Chapter 22
Covey
I hang my head as I sit at my cubby after the game.
We played terribly. I played terribly. I couldn’t connect with the side of a building let alone a ball.
Every time I got up to bat it’s like my body wouldn’t respond the way it was supposed to.
I missed four easy catches that could’ve ended innings so much sooner than they did.
I'm not sure I’ve ever played such a horrible game.
Between my screw ups and Cord not being here, we lost miserably. It’s all my fault.
“Covey, my office, now,” Owen barks, his office door shutting a moment later with a loud thud.
I sigh loudly as I rise from my seat and scrub a hand down my face. This is the last conversation I want to have. I just want to go home… except I don’t have a home. I’ll be going home to Cici’s house.
I don’t bother knocking, I walk right in and shut the door behind me. I don’t need the rest of my teammates listening in on this conversation.
“You wanted to see me?” I ask when he doesn’t even bother to glance in my direction after a solid minute.
“What was that?” He asks, folding his arms over his chest.
“That was us losing a game.” I shrug my shoulder like it doesn’t matter, even though it’s eating me up inside.
“Why?”
“I don’t know! Maybe because I was tense before the game and after I tried to talk to Cici to fix that, you decided to blow everything up. Imagine how messed up my head is right now.”
“Why is your head messed up?” He tilts his head to the side like he’s truly confused.
“Are you kidding me right now, Owen? Cici thinks she’s ok with all this tension between her and the family, but she won't be. Not long term. My time with her is limited and I know it. Sooner or later, she’s going to realize I'm not worth it and she’ll dump me.”
“You really think that’s what she’ll do?” He arches a brow.
“Well, either that or you’re going to fire me and then I’ll be forced to move to whatever city I can get a contract with. Either way, my life crumbles.”
“Your life crumbles if Cici dumps you? That’s overreacting, isn’t it?”
“Nah, she’s a once in a lifetime type of woman. I’ll never get another shot with someone as amazing as her.” I squeeze my eyes shut and stare up at the ceiling. My chest already aches and I haven’t even lost her yet. I don’t know how I’ll survive when she finally pushes me aside.
“And that reaction…” He points in my face with a big smile. “That’s why I'm backing down.”
“What are you talking about?” I ask, not really wanting to deal with his antics right now.
“Cici’s happy with you, Covey. She put me in my place and when I went into the suite to watch the game with Sunshine, she did it all over again.
She reminded me that you’re not a player off the field and you don’t have a different girl hanging on your arm every time I see you.
She reminded me how close you two have been and how you’re kind of perfect for each other. ”
“You’re serious?” I sit up a little straighter in my seat and stare at him.
“When I walked in the room, she was talking to Sunshine about you and she said she could picture forever with you. Now, maybe I shouldn’t be telling you that, but I need you to realize she’s all in and if you’re not, you need to tread carefully.”
“No! I am. The only thing that’s ever made me hesitate with a relationship with Cici was my relationship with you and Cord. I knew you’d both flip out… I really like her, Owen.”
“Just… Don’t be like Adam.” He shakes his head as he clenches his jaw. “I almost killed that guy.”
“I handled him yesterday when I picked up dinner for Cici, Cord, Macy, and myself,” I growl.
“Dang, really?” A slow smile spreads across his lips as he watches me. He almost seems proud.
“Yeah, he was talking about her to the other bartender and I told him she’s taken and he should forget she even exists.
I told the other bartender if he deletes Cici’s number from Adam’s phone I’d give him my hat and sign it.
He was already telling Adam how he screwed up so it wasn’t hard to get him to agree. ”
“Wow… ok. Now, I definitely can be Team Covey.”
“Really? You’re not going to stand in our way.”
“Nah, I shouldn’t have flipped out to begin with.
I saw her crying into your chest after you guys went away.
I saw you having a panic attack over ruining relationships with Cord and me.
Over ruining our family dynamics. You’re a good man, Covey, and you really care about my daughter.
I'm sorry. Sometimes it’s hard to remember Cici isn’t my little girl anymore and she doesn’t need me to protect her from all the boys.
She wants to get married and have a family, I’d be stupid to keep her from that purely because you work for the team. ”
“Are you giving me permission to marry your daughter?” I smirk.
“Date. I'm giving you permission to date her… We’ll see about marriage after a few years.”
“Months. I'm not waiting years.” I hold up a finger to correct him.
“Six months at a minimum.” He narrows his gaze.
“Fine. I can handle six months… Is Cord ok with this too?”
“Cord…” Owen sighs and shakes his head. “Cord isn’t happy.”
“Awesome. I'm sure we’ll play so well together if he’s angry at me.”
“Give him a few days. He’ll come around. Right now, he’s sleep deprived and can’t think straight. He won't be back to work for a few weeks anyway.”
There’s a knock on the door. I turn to face the door right as Cici pushes the door open. She smiles sweetly at me and bounces into the room before plopping down on my lap.
“Hey,” she says softly.
“Hi.”
“Did he tell you he removed his panties from the twist they were in?” She motions to Owen, never taking her gaze off of me.
“I didn’t have my panties in a twist.” Owen rolls his eyes.
“I told you not to worry about them and then you went and played like crap.” She frowns.
“Did I disappoint you?”
“Never. You win some, you lose some. As long as you win in our relationship, I don’t care about baseball.”
“Well, I care! You need to win!” Owen slaps his hand down on the desk.
“Then maybe you shouldn’t go all papa bear on him right before he’s supposed to play. You know baseball is mostly mental. Did you really think he’d be able to focus after you behaved like that?” Cici levels Owen with her best glare.
“No, but what was I supposed to do?” He grumbles under his breath like a toddler who was just reprimanded.
“Maybe act like an adult and wait until after the game? It’s not like he could’ve whisked me away from you while he was on the field.” She rolls her eyes, cuddling closer to me.
“I don’t know! I panicked!” Owen throws his hands up in the air in frustration.
“Exactly. So, now that you’re calm, what do you have to say?” She arches a brow, daring him to go back on whatever they agreed on.
“I already said I'm sorry,” he hisses.
“And?”
“Your contract is due to be renewed at the end of the season,” he grumbles. “I’d like you to sign a new contract with the Pit Bulls.”
“Ok…” I glance between the two of them, unsure of why he’s acting like this.
“I'm raising your pay and there will be a clause in your contract that I can’t fire you for dating my daughter.”
I open my mouth to ask about what happens if we get engaged or married, but Owen holds up a hand to stop me.
“I can’t fire you for getting engaged or married either. Basically, I can’t fire you for any romantic relationships. Even if you dump her, I can’t do anything.”
“Dang, I get nothing special by dating you?” I smile at Cici, making her giggle. “Maybe I need to rethink this relationship.”
“Your contract doesn’t have any of that in it now,” Owen growls.
“Good, because I don’t need it. I'm not letting go of my girl.”