Chapter 14
Chapter Fourteen
Sloane
“Swoan, Daddy, ball!” Camden says, running into the kitchen where I’m putting some snacks out on the counter.
Me: Cam says, “Good Luck, Daddy!”
I don’t expect a reply. I know he’s busy, but I also know seeing the picture of Camden will make him smile. However, my phone vibrates with his reply immediately.
Baker: Thank you. What about you? You got any luck for me?
I debate on what to send him, but decide to take a selfie blowing him a kiss.
It’s a bold move, but things between us have been…
more. I don’t know how to explain it. We don’t talk about it.
It just is, and I’m okay with that. Talking about it makes it real, and I enjoy my time with both of them.
I’m not ready for it to end yet. I send off the message and bite down on my bottom lip, waiting for his reply.
Baker: Now, I know we’re going to win. My two biggest fans.
Baker: You’re watching the game, right?
Me: I am. Bellamy is coming over with Coral, and Amanda is coming, too, since the team stole Corie and Rowan from us.
Baker: I should have bought you and Cam a ticket so you could be here.
Me: We’re good here.
I take a picture of the snacks out on the counter.
Baker: Have fun. I’ll call you after the game.
Me: I’ll be here. Good luck, Daddy Sin!
Baker: Thanks, babe.
I stare at his message for I don’t know how long. It’s not until Camden pulls on my shorts to get my attention, handing me his football, that I lock the screen of my phone and slide it back into my shorts pocket.
“This is your football,” I tell Camden.
“Cam ball,” he says, taking it back from me and rushing as fast as his little legs will carry him back to the living room.
The doorbell rings, and I look in on Camden, who’s standing in the living room, staring at the television.
Knox’s face is on the screen as the announcers talk about his season so far.
Jogging to the door, I pull it open and greet Bellamy, Amanda, and Coral.
“Come on in,” I tell them, stepping back.
“Cam’s already glued to the screen. Knox’s picture was up there, and he was fascinated. ” I chuckle.
“We’ve got snacks.” Amanda holds up a bag.
“Put them in the kitchen. I already have some laid out, as well.” I take Coral’s car seat from Bellamy while they get settled.
Sitting on the couch, I lift her out of her seat and snuggle her.
“Hello, sweet Coral,” I coo, and she giggles.
At five months old, her personality is starting to show more and more.
“Baby!” Camden comes running.
“Be easy,” I remind him.
“Cam easy,” he repeats, before leaning in and kissing Coral’s cheek.
“Bellamy, I think I see a love match in the making,” Amanda teases as she and Bellamy find seats in the living room.
“Aww, that would be so sweet if they ended up together.”
“Right?” I agree.
“What’s that husband of yours getting into tonight?” I ask Amanda. The elusive Ethan is never around. Amanda claims he’s always working, trying to make partner, but do they ever actually see each other?
“He’s working on a big case.” She shrugs, then quickly adds, “We’ve been trying.” She nods to Camden and Coral. “It’s been months now, and nothing.”
“What? You didn’t tell me you all were trying to have a baby,” Bellamy scolds her best friend.
“I didn’t want to jinx it, but I don’t know, what if we can’t?” Amanda sounds sad.
“Then you adopt. There are kids out there who need loving homes. They’d be lucky to have you as a mom, but don’t give up hope. Sometimes, when you stop trying or when you’re not trying—like in my case—is when it happens.” Bellamy grins.
“So, you’re telling me I need to pretend like my husband is a stranger I can pick up in a bar, have a hookup, and wham bam, thank you, ma’am, I’m pregnant?” Amanda teases.
Bellamy’s face turns a light shade of pink, but she’s grinning. “Exactly. It’s the least unexpected things in life that sometimes bring you the most happiness.”
“I’m just ready, you know? I want to start that next phase in our lives.”
Bellamy smiles softly. “It will happen when it’s meant to. Believe that,” she says.
“Thank you.” Amanda nods and then turns the conversation to Camden. He chatters away about his toys, his daddy, and his uncles on TV, and some other babble that even I don’t catch. His words are clearer every day, and he’s talking more and more.
Coral starts to get fussy, so I hand her off to her momma, and she settles instantly.
“Cam, tell Aunt Bellamy and Aunt Amanda how old you are.” I hold up two fingers, and he stares at his hand, mimicking me.
“Cam two!”
“That’s right. You’re two. Great job, buddy.” I smile at him. He rushes to me and jumps into my lap. I catch him with ease, and he settles in, his back to my front.
The kids keep us entertained, as does the game. We enjoy snacks and good company, and the Rampage brings home another win. Bellamy and Amanda leave as soon as the game is over so that Bellamy can get Coral into bed. It’s way past Camden’s bedtime, too.
“All right, kiddo, time to go night night,” I tell him, lifting him into my arms and carrying him upstairs.
I normally give him a bath at night, but we’re going to wait until the morning.
He’s already falling asleep in my arms. I quickly get his diaper changed, him into some jammies, and tuck him into bed.
We don’t even need a book tonight because as soon as his head hits the pillow, his eyes close, and he lets sleep take over.
“Goodnight, sweet boy.” I kiss his forehead, make sure his nightlight is on, turn on the baby monitor, and slip out of the room.
Downstairs, I get to work cleaning up the kitchen and taking out the trash, before settling on the couch with a book to read until Baker calls.
I allow myself to get lost in the story of a woman falling for her best friend’s older brother and jump when my phone rings.
I was so engrossed, I forgot where I was.
That’s the beautiful thing about fiction.
“Hey, you. Great game,” I greet Baker.
“Thanks,” he says, and I can hear the grin in his voice. He got two touchdowns tonight. He’s having a hell of a season so far. “How was your night?”
“Great, the girls stayed for the entire game, then I got Cam to bed, and he was asleep instantly. Cleaned up our mess, and now, I’m sitting on the couch reading. Waiting for you to call.”
“Waiting for me, huh?” he asks.
“Yep.”
“How was he tonight?”
“An angel, as always. The pregame show was on, and they put up a picture of Knox, and he was glued to the screen. He couldn’t figure out how he was watching Uncle Knox. It was adorable.”
Baker chuckles. “That has to be hard for him to grasp.”
“I know. He was just staring up at the screen, as if Knox was going to jump out of the TV and land in the living room.” I laugh.
“I should have bought those tickets,” he says.
“You’re busy celebrating your win. Besides, you have to travel to and from with the team. We’re holding down the home front until you come home to us. I mean, until you come home,” I say, cursing myself inwardly for my words.
“I’m coming home to both of you, Sloane,” he says, and my heart flutters in my chest.
“You know what I meant,” I say, brushing off my slip of the tongue.
“I did, and you were right the first time.”
“So, you’ll be home what time tomorrow?” I ask, changing the subject.
“Our flight leaves at nine. It’s a quick flight from Michigan, so I should be home early afternoon.”
“Perfect,” I reply as cheering from the background comes through the line. “You'd better go celebrate this win with your team.”
“I’m celebrating with my home team, talking to you.”
Did he really just say that? Damn, how am I supposed to resist him and keep my heart from craving nothing but him and his son when he talks like that?
“We were definitely cheering you all on,” I say, because I can’t think of anything else.
Well, that’s not true. I could ask him what’s going on with us, but I’m too afraid of what his answer might be, so I continue to play pretend and just hope like hell whatever this is that’s brewing between us doesn’t blow up in our faces.
“All of us or me?” he asks, his voice husky.
“Well, all of you, of course, but Cam and I might have been watching number 32 a little more than the others.”
“I miss the two of you,” he says softly, so soft that, with the background noise of the locker room, I almost don’t hear him.
“We’ll be here when you get home,” I tell him. I want to tell him that I miss him, too, but I keep the words locked tight within me.
“I’ll text you once we make it back to the stadium.”
“Okay. Congratulations, Baker. You played a great game. All of you did.”
“Thanks, babe. I’ll see you tomorrow.”
My damn heart reacts to his words with a rapid beat.
“See you tomorrow,” I say, ending the call.
I try to get back into the book I was reading, but it’s hard when it feels like I have my very own swoony hero.
Instead, I call it a night and head upstairs to my room.
I check on Camden, who’s sleeping peacefully, before getting ready for bed.
The sooner I fall asleep, the sooner I’ll get to see him.
Camden claps his hands as we use the football cookie cutters I bought to make another helmet-shaped cookie. “Great job, buddy.”
“Cook-kie!” he says in his adorable little voice.
“That’s right. We have lots of helmets. Let’s do a couple of jerseys and a few more footballs.” Grabbing the jersey cookie cutter, I help him press it into the dough, and he laughs, clapping yet again. He’s celebrated after every single cookie we’ve cut out, and it’s absolutely delightful.
“Okay. Let me get this first batch in the oven, and we’ll do a few more. We also need to make icing,” I tell him.
“Cam make, too,” he says.
“Of course. You’re my big helper,” I remind him. He smiles at that and pokes his finger into the excess dough. I’ll need to round it all up again and roll it back out before we start cutting the next batch.
Popping the pan into the oven, I get busy rolling out more dough, then hand him the football-shaped cookie cutter. “Let’s do a few more footballs.”
“Daddy, ball.” He giggles and presses the cutter into the dough with all of his might.
“That’s right. Daddy plays football.” I bop my index finger on his nose, and he cackles with laughter, as if that move is the funniest thing he’s seen in his entire two-plus years of life.
“Now that’s a sound a man could get used to coming home to.”
I glance up to see Baker standing in the doorway of the mudroom that leads into the kitchen with his arms crossed over his chest, his legs crossed at his ankles, as he leans against the frame, smiling at us.
“Sorry, we were having so much fun, we didn’t hear you come in. Welcome home.”
“Daddy, cook-kie.” Camden holds up the football cookie cutter we were just using.
“I see that, bud,” he says, standing to his full height and walking toward us. He stops behind me, placing his hands on my waist while kissing my cheek, before leaning down and doing the same to his son. “They smell great,” he tells us.
“That’s because I have such a great helper. A little messy.” I wince. “But worth it.”
“Can Daddy make one?” he asks Camden.
Camden nods, grabs the jersey cutter, and hands it to him. Baker steps closer, aligning my back to his front, and leans around me, his breath hot at my ear, and cuts a cookie.
“Daddy, yay!” Camden claps for his daddy, just as he’s been clapping for the two of us with every cookie we make.
The timer on the oven goes off, and I glance over my shoulder at Baker. “That’s the first batch. I need to take them out.”
“I’ll get them.” He winks, releases his hold on me, and quickly pulls the tray of cookies out of the oven. “What now?” he asks.
“This second tray is ready to go in.” I hand it to him over the counter. “Set the time for ten minutes,” I tell him.
“Got it.” He does as I ask and comes back to where he was, wrapping an arm around my waist. I should ask him what this is.
I feel the change between us, but I’m also too afraid to bring it up.
I want him. I want us, and staying here, taking care of his son, spending time with them on the days when I don’t have to, it all feels too real, too perfect.
We spend the next couple of hours baking the rest of the cookies and putting icing on them.
“Babe, what are you going to do with all of these cookies?” Baker asks, staring at the kitchen island. It’s completely covered. Our cookie-making got a little out of control.
“Well, I guess you’re going to be taking them to practice tomorrow.”
“You know Coach is going to have my a—rear,” he says, quickly glancing at Camden.
“Just tell him that Camden made them for the team. He’s a softie these days after becoming a grandpa. He’ll give y’all a pass,” I tell him, laughing.
Baker smirks. “I like the way you think.”
“What is it that they say? It’s easier to ask for forgiveness than permission?
” I laugh as Camden comes barreling into the kitchen, holding his stuffed Rowdy the Rhino.
“Swoan, up.” He holds his arms up for me, and I pick him up.
“Looks like I missed a spot when I cleaned you up.” I laugh, wiping a little speck of icing from the corner of his mouth.
“Cam, coo-kie.” He points to the island.
“Oh, no, you don’t, mister. You’ve already had two. That’s enough for one day.” He juts out his bottom lip, and I shake my head.
“Daddy, Cam, cook-kie.”
“Nope, you heard Sloane. That’s enough for one day.” Baker walks around the island and wraps his arms around us. He pretends to nibble on Camden’s neck, making him squeal with laughter and clutch on to me.
“Why don’t you boys go spend some time together, and I’ll finish washing up these dishes?” I hand Camden to Baker, and he falls into his dad’s arms easily.
“I’ll help with this.”
“Nope. Your job today is to spend some time together. I’ll handle this.”
“Only if you promise to come to us when you’re done.” Baker’s hazel eyes bore into mine.
“Deal.” I kiss Camden’s cheek and start to pull away.
“Swoan. Daddy kiss.” He pats his dad’s cheeks.
“Yeah, Sloane. Daddy kiss.” Baker grins.
I roll my eyes playfully, not able to hide my grin, as I rise on my tiptoes and kiss Baker’s cheek.
Baker then kisses Camden’s forehead, and then mine too, knowing his son will more than likely demand it before he turns and carries Camden into the living room.
I watch the two of them together, and my heart soars. Today has been the perfect day, and I can only hope I’ll get to experience many more just like it with the two of them.
The Sinclair men are quickly capturing my heart.