His head pops up and those big blue eyes stare up at me. “You peepeed your pants?”
I chuckle. “Not recently, but I’m sure Nana would tell you I had a few accidents in my day. So did your uncles.”
His head jerks back like I just revealed a national secret. “Weally?” He means really, but we haven’t nailed the R sound yet.
“I promise. We just gotta take one day at a time. Tomorrow will be better.” I hug my little stinker, wishing I could be home more. It’s late. After eight. I still have to give him a bath and get him to bed before I hit the books. He should probably already be asleep, but I’d rather spend some time with him every day and let him snooze late in the mornings.
Louisa grabs her purse. “He ate chicken nuggets and some applesauce. Did you already eat dinner, or do you want me to make you a sandwich before I leave?”
For a second, I hear another voice asking me if I want a sandwich. It makes something in me ache. I don’t know why I’m not over Charlie ghosting me. It’s fucked up, but I miss her more than Dakota.
Once I realized what my ex had been doing behind my back, she was dead to me. Charlotte, though… It’s weird as hell not having her in my life anymore. And as much as I thanked her for taking care of Asher, I’m seeing now that I didn’t appreciate how she took care of me too. Always feeding me. Always helping me if I needed a study buddy. Always knowing how to cheer me up after Dakota reamed me out for something stupid. Just being an amazing friend.
Did I run Charlie off? Did I do something to hurt her? Was Dakota lying about why her sister left? When I’m not pissed about her leaving, I’m still tormented. It keeps me up at night. Is Charlotte okay? Does she have friends? Is she still in school? Her family doesn’t give a shit about her, and it makes me wonder who’s looking out for her now.
Realizing I never responded, I muster a smile. “Thanks, Miss Louisa. I brought some dinner home from the cafeteria.” I love this sweet woman. She’s been such a blessing in our chaotic lives.
I have to admit the athletic amenities at Lone Star are top notch. There’s a late-night athletic dining hall that caters to jocks. They have mountains of takeout boxes ready to go at all hours. If I missed the cafeteria hours at NTU, I was shit out of luck.
Ash sneaks a few of my fries as he watches me gobble down my meal. I was running late and grabbed whatever was closest. Typically I wouldn’t be tossing back a cheeseburger during the season, but considering it’s my second week of classes, right before another big game, and I’m stressed as fuck, I figure I’m doing okay.
After I wrangle the kid into the tub, I sit on the toilet seat as he plays with his toys. He’s wearing a mask my brother got him, and he periodically dips his whole body under water so he can pretend he’s snorkeling.
“Ash, let’s take that off so we can wash your face, buddy.”
He tosses it over his head, and it goes crashing into the corner where it knocks over the shampoo and body wash. Jesus. How the hell did my mom deal with four of us?
After I scrub down my hellion, he holds out his arms while I wrap him in a towel.
“Use the hairdriver!”
Hairdriver? I chuckle. My kid always entertains me. “You want me to blow-dry your hair?”
“Yeah!” He shakes his head like a wild dog coming out of the rain.
By the time he’s dry and I’ve wrangled him into some pajamas, I’m ready to pass out, but I still have homework. I’ll need to make some coffee if I want to get more done tonight.
I tuck Asher into his big-boy bed, his birthday present from my mom. “Listen, bud, I know we haven’t spent a lot of time together since we moved here, but I have a treat for you this weekend.”
His eyes light up. “A tweet?”
“How would you like to go to the park on Sunday? There’s a playground we haven’t gone to yet, and there are supposed to be dogs we can pet. I have to take photos for something, but that will probably only take a few minutes. Then we can play.”
Coach Santos asked us to help his daughter with a fundraiser, and I’m so indebted to the man, I’ll do anything he needs me to.
“Dogs?” Asher leaps out of bed and starts jumping up and down. “I wuv dogs!”
He’s been asking me for a pet since he learned what they were. It sucks we can’t have one, but I have my hands full as it is. My first order of business when I get drafted is getting my son a puppy.
Ash howls with glee as he flings himself on me.
I hug him, smiling but exhausted. I never should’ve brought this up at bedtime because now he’s hyper—lesson learned—but it makes me happy to see my kid so excited even though it’s gonna take him longer to go to sleep.
Definitely gonna need that coffee now.
5
JAKE
Ash and I cruise down the street with the windows rolled down and classic rock blaring from the stereo. Charming, Texas, is one of those small towns that belongs on a postcard.
The downtown area has cobblestone brick along the main drag and Bronco-colored flowers on every corner. Locals say ‘howdy’ or nod in greeting, not just to me but to everyone. And the baristas at the Rise ’N Grind Coffee House remember my name and how I like my coffee and save me empanadas on Sundays. It’s hard not to fall in love with this place.
Once we get to the park, Asher swings from me like I’m his personal jungle gym. We trek under the giant brick archway and onto a grassy hill. It’s warm and sunny, and I have the whole afternoon to love up on my kid. It’s gonna be a good day.
I switch Ash to my other arm because I’m sore.
Yesterday’s game was close, but we pulled it out in the end. We’re now two and oh. I got a little game time. Not a ton. Not as much as I was hoping to get, but it’s still early in the season. Coach knows what my goals are, and I just have to trust him.
It’s a scary concept. I don’t want to trust anyone anymore, but Coach Santos is basically the only person in my life besides my mom who thinks I can hack D1 football, and I aim to prove I was a good bet.
Across the field, I spot my teammates. They’re waiting around under some trees next to several dog crates.
“Hey, bud. Race you to that tree.” I point it out and watch my kid streak across the park. I chuckle and jog after him. I have every intention of wearing him out so he goes to bed early.
After I scoop him up and toss him over my shoulder, I join my teammates Cameron Fletcher and Billy Babcock, whose eyes are glued to the ass of some blonde who is bent over one of the dogs.
“I didn’t know we were supposed to be wearing our football gear,” I say. The guys are sporting white t-shirts, football pants, and cleats.
Billy shrugs like he can’t speak and check out a chick at the same time. Cam points over his shoulder. “I only heard about it today.”
One of the cheerleaders I’ve seen around the field house jogs up to me. She’s decked out in her cheer outfit and full makeup. She looks like a young Zoe Saldana with thick, beautiful hair and a winning smile. “Hi, I’m Roxy. I think you know my dad.”
“Yeah, I know the Saint.”
She rolls her eyes playfully and grabs my shoulder. “Don’t call him that. It’ll go to his head.”