Chapter 21
Cici
I take my seat in the front row of the box and fold my arms across my chest. I know Dad will end up here once the game starts and I don’t want to talk to him. Maybe I’m being childish, but so is he.
“Hey, sweetie.” Mom takes the seat next to me and I breathe a sigh of relief. I sat on the end, closest to the steps. That way Dad can’t block me from leaving if I want to.
“Hi, Mom.”
“Has Dad spoken to you since I texted you?”
“Nope,” I sigh. I don’t want to discuss this. I just want to watch my boyfriend play baseball and then go home and relax in the hot tub with him.
“He’s realized how ridiculous he’s behaving. I told him he has to talk to you and Covey.” She smiles softly.
“It’s only because Macy forbids him from coming near Emmett until he stops acting stupid.”
“Are you serious?” Her brows raise in surprise. “I love that woman. She doesn’t hold anything back and she won't let him get his way no matter how hard he fights her.” She chuckles.
“Am I being stupid?”
“Do you love him?”
“We just started dating yesterday. I don’t think I can say that yet.” I roll my eyes.
“But you care about him enough to start a war and that says something, Cici.” She takes my hand in hers and squeezes it softly. “Can you picture a future with him?”
“I can picture forever with him,” I whisper.
“Then you tell everyone to shove off,” Dad says from behind me.
“Pretty sure I already did.” I wave him off, hoping he’ll stay away.
“I’m sorry, baby girl. I was an idiot.” He comes down the steps and sits on the last one so he’s right next to me.
“I don’t really want to talk to you right now. I'm busy.”
“Doing what?”
“Watching my amazing boyfriend play baseball.”
“The game hasn’t started yet.”
“Yeah, but staring at an empty field has to be better than dealing with you.”
“I'm sorry I freaked out. I just… I don’t want my little girl to get hurt. I know the way a lot of these guys are and most of them don’t want to commit to one woman. I don’t want that for you.”
“Really? Is Covey one of those guys? Do you constantly see a different girl on his arm?” I finally turn to face him, anger taking over again.
“Well… No.”
“Exactly! You just saw a chance to control everything and you took it. I'm not putting up with that.”
“And you shouldn’t,” Mom says firmly.
“Sunshine, you’re not helping,” Dad sighs.
“No, I'm pretty sure I'm the only one helping. Owen, you know how annoying it was to fight our friends when we started dating. How frustrating it was when no one believed you could be the type of man I needed. Why are you treating Covey like that?”
“Jeez, Sunshine, you might as well have kicked me in the balls.” His brows pull together as he stares down at the field. The guys just took their positions in the outfield and were waiting for Leo to throw the first pitch.
“You need it every now and then.” She lifts her shoulder in a shrug.
“I'm sorry I freaked out. I was wrong. Out of all of my players, Covey’s one of the few I can trust with you. I know that, I really do. I just kind of panicked.”
“Yeah, and then you made Cord freak out. He’s threatening to end his friendship with Covey.”
“He’s just panicking too. We’re used to you being this little girl who needs protecting.
Sometimes we get in our own way, even when you don’t need protection anymore.
You’re a woman now. We can’t stand in the way of you being with a good guy just because he’s a professional athlete and he works for me and with Cord.
We need to take a step back and realize he’s perfect for you. ”
“You really think so?” I glance at him and find him staring back at me with so much emotion in his gaze.
“I do. I’ve seen how the two of you interact over the last few years.
I always wondered if something would develop between the two of you.
He looks at you like you’re the only woman in the world.
I was stupid to flip out about it. I think the two of you will be great together…
if no one stands in your way and scares him off. ”
“Thank you, Daddy,” I whisper, throwing myself into his arms.
“I’m sorry, Ci. I’ll try to do better.”
“That would be appreciated.” I grin.
“Now, can I please sit between my two girls? These stairs are not comfortable at all.” He groans as he gets to his feet.
Mom quickly moves over one chair and as soon as Dad’s sitting between us, he wraps one arm around both of us. I lean my head on his shoulder as the third batter strikes out and our team exits the field to get ready to bat.