Total pages in book: 29
Estimated words: 26323 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 132(@200wpm)___ 105(@250wpm)___ 88(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 26323 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 132(@200wpm)___ 105(@250wpm)___ 88(@300wpm)
“We have about thirty minutes before Kat should be up. How about you demonstrate how you earned it in the first place?” I suggested, wrapping my fingers around his wrist to slide his hand lower.
“Sounds like the perfect plan to me, baby. And then we can celebrate your new job later tonight when we have more time.”
Epilogue
Clay
Marleigh winced and looked away as our son Benson—one of our twin boys—took another hit. He shook it off easily and ran for an open spot so the quarterback could throw him the ball.
“Baby, he’s been playing since he was old enough to run. How are you not used to it by now?” I teased, rubbing soothing circles on her back.
She scowled at me, and I shivered a little under her mama bear scrutiny. She was both scary and seriously hot when she was riled up, especially when it came to protecting our kids. “He’s my baby, Clay. I don’t care how old my kids are. I’ll never get used to seeing them get hurt.”
“Fair enough,” I conceded as I dropped an arm over her shoulders and pulled her into my side.
Benson was a wide receiver on his high school football team, just like his old man. Although, he didn’t have the same passion to play as I had. As soon as I noticed it, I made sure to let him know that it wasn’t his job to be a legacy. If he wanted to go pro, I would support him all the way. But if he wanted to do something else, I’d be no less proud and willing to do anything I could to help him achieve his dreams.
I’d had a similar conversation with Gideon, Benson’s twin, when he told me he didn't want to play football at all. He’d become a swimmer, but like his brother, it was only a hobby. His interest was mostly in girls, but he was a smart kid, and he’d focus on his future when he was ready.
All of our children had been interested in sports growing up, but it was our daughter, Kat, who was the most likely to make it her career. She’d started rowing in eighth grade, joined the crew team in high school, and was attending college on a scholarship. I didn’t have a single doubt that she would make it onto the Olympic team when she was ready.
Marleigh chuckled, and I followed her line of sight to see Elyse, our fourteen-year-old, waving her poms at one of the players. He was jogging over, and I didn’t like the way he was looking at my little girl.
I cupped my hands around my mouth and shouted, “Yo, Coach!”
The new football coach, Jed, and I had become friends when he’d come to me and asked for help. I respected that he knew his limits and wanted to improve, so we’d worked on his skills as a leader and a strategic thinker.
I hadn’t asked for anything in return, but one day, one of his players was flirting with Kat, and Jed must have spotted me fuming in the stands. Probably to keep me from strangling the little shit, Jed had called him back to the bench and shoved a playbook in his hands.
Ever since then, he’s kept a close eye on all of my kids, but especially my two girls. When he heard me call, he turned to grin at me before stalking over to the punk and blowing his whistle loud enough to make him back up a few steps from Elyse.
I grinned when Jed said something that had the player scurrying off to sit with the rest of the team. Jed casually strolled back to his spot as if he hadn’t just scared the shit out of a teenager hitting on his friend’s daughter. He was clearly holding back his laughter, and I couldn’t help chuckling.
“That was fun,” I murmured.
“No.” Marleigh sighed and poked me in the ribs. “That was mean.”
“I have no idea what you’re talking about,” I deadpanned. “I have no control over how Jed keeps his team in line.”
“I’m not talking about the team, and you know it, Clay.”
“I don’t,” I insisted. “You can’t tell me that if that had been anyone else’s kid, he would have done anything differently.” Jed was tough but fair. Just because it had been his son making eyes at my daughter didn’t give him a pass. But Jed made it a point not to be harder on him than anyone else.
“True,” Marleigh agreed reluctantly. “Still, you can’t keep scaring away every boy who wants to talk to your daughters. You’re going to have to let them date eventually.”
“Nope,” I replied emphatically.
“Hey, Mom. Dad.” Gideon climbed up the bleachers to take a seat by his mother.
“Where have you been?” I asked with a smile as I ruffled his shaggy mop of black hair.