Chapter 23
Griffin
“Come again?”
Leaning toward the beautiful brunette, I angle my head to place my ear in direct hearing distance. Squeezing my eyes shut to clear the haze that’s come over them, I take a deep breath. I heard Cricket perfectly fine, but my body wasn’t ready. I wasn’t ready. Now I am.
As if she’s been holding her breath, she exhales. “Jacob is your son.” Throwing her hands in front of her, she adds, “So to answer your question, his father is now in his life.”
“As the naked man sneaking from his mom’s window?
Great first impression.” I walk into the living room, needing room to think.
Her steps sound against the floor before promptly stopping at the threshold.
Is she worried about me? I don’t know how to comfort her and process this information at the same time.
With my back to her, I stare out the front window, watching a truck with a bed full of white chairs drive by. The wedding . . . I really fucking wish this didn’t come out when we are being torn for her attention.
Locking my fingers on top of my head, I turn back, and say, “I would have preferred meeting him at birth instead of in the yard at three years old.”
“I would have preferred that, too, but it’s not how it’s happening. We’re here now. Tell me what you’re thinking.”
I can see the way she’s lodged behind the far side of the island as if she needs the protection, or maybe she needs some distance of her own. “I don’t know what to think.” I drop my arms to my sides and glance toward the front door like Jacob might return any minute. “Where is he?”
“The park is an area of the property that only the family has access to, behind a metal gate with a keypad. He’s safe.”
“I’m not worried about his safety. I’m worried when I’ll get to meet my son.”
“Well, that’s not going to happen right now.
” She moves around, running her fingers over the stone counter and stopping just before reaching the edge.
“No.” She shakes her head like I’ve crossed some invisible line she’s drawn.
Staring at me, she snaps, “I need to talk to him first. He’s three.
He won’t understand some guy just walking in and claiming to be his father.
” Her irritation grows before my eyes as she finally leaves the border of the kitchen and comes to stand a few feet in front of me.
Waving her hand between us, she tries to level me with a glare.
“We’re not just hard launching you as his father to a three-year-old and all of Dover Creek.
You and I need to figure out a few things first.”
“Dover Creek isn’t a concern of mine. I’m not from around here. Remember?” The question seems to strike, causing her head to jut back. Pointing at where I assume is the park buried somewhere on this property, I say, “Jacob is.”
“If Jacob’s your concern, then we need to work together to make this a smooth transition for him.”
“He’s not changing schools his senior year. He’s meeting the father that he should have had all along.”
Crossing her arms over her chest, she says, “I don’t like your tone.”
“I don’t like this whole fucking situation, but I’m doing the best I can under the circumstances.
” I close my eyes to gather my scattered thoughts, so I can get better control of my reaction.
“I know you better than the thoughts that are trying to seize the opportunity. You wouldn’t have told me if you didn’t want me to be in his life. ” Her mouth drops open.
“Is that being used against me?”
There’s no way I’m telling a woman to calm down when I wasn’t calm myself.
“No. Not at all.” I take a breath and even my tone.
“We both agree that this is not ideal, but this is the hand we’ve been dealt.
I want to meet him. That doesn’t mean I’m going to blurt out that I’m his dad.
I want what’s best for him, Cricket. Considering his age, this might be a slow process—”
“That sounds like you plan to be in his life. Does that mean you’re sticking around? Because if you’re not—”
“I’ll stick around.”
“You didn’t have an answer for me the other day.”
We’re standing here like two strangers arguing over the last bagel at the coffee shop.
“Now I do.” I move closer, take each step with caution, not because I fear her reactions.
I don’t want her to fear mine. “We’re on the same side just like we were an hour ago.
I promise that I don’t want to hurt Jacob, but I won’t hurt you either.
” When I get close enough to reach out and touch her, I say, “I didn’t get a chance to tell you how much I enjoyed last night. How much it meant to me.”
Her arms fall to her sides, and the wall that was hiding the electric green of her eyes from me slowly lowers.
She shifts, glancing down at the floor and exhales sharply.
When she looks at me, I get a semblance of a grin, but I’m not going to argue about it.
I’ll take anything she’s willing to give.
“It meant a lot to me, too, Griffin. I’m sorry that this has spiraled out of control. ”
“Life came at us fast, huh?”
“That’s what I get for taking my eye off the ball.”
I smirk but keep it restrained out of respect. “Using baseball analogies now?”
“Tennis,” she snarks, twisting her lips to try to hide the smile that bounds forth right after.
With a shrug, I reply, “I’ll give it to ya.”
Her stance relaxes through her shoulders and hips, and the smile doesn’t wash away, but it does soften. “All this trouble because I thought a wild and nameless night was a good idea.” A laugh follows, but it’s filled with the sound of regret more than humor.
“Hey,” I say, reaching over to tap her hand before pulling back.
“It was a good idea if it meant I got to meet you not only once but twice because of it.” I raise my left arm just off my side.
“And we have a son.” The words hit harder this time, like they’re finally sinking in.
I exhale slowly, but that doesn’t alleviate the emotions wanting to consume the rest of me, just as they have my heart.
“A son.” I drop my head into my hand, feeling the weight of the words.
The responsibility. The connection I have to him by blood. My blood. My mom’s grandson. Fuck . . .
Cricket wraps her arms around me and kisses my head. “It’s okay.” She laughs gently. “I felt the same. It’s amazing and shocking all at once.” When I lift to look at her, she says, “And the best thing that ever happened to me.”
My chest is so tight, the hold this kid already has on my heart feels immeasurable. How is that possible when I don’t even know if he’ll like me. “What if he doesn’t want me in his life?”
Her smile is soft at the corners, but there’s a confidence in her eyes. “Jacob’s going to love you so much. What’s not to love about a dad who plays your favorite sport?”
I want to chuckle, but she’s probably not that far off. “I can get this kid to the majors.”
“We’ll focus on kindergarten first.” She gives me a wink. It’s playful in nature but comforts me in a way she’s not even aware. The tightness in my chest loosens under her gaze and the warmth of her proximity.
“Kindergarten? That’s a year late to be starting Little League.
” He had a solid grip on that hobby horse.
All he needs to do is turn it sideways, and he’ll be hitting homers in no time.
Well, in about fifteen years. Twelve if we work on it.
“I’m starting him on T-ball as soon as possible. When’s his birthday?”
She slow blinks at me, already knowing I’m up to no good. “His birthday is May third.”
“Perfect. He’ll be four before the Little League deadline at the end of August.”
“Oh lordy.” She rolls her eyes and plops in a chair in front of me. “I think you should meet him first.”
I sit on the edge of the couch closest to her. Reaching forward, I cover her knee with my hand. Her skin is as warm as her gaze when she looks at me. There’s no fear and no anger. All I see are her beautiful greens with trust lying inside. “I want to tell you something.”
“Okay,” she says with a hint of nerves in her voice. “What is it?”
“I think you’re amazing.” Her smile returns, and even a glimpse of what I would have typically considered charmed, but I know that doesn’t fit. I’m just not sure how to read her eyes when they look a lot like they did last night at Whiskey’s.
She covers my hand with hers. “Why is that?”
“The gravity of what you’ve done, raising our son and keeping him safe.
” I smirk, though I try not to be an asshole about it.
“Teaching him baseball. Thank you.” Tears swarm in the inside corners of her eyes, and this time, she drops her head down as if she’s too shy to cry in front of me.
Moving in, I kneel in front of her and take this incredible woman in my arms. “I wish I could have been there, but since I couldn’t, I’m glad he has you as a mom. ”
As a sob racks her body, I take her into my arms to hold her, console her, or whatever she needs from me.
Her tears fall against my neck while I rub her back.
Kissing the side of her head doesn’t stop her emotions from coming, but when she leans against me, I know it was the right thing to do.
I lift her into my arms and situate her on my lap.
Her long hair flows over my shoulder and down the other side of her face.
Tucking the strands behind her ear, I get to see this stunning woman I’m in total awe of.
As if she could be more beautiful, her eyes are as captivating as she is. I lean down and kiss her on the cheek. “I have to tell you something, Griffin.”
Those simple words shouldn’t cause my heart to stop like they did, but they do. Her lashes are wet from crying, her lips licked as she stares up at me. She slowly pushes up and angles to fully face me, making me think I need to brace for bad news.
“I didn’t,” she says, her voice low as she looks nervously at me. “I didn’t teach him baseball.”
“What?”
“He inherited his interest in it.” She steals a kiss, then leans back again with the sweetest smile on her face. God, it’s good to see. “And he’s oddly good for a three-year-old whose mom never played the sport a day in her life.”
She didn’t have to say anything to make me feel better about the downsides of this situation. And sure, him showing a natural inclination toward baseball doesn’t make up for me missing his birth. But it sure as fuck gets close.
I burst into a chuckle that feels a lot like a weight has been lifted from my shoulders.
“That’s okay,” I say, running my hand over her shoulder and higher to her neck just to settle on the delicate curve of it.
“He’s got his mom’s vocal range. Did you hear how loud he was when she was carrying him away? ”
She whacks my arm, but it’s all in good fun.
“You’re the worst, you know that, Greene?
” Greene. Hearing her call me that through feist and fun has me realizing we’re getting back on track the way we should be.
It was a quick detour on a bumpy side road, but we’re going to make it through this together.
Cricket tries to get up, but I hold her right where she is.
“Come on, Little Chirp, don’t be mad. I’m just playing.
” I lean in to kiss her just below the ear, but then whisper, “Kind of.” She punches my arm harder this time, still holding back like she could actually hurt me.
I bring her back onto my chest until she’s fully trapped in my arms. She wriggles but gives up the fight a little too easily.
I think she likes where she’s at. I sure do.
“He also has your fight. And that’s something you should be proud of. ”
Her smile gives her away. “Those Greene genes are mighty strong, though.” Leaning down to kiss me, she brushes her lips against mine, and says, “What a lucky kid.” Our lips press together as if waiting even a second longer was too hard to bear.
It was for me. This time when she sits up on my lap, she runs the tips of her fingers along my temple, then lower over my cheek.
“Do you want to go to the park to meet him?”
I answer straight from the heart. “Yes.”