Chapter 20
APRIL
Folding laundry is a boring Sunday task, but I light a beeswax candle, clean the apartment, and use the day as a reset for the week. I’ve also been listening to my mother for the last ten minutes debate if the sweater she bought me is forest green or palm green, whatever the hell the difference is.
“I can return it if you want. But it does look great on you, fits perfectly, and most importantly, will keep you nice and warm for winter.” She folds the sweater and slides it to the other side of the counter before grabbing her mug of coffee.
“It’s fine.” I focus on folding my laundry. Pickles is crashed out on the couch.
My mom and I went for brunch, and after, she came back to my apartment, because I know she likes to check everything is in order because I’m forever her baby. I live in a simple apartment, but it’s in a safe building with a condominium board that ensures the elevator always works.
“I guess staying warm is already taken care of for the winter,” she mumbles before pretending to take a sip of her coffee.
I stop folding and look at her with a jarring stare. “Something you wish to bring up, dear mother?”
She smiles warmly. “You were looking at your phone all the time when we were at the restaurant.”
“And? It’s how people these days transfer messages, share updates on their life, send inappropriate GIFS.
” I find a missing sock and pair it together.
I know where she is going with this, and Spencer and I have been messaging all week.
Updates about Pickles, Hadley, his questions about reheating food I left, and jokes that I’m sure he heard in the locker room.
“I know, I get your bombardment of Pickles photos, and the Arrows family group chat is a delight during football season,” she jokes. “But I have a feeling a particular baseball player is responsible for keeping you distracted. You didn’t even steal a bite of my cheesecake today.”
Throwing the sock pair into the laundry basket to put away later, I glance at my mom and debate what to say. “Your point?”
“You haven’t really updated me on what’s going on with your romantic life, maybe even avoided that topic, and I didn’t want to push.
However, the radiant smile that doesn’t leave your face has me interested, and I’m going to assume Spencer is the culprit since you had a little getaway to Lake Spark. ”
I bite my lip before my defense completely falters. “Can I plead the fifth?”
“Not with me.”
“Fine. Yes, he may be responsible for my mood.” Now I can’t help but gush, and I feel my facial expression give me away.
My mom taps her nails on her mug. “Do tell.”
“We… are… just going with the flow, you know how it is.” I wave a hand at her, and she gives me the warning glare that she needs more data. “Early stages. Just seeing where it goes. No rush. No need for nosy mothers to get involved.”
“Good. Enjoy it, and the moment you think your mother who is a smart cookie needs to be involved, then you phone me.”
I nod and grab my own mug of tea. “You know, for someone who is excellent at tearing down the opposition in a courtroom… did you not see the signs with Jeff?” It’s funny how once a relationship ends, everyone states how they were never in favor of it. Could have used the clue beforehand.
My mother grabs her purse and walks to me, tentatively touching my arm.
“When you think you’re in love, you choose to see what you want.
Would you have listened? Besides, you’re my daughter, so I’m blind when it comes to you.
I wanted you to be happy, and maybe that’s what I tried to see, even if I had doubts.
But you are a strong lady who will end up with someone better. All exes lead to the one.”
“Let me guess, you’re hoping it’s a star pitcher?”
She bobs her head side to side. “He isn’t half bad.” Her smirk tells me enough; she approves.
I offer a half-smile before she hugs me goodbye.
The next hour, I finish up the laundry, unload the dishwasher, and take a long shower to unwind for the rest of the day. A long binge session of The Bear is calling my name.
But as I’m about to hit the play button, I hear a knock on my door, which is strange, as the doorman would normally call up. Pickles decides that he needs to act the part and actually jumps off the couch and attempts to run to the door.
Following, I glance down to ensure I’m halfway decent. I’m in Piper’s original pajama bottoms and a tank that stops at my midriff. Meh, it will have to do. I wrap my cardigan tighter around my body.
Opening the door, excitement hits me in a wave, but I play it cool because Spencer is standing on the other side of the door, leaning against the frame with a faint grin on his lips. His coat is open to reveal his jeans and dark fitted sweater.
“Surprise,” he informs me with a piercing gaze.
My hands find my hips. “Indeed, a shock.” My voice remains calm and even.
“Aren’t you going to invite me in?”
“For the guy who probably paid off the doorman and then showed up while I’m in my pajamas?”
He takes a step forward through the doorway, ignoring my feigned attempt to prolong our front-door conversation. “I don’t think I’ve ever complained about your pajamas before, so no issue.” Spencer walks into my apartment, looking around curiously. He drops a small overnight bag to the ground.
Pickles’ tail wags as he remembers Spencer. He sniffs once then returns to the living room.
Closing the door lazily behind me, I scoff a sound of utter amazement as Spencer confidently walks in as if he owns the place. It’s not even arrogance, it’s a swagger that I’ve learned is a natural part of his personality.
“You know it’s rude to invite yourself in.”
He takes hold of my hands, interlaces our fingers, and gives me a tug in his direction. “I’m sure you would have.”
“What brings you by?” We didn’t have it on the calendar to see one another again until next weekend. I was going to drive up to Lake Spark because it's just easier with Hadley.
“My publicist needed to reschedule a meeting for tomorrow morning, so I thought I would surprise you.”
My lips curl into a smile. “Guess I’ll have to cancel my Sunday-night date.”
“Funny.” He pulls me tight to his body. “If you don’t mind, I’ll be crashing here tonight.”
I tip my chin up. “Oh, will you now?”
Spencer growls as he plants his lips on mine to kiss me hello. It’s soft but by no means weak. Pulling away, he touches the tips of our noses. He’s being… sweet.
“Where's Hadley?” Finding a babysitter hasn’t been easy.
“My mom is watching her and taking her to school tomorrow.”
I loop my arms around his middle. “I see. We’ll have to order in for dinner; I’m not in the mood to cook.”
His eyes haven’t left me. “Sounds good. We’ll order later from that new Italian place. They don’t deliver, but they owe me a favor.”
“I might kind of like you because of that. Later? We have other plans first?”
Spencer chuckles and slides my cardigan off one shoulder, dragging the strap of the tank top and bra down to reveal bare skin. He kisses me on the curve then trails a line of kisses up to my neck. “It’s my first time here, but I think I have an idea of where we need to go.”
In one swift move, he lifts me up and throws me over his shoulder, fireman style. I squeak and squeal as he carries me to my bedroom.
Throwing me onto my mattress, he moves over me with a sly grin, and I can’t wait. My lips search for his, and I kiss him.
Then I urge him to roll over, taking me with him. Our lips tease, and we smile against one another’s skin.
“I think you’re happy with my unexpected appearance,” he rasps, kissing my jawline.
“Don’t put this on me. You’re the one who probably missed me because I’m amazing,” I counter.
He rolls me back so that I’m under him again. “Don’t get cocky now.”
“No, that would be your hard dick that’s pressing into me.”
His head falls forward near the corner of my neck as he laughs.
And for a moment we stop in our frantic moves to stay in an entranced gaze before he places a long deep kiss against my lips, and I wrap my legs around his waist.
Swallowing, I’m scared to blink and to find this could be a dream.
“You’re right. I’m not complaining that you’re here,” I whisper. “Shh. Don’t you dare come out with an arrogant remark and ruin the moment,” I warn.
A devilish smirk forms on his mouth. “Wouldn’t dream of it. Now let me inside before I lose my mind.” His hand disappears between us, and my body follows his lead.
And to my surprise, we move slowly, savoring the moments as clothes disappear and our hands explore. The moment he’s inside of me, I now know another fact about Spencer Crews; he’s trouble for my emotional state.
Lying in bed with my head against Spencer’s chest, the sheet is tangled around us. His fingers graze my arm in long strokes.
“Can I ask you something?” I break our silence as we’ve laid quietly for a few minutes.
“Sure.”
“I know you use my mom’s firm for your legal stuff. Hope you get a neighbor discount since Hudson is her brother, but like, how much have you worked with my mom? She’s not allowed to say, yet she seems to be a fan and not in the baseball sense.”
He scoffs a laugh and squeezes me tighter. “Enough. She helped with some family law matters. You two have a few similarities, but you are quite different too.”
“I would say I get that from my father, but I don’t know who that is.”
Spencer dips his gaze down. “It’s not about biology when it comes to being a parent.” His tone is firm, adamant almost.
“I know, but my curiosity runs deep.”
“Ever thought of running one of those genealogy test kit things?”
I think for a second. “No. I guess I don’t want to rock the boat, you know? I was given a great life, and in the end, it was a choice of whomever it was and a choice for my mom to have me this way. He gave her a gift, so that’s enough for me to respect his decision, whomever he may be.”
Spencer seems to ponder my words. “I wonder if more people have that theory,” he states simply. “Do you think you are at peace with it all because you always knew? Like, what would you have done if you found out when you were older?”
“I think knowing from the start is a big part, but everyone is different. I had a friend who was adopted and only found out when she was eighteen, and it got to her. She wished she never knew, because her parents were her parents, and their lack of shared genes wasn’t an important fact that she needed to know. I guess they are all okay now, though.”
“Right.” He goes quiet for a second. “Can I ask you something now?”
“Of course.”
“You want kids one day?”
His question surprises me. “Wow, we are already at this stage of discussion?” I tease him, and he flashes me an unimpressed look.
“It’s not something I have an overpowering feeling about, but I think one day, yeah.
If you are asking if Hadley is an issue, then, well, you know I like her more than you. ”
Spencer smiles to himself and begins to brush my hair with his fingers.
“She doesn’t know that I’m seeing you. I just told her I had a meeting in the city.”
“I get it. We don’t really know what we’re doing. My mom never introduced any dates until they hit the three-month mark, there were only a few.”
“I think we know what we’re doing.”
The tips of my fingers land on his cheek to guide his head in my direction. “Do share.”
“If I needed a fuck-buddy then I have options.”
My mouth goes slack. “Wow, you better speed up your explanation.”
His other hand holds my arm in place because he probably knows I want to swat him with it.
“I’m just saying that you’re not that, and you know more about me than most. I would like to think next time you visit Lake Spark I don’t need to sneak you in and out of my room. And when baseball season hits, then you’ll be there in the stands.”
He just did a one-eighty because that’s the total opposite to where I thought this conversation was going. “Baseball season is still a few months away,” I point out.
“Then tell me what timeline you're working with.”
“I don’t have one. I just… not getting hurt is more my priority. The last year has been one letdown after another from the men in my life. It takes a little to recover.”
“I get that.”
I focus on the tattoo on his skin. “Will you get another one?”
“Probably.”
“Hey, since we're asking questions, out of curiosity, what would your girlfriend do during baseball season other than fuck on a schedule?”
“Come to my games. I don’t know, haven’t had one in a while.” He kisses along my collarbone.
“Girlfriends are hard to come by, I hear.” I pretend to be unaffected that all his words and moves today are making me giddy inside.
“I do have high criteria. Cooking is a plus.” He kisses lower. “Sparkly powder on their skin that highlights their curves is a bonus.” And lower. “A mouth that I want to kiss sometimes to shut her up is damn near the perfect find.”
“Hmm, sounds like you might have found someone.” I close my eyes and my breath feels calm.
Spencer kisses the valley between my breasts. “I think I have. She just needs to step up to the home plate when she’s ready, because I think I am.”
My chest thumps like my heart wants to break free. “Hmm, is that what that white square thing is? I’m there. Just need to see if we are the winning team together.”
He moves to my belly button, stationing himself between my legs as he lies on his stomach. “I’ll take the challenge.”
His tongue hits the perfect spot, but it’s the honesty so apparent in his eyes that sends a chill down my spine.