Chapter 30
Chapter Thirty
Penelope
I prepare myself to be one of the last people to leave since my dad is always in the media room after the players.
Hayes comes out and scoops up Leighton and the kids, promising pizza and ice cream.
Hazel and Monroe hug goodbye, and it feels like a gut punch when Hazel looks longingly at her friend as they leave, but I need her tonight.
There’s no way I’m going into Decker’s personal space without a sure-fire way of knowing I will not end up in his bed.
Of course, that would mean he can set aside the past and actually make a move. Then again, do I even want him to make a move? The war in my head never goes away.
Foster comes into the family room next, going right to Callie. “Ellis is already gone?”
“You look at me like I’m a consolation prize,” Callie says.
“You’re the golden ticket, baby.” He dips her as if he just returned from war and kisses her so hard and passionately, I’m thankful that Hazel is distracted at the dry erase board, trying to master drawing a tree.
“Okay, I guess I was wrong. Take me home.”
“Every night for the rest of my life.” Foster puts his arm around her shoulders, guiding her out.
“Smooth line.”
“I’m reading this book.” They both laugh but stop right before they pass me. Foster looks at me, and surprisingly, it isn’t weird at all. When I look at Foster, I only think about him with Callie. “He’ll be out in a second. He was right behind me.”
“Okay. Have a good night, you two.”
Callie puts her hand on his chest. “Oh… we will.”
Foster kisses her temple. “I’m so fucking happy we live next door. I wouldn’t have the willpower to wait an entire Uber drive.”
They leave, and I can’t say I’m not jealous.
Easton dips his head in. “See you, Pen and Hazel. I’m the lone wolf once again.”
I wave and tell him good game.
I’m unsure how often Decker goes out with Easton, and I try not to think about it too much. He has a life and has every right to be at those clubs, picking up women. Which means Hazel and I will keep it brief at his house so he can carry on with his night.
A minute later, Decker walks into the room with damp hair, wearing a pair of jeans and a T-shirt that’s snug around his shoulders.
“Decker!” Hazel turns around the minute he walks in.
Does she smell his cologne too?
“Hazel, what did you think? Good game?” He gets down on his haunches to talk to her.
“Great game. How is your back? Monroe yelled at the pitcher and said he was a bully.” She giggles, covering her mouth with her hand.
“Not gonna lie, it’s sore. Probably have a big bruise. So, what do you want to eat?” Decker asks. “We can order it to my place.”
“I thought you were going to be my dad,” I say. “Foster said he was coming right out.”
Decker looks over his shoulder, seeming a little confused. “He’s still in media.”
“Oh, I…” There’s no way Foster would assume I was waiting for Decker, would he? Unless Decker told him that we were leaving with him tonight. Though I’m not sure he’d ever have that conversation with Foster. “Do you mind waiting? Hazel likes to tell him good game.”
“Not at all.” He straightens, then sits down and extends his legs out on the ottoman. “Guess what I scored from the dugout, Hazel?” He pulls out two pieces of gum for her.
She squeals and runs over, plucking one out of his hand.
“Sorry, do you mind?” He cringes and looks at me.
I shake my head, trying to pretend that I’m not slipping a little further into the fantasy of him being a part of our lives.
Hazel unwraps one piece of gum and chews it.
Decker pops the other piece of gum into his mouth. “Can you blow a bubble?”
She shakes her head.
“Okay, chew it until there are no hard pieces.”
Hazel does, her jaw working so hard I fear it might lock.
“Good and soft?” Decker arches a dark eyebrow.
She nods, continuing to chew.
“Now, slide your tongue through it just a little. Just the tip, then push a little further, stretching it. It might be hard at first, but it’ll come.”
I try not to take his words as innuendo with my daughter standing here in front of me, but it’s hard.
Hazel tries to do what he says, and her tongue pokes through the gum.
Decker laughs. “Okay, watch me.” He opens his mouth as wide as he can while he works his tongue through the gum.
Am I being tortured right now?
I cross my legs and try to turn away, but willpower is in short supply lately, so I end up watching him expertly use his tongue to get the gum into a thin film. Then he lets air in bit by bit. The gum turns into a bubble and pops.
Who knew you could be insanely jealous of a piece of gum?
“Now you try.” He watches her, and she fails three more times before she gets the tiniest bubble that pops immediately. “You’re getting there. Awesome job, Hazel. The more you do it, the easier it will get. But you picked that up so fast.”
She concentrates on the goal, and we watch her for a minute before ultimately giving her some space to master it on her own.
Decker still blows another bubble, and I’m stuck slyly watching his tongue. Maybe I’m going through early menopause because a hot flash has me wanting to fan my body.
Dad walks in, his hand overflowing with gum. “Who wants Portillo’s?”
“Grandpa!” Hazel runs over to him and gives him a hug. “Watch.” She tries again, and this time the bubble is a little bigger.
“Whoa, you can blow bubbles now?”
She points at Decker. “Decker taught me.”
My dad’s gaze lifts and shifts to me.
“Good thing I have all these for us to practice tonight.” He holds out his hand, and Hazel’s eyes widen.
“She’s with me tonight,” I say.
“Please, I’m missing everything. She knows how to blow bubbles now? And how is your hula hoop thing going?”
“Great. I can do it around my neck.” Hazel is proud as punch, and it makes me so happy to see her confidence grow.
Dad’s face lights up. Let’s be honest, Hazel could say she ate one pea on her plate, and my dad would give her a high five. “See, I’m missing everything. How about a sleepover?”
I step over to them. “Oh no, not tonight.”
Dad picks up Hazel, and I just know he’s going to walk out of this room with her before I can stop him.
“Please, Mommy,” Hazel begs.
“We’re supposed to go to Decker’s to do seating arrangements for the VIP Night.” I stand tall as if that’s going to make a difference to my dad.
“No seven-year-old wants to talk about seating arrangements. Right?”
Hazel nods. “I want Portillo’s.”
“I’ll take you,” I say, stepping closer.
My dad glances at Decker, who isn’t saying anything, behind me. “Come on, slugger, you’re going to deny me time with my granddaughter?”
“Oh… slugger,” Decker mumbles behind me.
My shoulders deflate. The truth is, Hazel hasn’t had much time with my dad lately. During the season, it’s hard. He plays the guilt card, and I’ll fold every time.
“Fine. I’ll be by to pick her up in the morning.”
Dad lifts his one hand, and Hazel slaps it.
I shake my head at them.
A shoulder rubs along mine, and I glance to my right to see Decker there.
I groan and go give her a hug and a kiss on the cheek. And then my dad. “Congrats on the game.”
There’s something wicked in his smile. “Thanks. You two have fun tonight, and no rush in the morning. I’m taking her to the pancake place.”
“Yay!”
“Bye, Deck.” My dad waves as Hazel skips toward the door.
“Bye, Decker. Thanks for the gum.”
“Keep practicing,” Decker says, but my dad is already halfway out the door.
“Pretty soon he’ll be the one searching every gift shop for your stuffed animals,” Dad says, and I can’t tell if he sounds upset or not.
“I guess that just leaves us.”
I circle around and hold my hands together in front of me. “I’ll be super fast so you can go join Easton.”
Decker tips his head. “Why would I do that?”
“I know he went out, and I’m sure you prefer to be out with him. I don’t think this will take long.”
He picks up his bag from the floor. “Not sure if you know this, but Easton doesn’t share.”
“Excuse me?” I swing my purse over my shoulder and fall into step with him.
“Easton is having a woman over tonight, and I’m pretty sure he doesn’t want me joining him.”
My face heats. “Oh, I assumed he was going to a club.”
Decker laughs, and we leave the family room to enter the hallway. “Sorry to disappoint you, but I’m free the entire night.”
I take a chance and look over at him. “It’s not a disappointment.”
He smiles in a way that makes my stomach flip. “You just made my day.”
I shake my head. “You went three for four today and made that play in the fourth that prevented any runs from getting in.”
“Come on, Pen, you know…”
“What?”
He pushes open the door, and we’re on the streets of Chicago. Fans are still sprinkled around the area, going in and out of the bars.
“It doesn’t even compare to an evening with you.”
Tonight is going to challenge me in ways I’m not prepared for.