30. Sam
Sam
I t had taken every bit of strength to turn down Kelsey’s invitation last night, and while he’d jerked off twice thinking about her, it didn’t come close to satisfying the need to be with her.
I had already asked Monica to request adjoining suites for Kelsey and me, as well as a separate room for her father.
Having him in a separate room would give us privacy so she could sleep wherever she pleased, my suite or hers.
I hoped she picked mine, but I didn’t want to back her into a corner.
Monica: How much longer do you expect to need separate suites?
Me: Hopefully, this is the last time.
Monica: Good, I like her. You should keep her around.
Monica had been around long enough to be comfortable giving her opinion on these issues.
She also had never once booked travel for anyone but me.
Judging by the lingerie she had purchased for Kelsey in Minnesota, she planned to play matchmaker from a distance.
Assistant and wingwoman Monica did it all.
Me: We also need reservations for dinner on Saturday. We’ll be meeting my father and grandfather.
Monica: Got it, someplace to impress your father.
Me: That is private enough where he can’t make a scene.
Monica: On it!
Me: Thank you.
I had thought about asking Monica to send Kelsey some flowers but decided it was something I should do myself.
As a kid, I watched as my mother was hurt when she realized she had only received an anniversary gift because an assistant had followed up on a note on the calendar.
Mom would be in the city this weekend, too, and if all went well, she could meet us for Sunday brunch.
I dialed her number; she always preferred a call over a text.
“Sammy, nice to hear from you.”
“Madre, you are the only one who could get away with calling me Sammy,” I cringed as she used my childhood nickname.
“I don’t want to hear it. I want an explanation of why I have to see you and this woman on Page Six before you tell me about her.
” Ugh. I knew I should have warned her. My mother, in particular, understood how committed I was to privacy; if I were seen out with someone, it meant they were important to me.
“It’s very new. That was our first date. And if there were something to tell, you would be the first to know. We’re still figuring things out.”
“And?”
“She’ll be in New York with me this weekend. We have dinner with Dad and Gramps on Saturday. I was hoping to meet you for brunch on Sunday.”
“Oh God, does she know what could happen with your father? I can’t believe you’re already exposing her to this.”
“I’ve warned her. But Mom, she has a baby. He’ll be with us.”
“A baby? Or a child?” She asked to clarify.
“He’s four months old.”
“Oh.” She paused and then spoke again, “You know what you’re getting into?”
“Does anyone?”
“No, but I remember how torn up you were when you lost your stepsiblings. This will hurt him more, especially since he’s so young.
If you’re together for any significant period, you’ll have a hand in raising him.
That’s not something to take lightly. You can’t just walk away from a kid once they’re attached to you, or you to them. ”
I explained that his father wasn’t in the picture, and rather than setting her mind at ease, she was even more anxious.
“What if he comes back? At any time, another man can stake a claim to this child. It would push you to second place. Sammy, you’ve always been the one I’ve worried about. You jump in with everything you’ve got.”
“I can’t say I’ve thought through all scenarios, but I’m not afraid to put my neck out there.”
“Well, I’m looking forward to meeting her, but my job as your mother is to look out for you.” Mom had proven her commitment to me time and time again .
“I’ll have Monica send you the information for brunch, and if you decide you want to go to the game, let me know, and I’ll have tickets for you.”
I didn’t expect my mother to accept the tickets.
She had spent years getting over the hurt from my father.
Returning to the stadium would be yet another reminder of how much she had lost to him.
She pretended to be over it, but I sensed that my father had mortally wounded her.
Even after all these years, she would have allowed him to hurt her again.
Had it not been for me and Josie, they might have stayed together, eventually destroying each other.
We hung up the phone, and I spent the rest of the morning working out.
I also let Gramps know I’d invited someone important to me for dinner on Saturday and asked him to help if Dad got out of control.
My father barely listened to his father, but having someone call him out if he acted outrageously would have been helpful.
Gramps was smart enough to know I wouldn’t invite just anyone to dinner with Dad and would never let anyone walk into this situation blindly.
About midday, Kelsey sent me a photo of herself in the lingerie she had worn last weekend. Blood rushed to my dick, and holy fuck, she looked hot. I quickly saved the image to my private, password-protected photos. Well, photo. This was the first and only picture I’d been tempted to save.
Kelsey: I was thinking about wearing this Monday…
Me: Then I’d be arrested for intentionally hitting fans with my pitches anytime they dared to look at you.
Kelsey: I meant under my jeans and T-shirt.
Me: Then I’d be dragging you home with me after the game…
Kelsey: Crew…
Me: Not a problem. His bassinet from Minnesota? I own it. It’s a long story, but he has a bed at my place.
It took about forty-five minutes for her to respond, and I thought I’d overstepped. But maybe she’d gone for a run?
Kelsey: Okay. I’ll go back with you, only if you bring me home, caveman style.
Me: Did you think about that while you were running?
Kelsey: How’d you know?
Me: Just a guess.
I’d learned that when Kelsey was silent, it was best to give her space, even if I was dying to know the answer. If this were to go anywhere, I suspected I would be frequently testing every ounce of patience I had.
Me: Thanks for trusting me.
Kelsey: Don’t make me regret it.