Chapter 22
CHAPTER TWENTY-TWO
Chase
I’ve been riding on a natural high all week—hell, for the last few weeks—ever since the much-needed R & R over Halloween weekend. I woke up with nothing but this overwhelming sense of determination and excitement, and it carried all through the afternoon.
Me and the boys went for a jog and stopped for lunch on the way home. Our walk-through with the team went flawlessly. I went and picked up Paige, and we met Payton at her place so she could head to work, and we loaded little D up for a trip to the park so Mase could drive Ari somewhere in town.
The day ended with everyone going over to Mason’s. He made chicken and veggies and these green smoothies to set us up right for tomorrow’s game.
But it’s a little after eight now. The girls ran back to their dorms to get their bags, having decided to stay here tonight and get ready for tomorrow’s game together, and I’m starting to lose it.
Every time I look at the clock, which happens to be every three and half minutes even though it feels like thirty, a little more panic sets in.
Doubt clouds my mind, but I force it away.
I can’t let those thoughts in or they’ll drown me.
I can fucking do this.
I will do this.
But what if I can’t?
Shit!
I push to my feet and start pacing.
The guys are in the kitchen, and I make a split-second decision to leave.
I can’t be where they’ll see the mess I really am.
I need… I don’t know what I need.
I sneak outside, wincing when I close the door a little harder than necessary, and spin, my legs carrying me away as fast as they can.
Down the narrow cement path, across the parking lot, and onto the grass.
This is too fucking much.
I—
“Where do you think you’re going?!”
My feet freeze so fast I almost fall.
My heart clogs my damn throat and slowly, so fucking slowly, I turn.
My hazel eyes meet an identical pair, and my body seems to deflate completely.
“Dad,” I choke.
And then he’s right there, wrapping his arms around me in the tightest hug.
I clench my eyes closed, my limbs shaking slightly as I breathe in the man who gave me everything.
He doesn’t say anything, just holds on and lets me lose my cool.
Not sure how much time passes before I pull back, a low chuckle leaving me. “You’re here.”
His smile is wide, but there is no missing the exhaustion in his eyes. In his entire being, really. But he works hard to only show me the love and support he’s feeling. “I wish I could be here a lot more, but I’m glad the opportunity came along for the big one.”
“I can believe you’re here. I—” and then I spot movement over his shoulder.
Payton, Cam, and Ari stand there with their arms linked, my girl tucked under Ari’s on the end, a watery smile on her face.
Her beautiful, perfect face.
“Ah,” my dad murmurs softly. “I see.”
The corner of my mouth tips, and I lock eyes with him briefly before looking back at the girl who has changed things for me.
Who has changed me in general.
“Come here, Angel.” I hold my hand out, eyes only for her.
Slowly and with the pretty little blush I love so much slipping over her cheeks, she walks this way, her smile going shy as she reaches my side and looks over at my dad.
“You’ve met, Paige, Dad.”
“Of course I have, and I already hugged her hello when she and the girls picked me up at the airport, but”—he looks between us with a smile—“now I understand why you started tearing up when we pulled into the parking lot,” he teases, staring at her like she’s the piece of the puzzle he’s been missing.
“I knew how much having you here was going to mean to him. It might have gotten to me a bit,” she admits with a little laugh.
“If I know my son, and I like to think I know him pretty well”—he grins, leaning toward her—“I’d say it means about as much as knowing you’ll be there, too.” He says this like he’s sharing a secret she’s not aware of, soft and only intended for her ears, even though I can hear him, too.
Her eyes find mine and I’m overcome with the need to tell her that his words are true. That it does mean just as much but in a different way, maybe even more in its own sense of the word.
“Well, Son, I just wanted to see you and check where your mind was at this evening.” His eyes ask the question, just in case I don’t want it spoken aloud.
“I’m better now,” I admit and it feels like the truth. Seeing him, hugging him.
It was more than I could have asked for and at the perfect moment.
See, always there when I need him. Without fail.
I want to be like him.
I almost get choked up all over again.
“I hate to leave you already, but I’m old.” He grips my shoulder with a smile. “I went straight from work to the airport, so I’ve gotta hit the hay. There’s a room with my name on it down the street, so I’m going to go get settled.”
I nod, giving him another hug. “Follow me back to Mason’s and I’ll get you my keys. You can use my truck while you’re here.”
“No worries!” Cameron rushes, and then she’s right there, stuffing Payton’s keys in his hands. “Your things are already in the trunk and Payton doesn’t need it, so it just makes the most sense.”
“Okay.” He chuckles, giving me a wave and saying his goodbyes to the girls before climbing into the driver’s seat.
A long exhale leaves me, and I smile at the girls. “Tomorrow is going to be fucking crazy.”
They squeal, jumping in for a hug that I happily return.
“What the fuck?!” is shouted and we all look over to find Brady standing there, his arms open wide and a grin on his face. “I want in on this.”
We let go, smiling as we head back to the building, but just as the girls start down the little walkway, Paige digs her feet into the cement, tugging me to a stop.
I raise a brow, and she chuckles, tipping her head, her long, blond hair falling over her shoulder. She nods to the left, pulling me that way.
“What are you up to, Angel?” I grin, wrapping my arm around her and tugging her close.
Man, nothing can get better than this night, than this time in my life.
“A walk.” She grins. “It’s a nice night for a walk, don’t you think?”
“I think any night and anytime, anywhere is nice so long as you’re there.”
Her giggle fills the air, and I dip my face into her neck, tickling and teasing.
She laughs louder, pulling away and spinning, walking backward to who the hell knows where. “Someone is playful.”
“Run, baby, let me catch you and I’ll show you how playful I can be.”
Her tongue slips between her teeth and she smiles. She shakes her head like I’m silly, but then she breaks into a sprint.
My chuckle is low, and I pause, watching her get a little farther away. Right when she’s about to turn the corner, I take off after her.
My feet carry me toward her like there’s an invisible tether pulling me in, and she hears me coming, shrieking lightly when my feet pound the pavement just before she reaches the parking lot leading to the practice stadium.
She spins right as I reach her, yelping as I take her off her feet, tucking my hands tight along the underside of her thighs. Her ankles lock around me and she weaves her arms around my neck. “Very smooth, Harper.”
I grin against her mouth before giving her a little peck. I go to open my mouth, but before I speak, a flash of red catches my eye and my head whips to the right.
I freeze at the sight because what the hell?
Paige muffles a laugh, and my eyes reluctantly turn her way. The moment they land on her, they narrow.
“Paige. Why is my truck backed up in the parking lot after hours when it should be sitting outside Mason’s?”
“I have no idea what you’re talking about, but maybe we should investigate?” She forces a frown, but it’s so bad that I almost snort a laugh.
I set her on her feet, and she skips over ahead of me, hopping up on the tire as she spins to face me with a smile.
And I see why when I reach her.
The bed of the truck is loaded down with blankets and pillows, all draped nicely over what looks like a massive pool float.
There’s a mini cooler in one corner and a small speaker in the other.
I look over at Paige as she kicks off her shoes and drops inside onto her ass, a little squeal leaving her.
I jump up, staring down at her settled in the middle of the makeshift bed, hair spilled all around her.
“For the record, I had this planned before Mason told us your dad was coming in tonight.” She smirks, but the expression softens the longer she stares. “I thought some quiet time under the stars with the Certified Negativity Exorcist would be the perfect way to end the night.”
I’m laughing before she even finishes, then I’m hauling my ass over the side, falling in beside her.
“Hi.” She smiles.
“Hi, Angel.”
We sit there, saying nothing for a few minutes before she sits up on her knees, putting some music on the Bluetooth speaker.
She folds her legs under her, so I push up and mimic her position.
Eyes on me, she claps three times, and my head falls back with a laugh.
Her mouth curves, and she grips my arms, yanking me back in place. “Come on. This is the perfect time for this.” She claps three times again and smiles. “I’m grateful your dad is here.”
“Hey!” I chuckle. “You can’t take mine.”
“Well, I am.” She shrugs, lips still pulled high. “Your turn.”
I clap three times. “I’m grateful the scouts are coming.”
She nods, clapping three times. “I’m grateful I get to be there when they do.”
Smirking, I clap three times. “I’m grateful I get to kiss you anytime I want.”
She raises a brow. “Says who—Ah!” She squeals as I tackle her, climbing over her and pinning her little wrists above her head.
Her big, blue eyes are bright and shining, alive.
She makes me feel alive.
Releasing her hands, I run my knuckles along the side of her cheek, and she leans into my touch. It does something to me.
It’s a quiet pull, a sort of anchoring place I never expected to find. Warm and inviting, the kind of place a man could rest. Stay—maybe even belong.