Chapter 46
Chapter Forty-Six
Decker
“Hey, daddy of the year?”
I turn around after getting the cookie that Hazel told me to take.
I think she really wants to get mine since Penelope told her she’s only allowed one because they’re so big.
At some point I might have to stop being the fun uncle type and be on the same side as Penelope.
But tonight is not that night. It’s a night to celebrate.
“Tedi.” I hug her, unable to get my arms fully around her because of her swollen belly.
“So… the manager’s daughter?” Her dark eyebrows shoot up to her hairline, and she runs her hand over her stomach.
“I don’t know what you’re talking about.” I put the cookie in a napkin and hold it. “Congrats. I saw your announcement online.”
“God, you’re even blushing.” She ignores me and pushes me with her hand.
I lose my balance for a second because I forgot what Tedi was like.
She’s the older sister of my two best friends back in Philly.
A few years ago, she bribed me into having a fake relationship with her to help keep her away from her ex-boyfriend, and now husband, Tweetie.
“Where’s the kid?” I ask, changing the subject.
“The kid? You mean Addison?” She points to the corner of the room where Tweetie has Addison propped up on the ledge of a window and is feeding her a cookie.
“All the Falcons are here?”
“Yeah. You’re stuck with us. This was technically our school first.”
“I don’t know about that. Leighton’s kids were coming here way before any of your kids.”
The Falcons and Colts rivalry to own this city will probably never die.
“Jade and Henry went here as kids. So sorry.” Her shoulders lift. “You lose.”
I catch sight of Penelope across the room, talking to Leighton and another mom. “I didn’t lose.”
“Oh my, you’re a goner already.” She leans in. “Is she the one? The one you were talking about that time we had donuts and hot chocolate?”
I nod.
“Ah, Deck.” She punches me in the chest. “I’m so happy for you. But the manager’s daughter.” She cringes. “Oh, hey!” She pulls her phone out of her back pocket and thumbs around before lifting it to show me something. “I’m a follower.”
She shows me that @HandsOffDeck Insta account that has made it their job to try to save my spot on the team. It’s truly a waste of their time, but I appreciate the sentiment.
“Thanks.”
“You’ll be fine. Want to take up hockey again?” She laughs, knowing I sucked at hockey as a kid when I played with her brothers. “Tweetie’s retiring this year.”
“I heard something about that.”
“This one is all his.” She runs her hands down her belly again. “And it’s a boy, so be on the lookout. I have a feeling he won’t be as guarded as my little girl.” She glances back and smiles.
The few times I’ve met Addison, she doesn’t seem like the hellion you might expect would come from Tweetie and Tedi. More cautious, like Hazel.
“Anyway.” She hugs me again. “Congrats on finally stepping out of your own way. Don’t be a stranger.” Then she walks away and shouts across the gym, “Babe, Decker’s here.”
Tweetie nods at me but doesn’t smile. Not sure he ever got over me pretending to be Tedi’s boyfriend to keep him at arm’s length.
“Thanks.” A hand grips my shoulder, and I look to my right, seeing Ripley.
“For what?”
“For making my granddaughter the best hula hooper in the world.”
I chuckle and stuff my hands in my pockets. I don’t like feeling as if I’m keeping things from Mark, but at the same time, if we tell him, it puts him in a bad position we don’t want to put him in. I’m probably not going to be a Colt next year, so we can hold off and tell him after the season ends.
“She’s a natural,” I say. “I didn’t see you come in.”
“I slid in the back. Chicago traffic.” The way he’s looking at me, I have to wonder if he’s telling the complete truth.
“Anyway, I gotta go and prepare for tomorrow. Keep this up, Deck, and you’ll be buying the stuffed animals at the airport gift shops soon, not me.
” He raises his eyebrows and claps me on the shoulder again before walking toward Hazel.
I watch him say goodbye, hug her, then Penelope. There’s no way he knows. He’s just suspicious.
“I say we just take them right here,” Easton says, as my three teammates huddle around me with juice cups and cookies in their hands.
What world have we morphed into?
“What are you talking about?” I frown.
“The Falcons. Do you see everyone eyeing them and trying to ask them questions? I mean, we’re the Colts. We’re just as good.”
“Technically, they have how many Cups, and how many series have we won?” I raise my eyebrows.
Foster and Hayes look at the Falcons in the corner of the room.
“Tweetie’s retiring,” I say. “We all have our golden years left and they’re retiring soon. They’ll start having more babies.”
“They’ve got the Chipmunks ready to take their places,” Foster says.
“I’m gonna have four by year’s end,” Hayes says, “That’s more than any of them.”
“Yeah, but that’s because you inherited three of them. You’ve got plenty of years left.” Easton sips his juice.
All the Falcons look over and wave, nodding at us.
“One day this city will be ours,” Foster says, stepping toward them.
“This could be our year,” Hayes chimes in, following Foster.
“Definitely, we’re gonna have a fucking parade.” Easton falls in line with me. “And you’re going to be on that fucking bus. With Penelope and Hazel and all of us. This is your town, Goldie, don’t forget it.”
I nod, unable to say anything past the lump forming in my throat. But the further we get into the season, the more I’m pretty sure my name is being scratched off the roster.
So I say nothing, and Easton doesn’t push me.
We huddle with the Falcons and their families. We complain about them all the time, but they’re a great team and even better guys. At least if we have to share a city, it’s with them.
Mid-conversation, Hazel comes over, and I slyly give her the cookie I’ve been holding. I watch her run over to Monroe, and they share it.
“What’s up with that, Decker?” Henry asks, pushing a stroller back and forth.
“That’s Penelope Riley’s daughter, Hazel,” I say.
“Yeah, I’ve heard about her. Bodhi told me she doesn’t have a dad in her life?”
I tilt my head.
“We’ll apologize ahead of time. Bodhi has a tendency to… interfere.” He smiles as though he’s telling me I’ve been interfered with.
“Did he do it again?” Conor asks, then laughs.
“For sure! He just gave her a cookie, and did you see him look like a proud daddy when she did her routine?” Henry laughs, and they all join in. “He’s never done it when it wasn’t meant to be though.” Henry pats me on the back. “If you want to thank him, he’s right over there.”
I glance in the opposite corner where a brown-haired boy stands with Lincoln and another boy, talking to Hazel and Monroe. They’re all staring at us.
Shit, did I get swindled by a bunch of grade schoolers?
Guess I should thank them.