Chapter 11
CHAPTER
ELEVEN
DAMON
I’ve been staying at Adeline’s for two weeks, and the due date keeps creeping closer.
I hired a trainer out here, and other than once a week when Cooper makes me go into the city to train with him on plays and passes, I’m here.
The media attention has died down somewhat, although every time a picture is snapped of us, there are more nasty comments made about Adeline.
I wish I could shield her from all this bullshit.
“You have to stop driving me to work,” Adeline says as I pull up along the curb of the school. She had a doctor’s appointment this morning, and I was filled with relief when the doctor said everything was going well.
“Nope, not gonna happen,” I say.
She undoes her seat belt and turns a little in her seat to face me. “Damon, you can go home now.”
I shake my head. “I figure I might as well wait it out until the baby arrives.”
She sighs. “Why would that be?”
“Are you trying to kick me out? Am I that much of a nuisance?”
“No, but you have your own life. And I feel like you’ve been neglecting your friends and stuff.”
What started out as me wanting to protect her turned into me moving in to do just that, but once I got there, I realized that I’ve already missed so much of this pregnancy, and I don’t want to miss any more.
I never would’ve guessed that domestic life was kinda cool.
Maybe it’s Adeline who makes it that way.
Every night she has me watching some dramatic reality TV show where we make predictions about how things will go.
I either make dinner or we order in. I don’t have a lot of cooking skills—I sort of used up my best the first night I cooked for her.
But as much as I’m not Bobby Flay, she isn’t Julia Child.
“I’m not neglecting anything.” Honestly, Miles and Bryce are probably all over one another since they got engaged on their trip away for her parents’ wedding, and Cooper spends every available minute with Ellery.
If I were being my usual self, I’d be going out to clubs and bars or sporting events, probably getting myself into trouble.
“As long as I get my workouts in, I’m good. ”
She nods. “Okay, then, I have a job for you.”
“Anything.” I don’t know why, but I love it when she asks me to do something for her.
“Paint the baby’s room.” I open my mouth, but she continues before I get a chance to remind her that my mom paid an interior decorator to take care of everything.
“I want us to do it. Or me, but I already know you’re not going to let me get up on a ladder to paint.
Besides, I’m trying to work all the way up to delivery.
That way I can use my family leave now and a little after summer. ”
I nod. “Okay then, what color do you want?”
“I’m thinking a buttery yellow.”
I chuckle. “And you want me to pick out this buttery yellow?” The fuck if I know what makes a yellow buttery.
“I’m not really a picky person. I trust you.” She smiles all sweetly. Yeah, there’s a lot she’s not particular about, but she only eats a certain type of bread at home, and her yogurt and granola are the same brands, so there are some things she’s particular about.
“You better tell Shaylene that I’ll be coming into the school with samples later today, and she better let me in.”
“If you’re really worried, just do a few paint samples on the wall and we can decide tonight.
” She opens her door and gets out. A kid passing by says hello to her, and she waves.
“Hi, Micah.” Then she looks back into the vehicle.
“I forgot, I have to oversee the basketball game tonight. So, I won’t be ready to leave until six thirty or so. ”
“Basketball sounds fun.”
She scrunches her forehead. “I mean, it is the championship. Us against our rivals.”
“I’ll be here. If you don’t mind, that is?” I hate to admit it, but a little live sports action sounds nice even if it’s middle schoolers. We rarely go out in public because I hate seeing her read those damn comments afterward, even if she says she’s over them.
“Not at all. I’m sure the girls will love it.” She smiles.
“Girls?”
She chuckles and shakes her head. “Assumed it was boys’ basketball, did you, Siska?
” She’s never been this playful with me, referring to me by my last name, and I find I really like it.
“Because something tells me if this little bean is a girl, you’re gonna have her running drills in whatever sport she loves. ”
I grin. “Damn right.”
“Have fun doing whatever you’re doing today. See you around four or so?”
“I’ll be here.”
She shuts the door, and I watch her approach the building. She stops just shy of the door, turning, and I see that damn Henry walking up behind her to talk to her. They head into the building together, and I groan.
That’s my baby in her belly, asshole.
My phone rings on the way to the gym in the neighboring town.
It was the only place that allowed me to pretty much have it to myself with a trainer I felt was worthy of his title.
Truth is, the guy should be in the city making a shit-ton of money training a higher caliber of athlete than he does out here.
“What?” I answer, and Miles laughs.
“Just making sure you’re still alive,” he says.
“Are you lost in a corn maze out there?” Cooper chimes in.
So they’re together. Great.
“It’s not corn season, dipshit, and yes, I’m alive.” I turn down the main street, now able to make my way through town without GPS. “You guys heading to work out?”
“Yeah, you know where your ass should be,” Cooper says. “You better be here in two days. We’re not going to win the bowl again this coming season if you’re not training.”
“Don’t worry about me. You throw the ball, I’ll catch it.”
Cooper groans. Usually I’m all his during the offseason to practice whatever he wants. We probably won last season because we put in so much effort during the offseason.
“How’s the pregnancy?” Miles asks.
“Jesus, you’re such a woman,” Cooper tells Miles.
“Great, how’s engaged life?” I ask him.
“I’m done hearing about all this baby shit. And now Miles is talking about wedding shit. What happened to my single friends?” Cooper asks.
“What the fuck happened with Ellery?” I ask, knowing this has to be the reason for his sour mood.
“She went on a date last weekend,” Miles says as I make a right.
“And I don’t give a shit. That’s not why I’m pissy. I’m mad because the two of you need to get your heads out of your asses. I refuse to be a one-time winner. I’m chasing dreams here.” Cooper sounds passionate.
I’m sure some of what he just preached is true, but Ellery going on a date has something to do with his mood, I know it does.
“I’m chasing my dream too,” Miles says.
“I’m talking about filling my hand with championship rings, not an engagement ring.”
“I told you I’ll be there, and I will,” I say. “I won’t miss it unless she goes into labor. Okay?”
“So, should we rent out your apartment?” Cooper asks.
“No, I’ll be back before the season starts.”
“I thought Cavanaugh was whipped, but I think you’re worse.” Cooper continues on with his sour attitude that I’m not really in the mood for. “I mean, I always thought I’d have you, Siska. A perpetual bachelor.”
“First of all, I’m still a bachelor. Second of all, Adeline’s having my baby, and the press keeps posting updates like I’m some celebrity, and the women are being brutal in the comments. I’m taking care of my own.”
“And I couldn’t be prouder of you,” Miles says.
I roll my eyes even though he can’t see me. “Go to hell.”
They both laugh.
“Well, we were just making sure aliens didn’t abduct you.” Cooper laughs at his own joke. “Maybe one day we can actually meet her. More than just the brief introduction we had the day you guys hooked up.”
“Maybe if you’re lucky.”
“You’re being so protective,” Miles says. “We’re your friends.”
“I just have to handle this.” I should tell them the truth at this point.
“Honestly, I’m not sure what it is, but I feel as though this is where I should be.
I get that I got here by fucking up, but I want to be a part of my kid’s life, and to do that, I need to know his or her mom. I want us to co-parent well together.”
“Damn, I got a tear,” Cooper says, and I wish he was in front of me so I could flip him off.
“I’m kidding though. It’s hard when parents don’t get along, when they use the kid against the other one.
Keep doing what you’re doing, but you better make it to my workouts.
Otherwise, I’m gonna surprise you in that town and make a spectacle of myself. ”
I chuckle and shake my head as I pull into the gym parking lot. “Deal. Thanks, guys.”
We say our goodbyes, and I enter the gym where my trainer, Ryan, is tapping his watch. He’s an intimidating man, even for me.
“Sorry, Cavanaugh and Rice called me.”
He doesn’t bother acknowledging my excuse for being late. “Start with the sled pushes as a warm-up,” he says and walks away with his protein shake to sit in the chair and watch me.
I’m there for three hours, then head back to Adeline’s to shower. I go over to the paint store after that. With the help of the guy who works there, I grab three buttery yellows. Back at her house, I put paint samples on the wall of her second bedroom.
Where is she going to put everything in here? I look over the small space that will fit a baby, but what about when the child gets older? I try to be optimistic—she’s told me how much she loves this house and that she and her dad did most of the renovations—but there’s no room for her to grow here.
I remind myself it’s none of my business. We’re not a couple, and the decision isn’t mine. I know Adeline will be an excellent mother, and she doesn’t need all the space I had growing up in order to do that.
While I have the time, I decide to try my hand at the stroller again and the pack-n-play, each one having caused me grief over the past few weeks. They make the damn things so complicated.
I arrive at the middle school at four o’clock and walk into the gym.
The girls are warming up, and I scan the area.
Adeline is huddled with some teachers in one corner of the gym.
She gives me the one-minute finger, and I find a seat high in the bleachers so no one can sneak a picture of me without me seeing them.
That douche Henry is at her side, smiling as he tells her something. Her head falls back in laughter, and my chest gets tight. I want to head over there and tell him to take his hand off her forearm, that I’m the one who makes her laugh. That I’ll be taking her home tonight.
Shit, what is wrong with me? Unfortunately, I can pinpoint the last time I felt something like this. It’s been years, probably since Greta, but I can’t deny it—I’m fucking jealous.
No wonder I’ve avoided caring about someone for so long. This feeling sucks balls.