Chapter 12
CHAPTER TWELVE
THE GUYS
SADIE
After another painful day, the last thing I want to do when I pull into Weston’s driveway is see anyone. My mom took one look at me earlier and pulled out her concealer. I cried it off at the funeral home and she reapplied before I left.
So something in your life will feel normal, she said.
I don’t know how concealer will help the way I feel, but when I see four honking SUVs parked in the back, I’m glad for my mom’s help. I don’t normally give much thought to how I look, but even I know I was looking rough earlier.
I step in the back door wondering how I can get to the basement stairs without anyone noticing me and I walk into a madhouse.
The first thing I hear is the string riff that I think everyone alive knows. That line throughout Britney Spears’ “Toxic” is being sung way up high and a couple are singing it as low as they can go. I think it’s Weston singing the chorus in a high falsetto.
I walk into the kitchen and see five very large men dancing their asses off and singing, while they’re surrounding Caleb, who’s on a blanket on the table getting his diaper changed. When I realize who they are, I’m stunned and on hot man overload, but the sight is too hilarious. Penn Hudson and Rhodes Archer are dancing like they were meant to be Britney’s backup dancers, and Rhodes is the one singing the high string line, while Penn just throws in random lines while he focuses on his dance moves. Henley Ward is twisting his hips and taking the bass, and Bowie Fox is bopping his head, also singing bass. Weston’s changing the diaper, but his hips are swiveling like Channing Tatum on whatever that dancing movie he was in that made me look at him with new appreciation. Magic Mike , yes.
I start sweating, but I also start laughing…hard.
They immediately turn, Weston lifting Caleb up to his shoulder, and the singing and dancing comes to an abrupt stop.
“Please. Don’t stop on my account,” I say, trying to rein in the hysterical laugh in my gut.
My insides are shaking with being face-to-face with some of the players I’ve loved for years. Henley Ward is an icon . I mean, all of them are. I still haven’t gotten over the fact that I’m living in Weston Shaw’s house, but we’ve sort of been thrown into a situation where I have to deal. But holy fucking hell.
One by one, they come over and introduce themselves, shaking my hand. Their earlier humor is gone, earnest expressions on their faces.
“I’m so sorry to hear about your sister,” Rhodes says.
“Weston told us what the two of you are doing together, raising this little guy,” Henley says. “It’s commendable. It really is. And we’re here to help whenever you guys need it.”
“It’s hard to say who Caleb looks like more now that I’ve gotten a better look at you,” Penn says. “But your dark hair and blue eyes…I think it’s you.”
My cheeks are on fire by now. Sasha always said she thought Caleb looked more like me than her, which I loved so much, but now I wish he looked like her.
“It’s really nice to meet you,” Bowie says. “And like Henley said, we want to help.”
“That’s so kind of you, all of you. Thank you.”
“It feels wrong that we’re carrying on like this with what you’re going through,” Rhodes says.
“No, it’s not wrong,” I say. “I haven’t laughed that hard in a long time. My sister loved that song, and she was a huge fan of all of you, so I only wish she could’ve seen that for herself.” I smile at them, my eyes reaching Weston last.
His cheeks are flushed which makes his blue eyes stand out even more. His hair is messy, and he looks sexier than I’ve ever seen him, which is saying a lot because he looks hot all the time . But now his expression is tentative, like he’s concerned that I don’t really mean what I’m saying, and I feel bad that we’ve had such a sad, tumultuous beginning. If we’d met any other way, I bet we would’ve been friends. Maybe we’ll get there, I don’t know.
“We were just gonna order pizza,” Weston says. “What’s your favorite?”
“I like Hawaiian.”
“Yes,” Rhodes says, coming over to bump my fist. “We’re keeping you. I can’t ever get anyone on board with Hawaiian.”
“Because it’s wrong,” Bowie says.
Rhodes lifts his eyebrows. “If loving it is wrong, I don’t wanna be right.”
When I laugh, he bumps my fist again.
“So, did Weston tell you anything about us?” Penn asks.
“A little,” I hedge.
“We’ve been occupied with other things,” Weston grumbles.
“These two kept trying to horn in on The Single Dad Players,” Rhodes says, smirking. “Now there’s just one left. What are you gonna do about it, Penn?”
“I need to hang out with Jeremiah, Samson, and Free more,” Penn mutters. “They don’t give me this shit.” He winks at me.
“We hang out with them plenty,” Rhodes scoffs. “Don’t forget Reed. That boy knows how to have a good time, on or off the field. But when you need some nurturin’, you come to The Single Dad Players.”
“The Single Dad Players,” I repeat, glancing at Weston and smirking. “Like football players or playboy players?”
“Whatever works for you.” Rhodes gives me a sexy grin.
He is so hot and so trouble .
“Back off, Archer.” Weston rolls his eyes. “They named it that long before I was inducted,” he says to me.
I lift a shoulder. “Seems like you fit right in, whichever meaning intended.”
“Damn,” Bowie says, laughing. “She’s got your number, Shaw.”
Weston’s eyes narrow on me. “I’ve turned over a new leaf, Chapman. Tell her, boys.”
“Now that I think about it, he has been hanging around me and Bowie more when we go out, rather than those two,” Henley says, nodding at Rhodes and Penn.
Weston looks at me like that’s proof that he’s on the straight and narrow.
I lift an eyebrow at him but don’t say anything. It doesn’t matter what I think anyway.
“Nah. Don’t let Penn make you think this is something it’s not,” Rhodes says. “These guys saved my life. I didn’t know the first thing about being a dad when I got drafted to the Mustangs. When we realized we were the single dads on the team, we started meeting to talk about the trials and tribulations of fatherhood, and the rest is history.” He pounds Henley’s fist and then Bowie’s…and then lifts his eyebrows and pounds Weston’s.
“Here, catch,” Bowie says and tosses Rhodes a blue notebook. “Your turn.”
Rhodes grins and nods. “All right. It’s time to wax philosophical, folks.”
Penn groans. “These papas think their little club is all that.” He smirks and shakes his head. “Just because I can wrap it up well doesn’t mean I should be left out.”
“No, you did not just say that,” Rhodes yells, laughing, and then he looks at the baby, apologizing for being so loud. “For the record, I wrapped it up very well. I just didn’t know Carrie was swapping out my box of condoms for ones from the early 2000s…and not taking the pill like she said she was.”
Whoa. Carrie has the balls of a bull.
“I was having kids with my wife, not realizing that she didn’t want to be married to me anymore,” Henley says, his voice low.
No way. Who in their right mind wouldn’t want to be married to Henley Ward?
“Sorry, man.” Rhodes clinks his beer bottle to Henley’s.
“I didn’t know my girlfriend couldn’t handle a child with special needs,” Bowie says.
Oh my god.
“Fuck, you guys win, okay?” Rhodes says.
My heart has dropped more with each new revelation, but Bowie and Henley laugh and clink their glasses.
“They get me with that shit every time,” Rhodes grumbles.
“Hey, we’re only telling the truth,” Henley says. “This is how we deal with our pain. We laugh about it.”
“I’m not laughing right now,” Rhodes says. “That’s some depressing shit, man. Makes Carrie sound like a saint.”
They all laugh at that.
“Carrie is not a saint,” Penn says.
Rhodes wipes his eyes, laughing harder than all of them. “I know that’s right. That woman is terrifying, but she’s a good mama. She wanted a football player baby daddy and that’s what she got.”
“A damn good one too,” Bowie says.
“Aw, you goin’ soft on me, Bow?” Rhodes acts like he’s going to kiss Bowie on the cheek, and Bowie has him in a headlock in the next second. Rhodes screams like he’s dying and Caleb starts crying. “Fuck, I’m sorry,” he says, ducking out of Bowie’s hold in an instant. “I swear I’m an adult when my son is with me.” He looks at me solemnly.
“I believe you.” I reach out for Caleb and Weston hands him to me. I close my eyes as I hold him close. He quiets down and nestles into my neck and it’s the best feeling in the world.
“These guys are the best dads I know,” Henley says. “And you will be too, Weston. You’re already blowing my mind. It took me at least fifteen minutes to change a diaper when we had Cassidy.” He looks at his watch. “Shit. I’ve gotta run pick the girls up.” He smiles at me. “Sadie, it was a pleasure.”
My cheeks flush and I mumble something back, and Weston walks him to the door.
One of the guards brings the pizzas when they arrive, and it’s good that I got my three slices right away. Weston asks if I’d like more before the last few pieces are taken, and when I say no, they swoop in. They inhale six large pizzas.
Weston’s groaning afterward. “I know we’re off-season, but I still shouldn’t have done that.”
“You’ll be all right. You guys want to meet at the gym tomorrow?” Penn asks.
“I could if it’s earlier in the day.” Bowie looks at his watch. “I better head out. Becca will be home soon.”
“I can meet you,” Rhodes says. “Carrie has Levi today and tomorrow.”
“I’ll pass this time,” Weston says.
“I can watch Caleb if you want to go,” I tell him.
He smiles. “Thanks. I’m not quite ready to leave him yet.” He sees the look on my face, and adds, “Not because I’m afraid of leaving him with you. We’ve got papers now, remember?” He bumps my hip with his and my insides flood with heat.
When I glance away, Penn, Bowie, and Rhodes are all staring at us with interest.
Rhodes grins. “You two have got a cute little thing going on already, you know that, right?”
“Shut up, Rhodes,” Weston says.
“I’m just sayin’…”
“Well, don’t.”
Weston shoots me a nervous look and my heart skips a few beats. I act unfazed and tuck my head against Caleb’s.
I wish I could say that Weston doesn’t affect me, but I’d be lying.