Chapter 47
Forty-Seven
MALAKI
With the schedule of the game and different time zones, we won’t be back in Chicago until tomorrow, which is unfortunate because all I want to do is celebrate the win with Reese and Charleigh. Zoe can tag along too, I guess.
She doesn’t scare me anymore, but I most definitely won’t cross her.
I may get her a new baseball bat for Christmas, though, just to be funny.
I spot Rhodes walking ahead of me and jog up next to him. I know he’s one of the only ones who probably listened when Coach was talking so I ask, “When does the flight leave?”
“Supposed to take off at nine.” He stares at his phone. “There’s a storm coming, though, so it may be delayed.”
Mother Nature, don’t fuck with me.
I sigh annoyingly and sling my bag over my shoulder.
Rhodes chuckles.
“What?”
“Oh nothing.”
I keep up my pace beside him. “No, tell me. What is so amusing to the grumpiest man on the team?”
He scoffs. “I’m not the grumpiest on the team—not anymore, at least.”
“True. Not after a Little Miss Sunshine walked into your life,” I say.
He rolls his eyes, but he doesn’t argue. He, along with everyone from here to Chicago, knows it’s true.
“It’s just funny to see you so cagey after a game for once. Mr. Never Settling Down is itching to get back to his girl.”
“Girls,” I correct him. “I’m eager to get back to my girls.”
Rhodes shakes his head, but he can’t hide his smirk. He gets it, which is exactly why I nudge him with my elbow and say, “Guess what?”
“I’m not guessing.”
Fair.
“Charleigh called me Dada.”
Even hours later, I can’t stop smiling.
I’ll admit, when I first found out the woman I was lusting over was a mom, I was shocked. The thought of heading out the door was there, but I’m not one to back down from a challenge or help a gal out when she needs it, especially Reese.
So I willingly took charge and accepted my new position as her fake fiancée.
Now look at me.
I’m so high on life that I’m walking on clouds.
Rhodes stops beside me, and there’s almost a smile on his face. “Did she?”
I nod. “Yeah, just before the game.”
We continue walking, a few of our teammates squeezing past. “How does Reese feel about that? Has she been trying to get her to say that?”
I’m quick to defend her. “No, most definitely not. It started out as a joke because of her sister…” I shrug. “But it kind of stuck, and now I don’t ever want to unhear it.”
“And her biological dad? What is he going to say when he hears his daughter call you Dad instead of him?”
Anger surfaces. “He’d have to be around for that to happen.”
“So he’s given up on Reese? The whole fake-engagement worked, then?” He looks surprised.
I wince. “Not exactly.”
“Well, did you get a hold of Mel? Did he have any contacts for a private investigator?”
Mel, an old-time friend of Rhodes who I knew carried out the background checks on his nannies, did give me a contact for a freelance PI he’d met while working cybersecurity. He just hasn’t found any dirt on Benedict.
I wait until Lars buries himself in his phone to answer Rhodes, because the less people that know, the better.
“He did, but so far, Mark hasn’t found anything useful. Her ex has been eerily quiet since the mediation.”
“Snakes are quiet,” Rhodes mutters. “He’s going to strike.”
He doesn’t have to remind me. It’s been on my mind since the beginning.
Men like Benedict don’t give up easily, and if they’re so willing to point out all the bad in someone else, then that tells me they have their own skeletons.
I’m going to find every last one and put them in my back pocket to use at the right time.
Dread keeps me planted in the same spot. I stare at the screen hanging in the middle of the lobby. Delayed due to inclement weather.
“This is bullshit,” Kane curses.
“Fuck Mother Nature,” I mutter.
Lars pushes his head in between ours. “Will you two stop being babies? It’s just a little rain. It’ll pass.”
“It delayed the flight,” Kane snaps.
Lars wraps his arm around my shoulder but thinks twice before doing the same to Kane. “More reason for us to get a drink.”
I shrug his arm off and pull out my phone to call Reese. It’s early, but with Charleigh, I’m positive she’s awake.
“Hello?” she sounds out of breath, like she’s rushing around.
“Hey,” I say. “You good? Charleigh got you chasing her or something?”
“Um, no…”
I walk around the corner for privacy.
Her voice is off.
“Is everything okay? I was calling to let you know that our flight got delayed because of the storms. Do you know where the flashlights are in case the power goes out?”
The other end of the line is quiet.
“Dimples? If you tell me that Charleigh is in the ER again…”
“No!” she exclaims. “She’s fine. She’s with Zoe.”
I do the quick math again, just to make sure I have the time right. “It’s seven-thirty in the morning. Where are you going this early?”
“I’m on my way to the courthouse, Malaki.”
My bag slides off my shoulder and lands on the floor with a thud. “What?”
Her shaky breaths echo through the phone, and I swear I can feel them against my skin. “Benedict found out about Charleigh falling. He filed an emergency motion yesterday, and I was just told about it an hour ago.”
Anger claws at my neck. “For what?”
“Neglect and abuse.”
I clench my eyes shut and pinch the bridge of my nose so hard water pricks at the sides.
“I don’t even have a lawyer yet,” her voice breaks.
“How can they do this?” Panic rushes through my veins, but I keep it under wraps with her on the phone.
She sniffles. “I don't know, but I have to go. I can’t get worked up any more than I already am.”
“Don’t worry, Reese.” I’m already coming up with a plan to get home. “I’m on my way.”
We both hang up without another word, and I jog over to Coach. He stares at me over the brim of his to-go coffee cup. “I can’t control the weather, Young. I already told Barlow that.”
“I have to get home.”
He surveys my face and apparently comes to the realization that I’m not messing around, like usual. “No matter the airline, the flight will still be delayed.”
“Then I’ll fly into a different city and drive the rest of the fucking way,” I argue.
Rhodes catches my eye and walks over. “What’s going on?”
I say one word. “Benedict.”
Rhodes turns to Coach. “It’s an emergency. I’ll go with him if that’s the issue.”
He sighs exasperatedly. “Fine. Let me see what I can do to get you home sooner.”
He turns and pulls out his phone.
If he doesn’t find a way, then I will.
One way or another, I’m getting back to Chicago.