Chapter 6 #2
“Daddy! Up here!” Addie shouts at the top of her lungs, arms waving high. One look at the field confirms my newfound suspicion. The same number plastered across a very wide, tall, and horribly muscular back is the same number neatly embroidered onto her hair bow.
#37—fucking flying fuck.
And there’s Addie’s dad, the same dark features I remember all too vividly taking up space in my patient care room, lifting his ball cap in greeting like he damn near belongs there.
It’s because he does. He’s a freaking player.
A player who I, undoubtedly, caught princess-curtsying to his daughter in sweatpants and a backward hat, all before questioning my qualifications like the next best Karen.
And now he’s back. As a goddamn professional baseball player, rubbing the hotness that is a ball cap on men in my face. Hat porn shouldn’t be so fetching, but it nearly takes me out every time. Especially, like now, as he sweeps back his thick hair before settling it down on his head.
Small hands pull me forcefully with the energy of her excitement. “Go, Daddy! Dr. Wilde is here!” Addie screams at the top of her lungs, and just when I think he couldn’t get any more attractive, a smile lights up his face as he takes in his daughter’s cheers.
I thought I was already a goner, but it’s as if Satan himself said, “not so fast, you little hussy,” and brought me back to life.
Val’s muffled “fuck” makes my skin tingle because I know she’s proud to be witnessing this with me.
And by this, I mean, Addie’s hot dad curtsying to his daughter before hundreds of fans and players.
His fans and his team players. And not one part of him is scared to show it.
I think I’d be just as easily influenced to make this little girl happy if she loved me the way Addie so clearly loves him.
Much different than before, he’s now in tight white baseball pants with seams likely screaming not to be torn from the amount of leg muscle on that giant man.
Holy hell. I was just lusting after Addie’s daddy without a clue it was actually him. A professional baseball player for the Strikers.
Have mercy. I have no business being here, let alone ogling him. The father of my new patient, whom I’m supposed to be helping work through a recent ADHD diagnosis, not subconsciously wondering if he needs a full-body exam. Hands-on, preferably, performed by me and only me.
I need to get out of here, and fast.
I’m also halfway confident he’s married. Only halfway.
Although I didn’t exactly look for a wedding ring, I know Addie’s mom is very much involved in her life, and from what I gathered at their appointment, Addie’s dad thinks very highly of her.
Yep. It was a bad idea to come here.
Before I can flee, he jogs to an older man close by, putting them ear to ear, before they both look our way. “Hi, Coach Tate!” Addie calls out, earning herself an animated wave.
“That’s Coach Tate,” Addie tells me. “He’s Coach Jack’s biggest helper.”
“Who’s Coach Jack?” I ask her, searching for any sign of him. Not that I’d know what to look for, anyway.
“He’s Coach Jack, silly willy. My third favorite uncle,” she laughs. It’s quite adorable for a girl as special as Addie to have so many people in her life who love her like this. I can tell Makers Park is her happy place, and we all deserve a place like that in life.
I could learn a thing or two from the little beauty.
“Oh. Here he comes,” Val shouts, her voice rising ten octaves. Before I have a chance to determine that for myself, he’s already halfway here, running full steam ahead in our direction. Addie abandons her slushie and darts toward her father’s arms.
“Shit,” I whisper to Val. “How do I greet him? I don’t even know his first na—”
“Crew Landon Briggs,” Val interjects, shoving the proof on her phone in my face. “Got it pulled up right here.”
And she’s not kidding. Crew’s player profile, biography, and even his net worth are available for the world to see.
“You’re going to make me look crazy,” I bite out, whispering loud enough so only she can hear. “I’m a professional.”
“Can’t say you look like it, Junip. Good luck believing that one.”
Oh. My. God. I almost forgot what I’m wearing. Or better yet, what I’m not wearing. Of course I picked today to wear the freaking shorts that show the bottom of my ass cheeks and buy the oversized tee. Serves me right for attempting to drum up some team spirit.
I figured I’d see Addie and her dad in passing since she invited me, but seeing him as a player changes things.
Because holy mother of pearl, he’s handsome.
Brown hair tousled in long-ish waves at the top of his head but cleaned up on the sides.
The long strands peek through the bottom of his ball cap, looking more attractive than ever.
His skin is a sun-kissed tan, even at the beginning of spring, with dark brows and a sharp jaw lined with scruff, only enhancing his masculine qualities.
Maybe with it being my first day of work when we met before, I blocked all forms of attraction from entering my brain, because surely I would have remembered him. This level of good-looking. Bright green eyes and a dimple in his cheek when he smiles.
I know this because he’s smiling at me right now. “Ah, if it isn’t the new doctor in town. She knew you’d show up,” Crew tells me, Addie’s small frame perched at his hip in a tight hold.
“And you didn’t?” I counter playfully.
He grins. “I hoped. Doodle has a habit of inviting strangers to my games, no matter how many times I tell her not everyone likes baseball.”
I glance down at my Strikers shirt and pinch the fabric outward. “I’d hardly call us strangers now. And I like baseball,” I say, only becoming a fan as of fifteen minutes ago. “I might as well be the Strikers’ biggest fan.”
Crew nods, his gaze drifting to my outfit ever so subtly. “I won’t argue with that. That makes two of you, then. Right, Doodle?”
Did he just check me out, or am I imagining things? And how dare he call his daughter the cutest nickname ever?
“I didn’t realize when Addie said you love baseball that she meant you loved it so much, you’d actually be the one playing.” I laugh, pointing a finger at the cutie on his hip.
Addie giggles while Crew explains himself. “To be honest, I thought to mention it, but didn’t think you’d actually come. Doesn’t seem like your kind of thing. Guess I was wrong.”
My kind of thing?
“Well, now I know.” I swivel my head around the ballpark, a slow smile working its way up my face. “This is fun. I haven’t been able to really experience Atlanta since moving here, so this is nice. Thank you for the invite.”
“Of course. It is opening day, after all. No better way to break you into the local Atlanta traditions than a fired-up home game.” He turns toward Addie and taps the tip of her nose.
“Dr. Wilde, can you please, please, please come meet my friends?” Addie rambles. “There’s Uncle Gus, Auntie TT, Uncle Cal, Uncle B, King Size, Auntie Kodi, Auntie Sailor, Unc—”
“I think that covers just about everyone, baby girl,” Crew interrupts. “Maybe sometime soon, okay? The game’s about to start.”
Addie wraps her arms around Crew’s neck and nuzzles against his cheek. The sound of the announcer projects across the park, and the crowd stands to cheer for Strikers Nation.
“Game time. Gotta go,” Crew rushes before setting Addie on her feet and nodding to Sergio to take over. With a quick kiss to her forehead and turning my way, he backs up and says, “Good to see ya, Doc. Enjoy the game.”
I smile softly and raise my fist in the air. “Score a big one.”
Score. A. Big. One.
Val bursts into hysterics, finally deciding to make herself known after surrendering to silence for the entirety of that conversation. “Score a big one? What an encouraging message you left him with. How ever will he recover from such charisma? Damn. You’d make a horrible good luck charm.”
I wait until Crew enters the dugout before shoving into my seat and attempting to hide my face. “Oh, shut up. Where were you the past ten minutes anyway? Conveniently in Lala Land? I don’t wanna hear your shit.”
Val snorts. “Well, you’re gonna hear it anyway because that was entertaining as hell. And truly an eye-opening experience, if I must say.”
I blink, keeping a mental track of Addie’s whereabouts beside me. I’m instantly at ease when I see she’s already back to chatting it up with Sergio while he buys her a tub of cotton candy from one of those stadium hawkers.
“What’s that supposed to mean?”
The crowd stands and chants around us, but my focus is on Val and her newfound revelation. “Let me set you up on a few dates.”
That’s the big eye-opening reveal? “You’re kidding. Why? I can meet someone just fine on my own.”
Her brows rise. “Yeah, looks like it. No, but seriously. I know some people who know some people.” She winks.
“You wanted to start fresh, right? Finally meet a guy worth having a future with? At least let me help you get back into the dating scene with some men who come with a decent recommendation.”
I exhale. “Decent? How comforting. And stop making it sound so technical.”
She waves me off and lays her head on my shoulder. “It’s not, I just want the best for you, babe. They’re good guys.” She points to where Crew just vacated. “Similar to that one. Worst case, you never see them again and hopefully meet someone the organic way.”
Like a good old-fashioned conversation. Hi. How are you? It’s nice to meet you. Yada yada yada.
I mean…it doesn’t sound like a horrible idea. I do really want to meet someone, and seeing as how I don’t know anyone other than Val in Atlanta, it’s worth a try.
Plus, I have more free time to date now that I run my own practice. Office hours are my hours unless I get an emergency call. But still, I guess there really is no better time than now.
“I think I’m ready for that,” I tell Val truthfully, finally accepting my fate. “Not that my conversation with Addie’s hot dad was what I needed to come to terms with my singlehood, but it definitely helped.”
“He’s probably married, anyway.” We laugh together, and at this moment, I’ve never been more grateful for my best friend.
“Set up the date, Valentina. I’m ready.”
Without warning, she stands to attention. “Excellent. Now that that’s been decided, Queen Addie,” Val calls out to the mini ray of sunshine, “Ready to boo for the losing team?”
“Woo!” Addie cheers, running to sit between Val and me. “Blue Jays suck!”
“Atta girl.”