Chapter 35
THIRTY-FIVE
JJ
“Mimi,” Avery yells, darting into the family suite and straight into my mother’s arms.
My dad grins down at her. “Doesn’t Pops get a hug?”
Head thrown back, Avery giggles. “You have to wait your turn, Pops. Don’t you know the rules?”
My parents are laughing and loving on my little girl as I stroll in with Adeline by my side.
As promised, she and Avery are wearing matching pink Tennessee jerseys with Theo’s name and number on the back.
I’m not sure how she got them on such short notice, but if anyone in Boston has connections, it’s the Langfield crew.
Everyone we know is here. Adeline’s parents, mine, her aunts and uncles, my aunts and uncles, and too many cousins to name.
Though my sister couldn’t make the trek, she will be in town for Thanksgiving, and Avery is ecstatic to see her.
“Aw, look at you and Addie,” my mother says to Avery, a knowing glint in her eye as she peers up at me. “You match perfectly.”
“That’s because Addie is my best friend. She even sleeps with Daddy so he isn’t lonely.”
Three feet away, Beckett whips around, glowering. “Excuse me.” As he stalks toward us, my mind scrambles for a response.
Adeline shuffles forward. “Dad, that’s not—”
“She literally means sleep,” I choke out, pretty damn certain I’m about to die.
Behind me, Gracie yells, “Uncky JJ is the best to Addie. He gave her a pink penis. Lots of them.”
Adeline groans and Hope slaps a hand over Grace’s mouth.
“Pink peonies,” I enunciate.
My father’s eyes are dancing with amusement and my mother is trying to hold in a laugh, but Beckett is red. So fucking red.
“Why are you giving my daughter flowers, JJ?”
“Dad,” Adeline grinds out.
Beckett’s attention doesn’t leave my face.
“I gave them to all the girls in the house. Moms and kids alike. Gracie discovered them in Aiden’s yard and wanted them, so I asked him if I could bring one for Gracie, and he cut me an entire bushel.”
“What about me?” Aiden asks, popping up right when I need him.
Adeline recounts the story for Aiden, and everyone else seems to move on when Aiden confirms that he in fact did cut all those flowers for everyone and I didn’t just give Adeline peonies, or my goddamn penis.
But Beckett still stares like he knows there’s more to the story.
Of course there is. He knows Adeline is it for me. Hell, probably every person in this room does.
Doesn’t change our situation. Nothing can happen.
Not until the end of the season, at least.
Adeline takes Avery’s hand. “Hey, Avey, want to grab a cookie with me?”
My little girl bounces on her toes. “Can I, Daddy?”
“Just one, then I want you to eat some real food.”
She nods seriously. “I’ll even eat my broccoli.”
My mother laughs. “I’m pretty sure you’re safe from broccoli today, my girl. But I think I saw some carrots over there. I’ll join you.”
With one hand in Adeline’s, Avery reaches for my mom.
Then the three of them walk away. I can’t take my eyes off them.
Especially when Adeline and my mother lift Avery between them, swinging her, and my daughter lets out the happiest laugh.
This is what she deserves. A room full of people who love that laugh.
My mother and Adeline showing her the love a mother and grandmother should.
My heart pinches. Adeline’s not her mother.
My father steps into my side, his arm brushing mine as we watch the scene unfold. Knowing my dad, he’s swooning internally. He always does when he looks at my mother. And he’s the best damn grandfather there ever was. He’s so good with Avery.
“Have you heard from Tabitha?”
Without turning away from the beauty in front of me, I shake my head. Regardless of the depressing topic, my mood doesn’t dip. How could it when Adeline is smiling warmly at my little girl and pointing out every kind of cookie so she can pick which one she wants?
“But she’s been served?”
That question hits me, sobering my mood. “No. She’s working hard to avoid the sheriff.”
His jaw flexes. “You never should have married that woman.”
The familiar defense flares in my chest. My father and I fought a lot when I told him I was marrying Tabitha.
Just because you had a baby together doesn’t mean you have to marry her. You don’t love her. What are you thinking? She was a puck bunny. She is going to ruin your life.
He was right. About all of it.
My shoulders deflate. “I know.”
My father’s blue eyes, the same exact icy shade as mine, widen.
I’ve never admitted as much. Through all these years, all her affairs, all the misery she put us through, I’ve always told him to mind his own business. That I had it handled.
Truth is, I never wanted to touch Tabitha. I gave her free rein, permission to do whatever the fuck she wanted so long as she was a good mother to Avery. I told her when I proposed that I was doing it for Avery.
I wasn’t the good guy. I didn’t give a relationship with her a shot. I was still in love with Adeline. Of course I was. I still am.
But I was hurt after finding Dirk in her room and I couldn’t find my way past the pain, instead becoming destructive. Marrying a woman I despised in a huge wedding that Adeline couldn’t avoid hearing all about or seeing pictures of all over the internet.
I was cruel. I deserve everything that has happened to me. But Avery doesn’t.
“We’ll get her served.” Dad squeezes my shoulder. “Have I told you how proud I am of how you’ve handled all of this? What a good father you are?”
Throat tightening, I force out a jerky response. “Learned from the best.”
He pulls me into his chest, hugging me tight. “Love you, son.”
I wrap my arms around him, and for a moment, I allow myself to take the comfort I need from the strongest man I know. “I love you too, Dad.”
“They’re taking the field,” Hope squeals.
Releasing me, Dad pats my shoulder, then the two of us head over to the glass. Uncle Cash and Beckett are standing side by side, watching as Tennessee’s players rush the field.
And keeping with the schtick my cousin is famous for, he runs out wearing a cowboy hat.
The crowd cheers wildly. Even though Theo plays for the opposing team, the people of Boston still consider him one of their own. He’s like a damn celebrity everywhere he goes. Everyone loves Theo James.
When he gets to the sidelines, he takes off his hat and snags the helmet a member of the staff holds out to him.
“He going to do that in Boston too?” Beckett asks.
“I don’t think you’ll get him to stop that.”
Beckett laughs. “Nah, and the crowd likes it. I think they’ll be even happier when he’s playing for the home team.”
I frown, looking from one man to the other.
“Theo’s being traded to Boston?” I scan the Boston sidelines.
In most professional sports, New England teams dominate, but that’s not true when it comes to football.
They’re awful. I can’t imagine my cousin wanting to come here, even if it meant coming home.
“Not exactly,” Uncle Cash says with a grin.
Beckett eyes me, distrust still swimming there. “I made a bid for the team.”
I suck in a breath. “You’re buying a football team?”
My dad nudges me, a silent reminder of who I’m talking to. He’s one of the most powerful men in Boston and he’s one of my dad’s closest friends, but more than that, he’s Adeline’s father. If there was ever a person I should act respectfully toward, it’s him. I swallow. “I mean, good for you.”
Smirking, he surveys the field. “I’ve never been a huge fan of the sport, but considering all of Brooks’s sons play, I figure we should build them a team. Ya know, family tradition.”
My dad nods like it makes perfect sense. Like buying a football team for his nephews is like buying them a car. No big deal. Perfectly sensible.
“And Theo is part of that deal?” I ask.
Uncle Cash beams. “It’ll be good to have both my kids back in New England. Grace is ecstatic.”
“It’s not a done deal,” Beckett reminds him.
But I know Beckett. If he wants it, he’ll make happen.
On the sideline, Theo looks up and waves.
I’ve got to admit, it will be nice to have him home for good.
By halftime, Tennessee is up twenty-one to nothing.
Theo is having a blast doing all sorts of trick plays that are completely unnecessary, considering how weak Boston’s defensive line is, but he even ran in one touchdown himself, then threw to his running back, only to rush to the endzone to catch the second touchdown.
“He’s such a showoff,” Hope says to Savannah and Adeline.
“Eh, he’s having a good time.” Adeline smiles down at the field. “There’s nothing better than doing the thing you love and doing it well. Especially when your family is around to watch.”
Savannah beams. “Well, you would know.”
“I can’t wait to watch you again,” Hope says.
Head snapping up, I frown at my cousin. “Huh?”
“We’ll have to update the readers of the column this week. They’re going to be so excited when they find out the girl looking for love is the first female goalie in the NHL,” Savannah squeals.
“What’s she talking about?” I say to Adeline.
With apology in her eyes, she takes a step toward me. “I wanted to tell you myself, but Aunt Sara has a big mouth and announced it to the girls five minutes ago.”
My heart stumbles a little. “Announced what?”
Those brown eyes of hers are full of caution when she murmurs, “I’m not going to be your coach anymore.”
My lungs seize up. “No. You aren’t fucking quitting because that asshole is coming to play. I’ll fucking quit before that happens.”
Inhaling sharply, she shakes her head. “No. Dirk—no. I’m not going to be coaching because I’m taking Sidney’s spot on the team.”
“What?”
Her lips twitch, the first sign of true excitement from her. That flicker of competition that used to flare between us. “Yup, so you better watch out, Hanson. Competition’s back.”
True joy rocks through me. I wrap my arms around her and spin, reveling in her squealed laughter. When I set her down, it’s impossible to release her. So with my hands on her hips, I stare into those gorgeous brown eyes. “It was never a competition, Adeline.”
She laughs. “Oh. Because you’re the best?”
“No, because you are,” I say without hesitation. “Welcome to the team, baby. We are so goddamn lucky to have you.”
Blushing, she averts her gaze. “Thank you.”
The click of a camera cuts through the moment, and the two of us turn.
Savannah’s phone is aimed in our direction and she’s grinning at the screen.
“What are you doing?” Adeline asks, squinting at her friend.
With an innocent shrug, Savannah pockets her phone. “So you’re still on for your date with Scott tomorrow, right? This won’t change that?”
The this she’s speaking of could be the way I’m currently holding Adeline. Or maybe it’s her new position on the team.
But then my mind catches up to the other part of her statement. Date. She’s going on another date with Scott?
My body goes taut. “Date?”
Adeline stumbles back, breaking contact, and forces an awkward smile. “Uh, yeah. Date number two.”
I don’t fight her on it. In fact, I keep my mouth shut completely. Because even if she has a date with someone else tomorrow night, things are looking up. She’s no longer my coach. That means there’s one less issue keeping us from being together.