Chapter 12 #2
He claps his hands and goes back to playing with the toy truck I handed him after getting him buckled into his seat.
“I’m glad you were able to help him out. He’s been so closed off since finding out about Cam.”
“Yeah, he’s got a lot on his shoulders, and honestly, she,” I say instead of using the name of his mom since Camden is within hearing distance—not that he would understand, but I do it anyway, “was always canceling her time with him, and that was weighing heavily on Baker. Hopefully, they can both mourn the loss and move forward.”
“Mourning what should have been,” Bellamy agrees.
“So I’ve never been to this fan day. What’s it like?” I ask her.
She goes on to tell me how the day is going to go. “There will be fans all over, but we’ll get access to get closer to the players because we’re immediate family.”
“Well, Camden is. You might have to take both kids.”
“No way.” Bellamy shakes her head as she pulls into the stadium. “Baker will not let that fly. You’re going to be just fine.”
It takes us a few minutes to get everything unloaded, including the kids. Camden is in his wagon, happy as can be, and Coral is taking everything in with wide eyes from her stroller.
Shoving the full diaper bag into the compartment beneath the wagon, I give Camden his blanket and another toy that I packed, and we head inside.
I have several toys in the diaper bag. That way, when he gets bored with one, we can switch it out with another, hoping the rotation will hold his attention and keep him occupied.
I don’t know what I’m walking into, and he might be bored out of his mind. We both might be.
Bellamy seems to know exactly where she’s going, so I follow along behind her. “Fancy seeing the two of you here.” My best friend, Corie, grins. She gives each of us a hug before doing the same to the kids. “Here are your passes.” She hands me two and two for Bellamy.
“Do the kids need to wear these?” I ask, slipping the VIP lanyard around my neck.
“No, but I gave them one anyway.” She shrugs. “The doors don’t open to the public for another thirty minutes. Let’s go surprise them.” Corie beams and turns on her heel, expecting us to follow her, so we do.
I’ve been in this stadium many times, for games, waiting for the guys after games, family day, but today, it feels different. I can’t quite put my finger on why that is.
Corie leads us down a long hallway that opens up to the field. All the players are out there, but they don’t look to be practicing. It’s more like social hour, from the laughter and ribbing that reaches my ears.
“Sinclair! Montgomery!” Corie calls out, and both guys turn to look at her.
I don’t know what Reid’s reaction is because I only have eyes for Baker. His eyes widen, and a slow, sexy smile forms on his lips. He tosses the ball in his hands to one of his teammates, and his long legs carry him to us.
“Daddy!” Camden yells as soon as he spots his father. I work to help him out of the wagon, and his little legs take off as fast as they can carry him to Baker, who scoops down and lifts him, tossing him into the air.
Baker keeps walking until he’s standing in front of me. “Hey.” He smiles. Then he shocks the hell out of me when he bends and hugs me. It’s quick, but it’s still unexpected. “What are you doing here?”
“I hope it’s okay that we’re here. I invited Bellamy and Coral to the park, and she said she was coming to surprise Reid and invited us along.”
“Of course, it’s okay. I should have thought to mention it to you. Mrs. Ward never attended, and it didn’t even cross my mind to have you be here today. Fuck, Sloane, am I happy to see you. Both of you,” he says, kissing his son’s cheek.
“Daddy, ball.” Camden points behind him.
“That’s right.” Baker beams down at his son. “Daddy’s playing ball. You want to play with me?”
“Pway ball.” Camden nods.
“What about you?” Baker asks me.
“Oh, you two go ahead. I’ll hang out here,” I tell him.
“Nope. You’re coming with us. Roll the wagon over here,” he says, unhooking the crowd control ribbon and letting me pass. Bellamy is right behind me with her stroller, while Reid coos over Coral.
“Coral, sweetheart, did you come to see Grandpa?” Coach Warner asks, joining us.
“Nice try, old man,” Reid jokes. “My girls are here for me.”
“Hey, Bella,” he greets his daughter.
“Hi, Dad.”
“I’m stealing these two,” Baker says, before grabbing my hand, Camden still in his arms, and leading me out onto the field.
“Wow, I’ve never been on the field before,” I comment, taking it all in.
Baker stops and turns to face me, my hand still in his. He gives a gentle squeeze as his hazel eyes bore into mine. “I’m so damn glad you’re here.”
“Well, this little man wanted to come see his daddy.” I ignore the way his gaze—or is it his hand in mine—has my heart fluttering inside my chest.
“Daddy, pway.”
Baker laughs. It’s a deep, rich sound, and I feel as though it’s been ages since I’ve seen that from him.
“We can play,” he tells his son. He sets Camden on his feet, just as Landry, Foster, and Knox join us.
Landry scoops Camden up under his arm as if he were holding a football, holds out his other arm in front of him as if he needs to block, and takes off running.
Camden’s laughter echoes around the stadium.
“Go. Do your thing,” I tell Baker. “I know the crowds will be here soon.”
“We’re playing ball, remember?” he asks, still holding my hand.
“Who? You and me?”
“Yep.” He grins, and I love the sight of his hazel eyes lighting up with happiness instead of worry and despair. “Go long, baby.” He grins and turns, picks a football up off the ground, and takes off running, while I stand here swooning at the fact that he just called me baby.
He launches the ball in the air, and I watch it, bracing myself to catch it, and when the ball lands in my hands, my mouth falls open in shock. I thrust my hand in the air in celebration, and Baker whoops for me. I toss it back to him, but he has to run forward to catch it.
“A football player, I am not,” I say with a laugh when he reaches me.
He tucks a strand of hair behind my ear. “I had the hardest time leaving today,” he confesses.
“We were all cozy, snoozing away,” I say, avoiding what I think he’s trying to tell me.
“It’s the best night of sleep I’ve had in a very long time,” he admits.
“We want in,” Reid says, as he and Bellamy approach us. “Coach stole my daughter,” he grumbles.
“Oh, stop.” Bellamy laughs. “Let him have some time with her.”
Reid’s answer is to kiss his wife. “Game on, ladies,” he says, with a wicked gleam in his eyes.
We spend the next half hour or so tossing the ball between the four of us. I check on Camden and the guys, as well as Corie and Rowan, who are giving him all their attention. When the crowd starts to get heavy, I know we need to let the guys greet their fans.
“I should go get Camden so you can get to work.”
“I’ll get him.” Baker jogs off and takes his son from Foster before coming back to me. He’s jogging lightly, which bounces Camden in his arms. His little hands are gripping his dad’s jersey, and he cackles with laughter the entire way back to me.
“Come on, buddy, let’s get a drink and a snack.”
Baker hands him to me and whispers in my ear, “Thank you for this. Stick around.”
“We will, until the kids can’t handle it anymore.”
“There will be a break for lunch before the second session.”
“Okay.” I smile up at him. He returns it with earnest, and I watch him walk away.
Camden waves, as do I, before I meet Bellamy on the sidelines with Coral, and we settle in to watch our men—no, watch the men as they interact with fans and do some basic drills.
Something has shifted between us, and I don’t know what it is, but I’m afraid to ask.
I need to talk to someone about this. My best friends are his friends, too, and the wives of his friends, so it’s complicated, but it has to happen.
I’m too out of my element to navigate this on my own.
I work for him, so it’s complicated as hell, but even knowing that, I don’t want to walk away.