer screen. We talk multiple times a day, and each night we video call before we switch over to the phone to say good night. We send multiple text messages throughout our days, and I feel closer to him than anyone. I wasn’t sure we could do this, but we’re making it happen. It’s hard, and I miss him, but we’re making it work.