Chapter 36
Chapter Thirty-Six
Easton
My parents have been in town for this entire home series, and I’ve loved having them at the games. Today is the same as the last two home games. I head to the fence line with Decker to say hello before the game starts.
As usual, Lincoln, Hazel, and Monroe come down to say hello. My mom brings Tanner down since she’s pretty much taken over all Tanner-related tasks since she’s been in town.
Hadley and I have had to sleep together for three nights, and tonight will be our fourth.
The first night, we spooned. The second night, my hand was on her ass when we woke up.
And this morning, she was snuggled up to my side, her hand on my chest and her leg wrapped around me.
Each time I woke up with a hard-on that refused to go down.
With a household full of people, I can’t even find a private moment to beat off either. There’s been no taking the edge off.
It’s all making me want her without caring about the consequences.
So as much as I love our fan group, I’d really like Hadley to come down here and give me a good luck kiss. But as she has since my parents have been in town, she stays up in the stands with my dad, giving me a wave.
“How is he doing?” I ask my mom, taking Tanner’s hand and kissing his palm.
His little fingers wrap around the netting, and my mom pulls him back. “He’s perfect.”
“To you, he always will be.”
“He’s my grandson, what do you expect?” She smiles. “Can I just take him back to Lake Starlight with me?”
I shake my head and chuckle. “Knew that was coming.”
She laughs. “You can’t blame me. He’s too cute not to want to.” She puts her face in his, and he latches onto her hair on both sides of her head. “Help.”
“Serves you right, trying to take my kid away.”
Monroe and Hazel help my mom, laughing at Tanner and playing with him as my mom holds him out to them.
“I like her.” Talk about an abrupt subject change.
But I knew she’d corner me at some point about Hadley. I just didn’t think it would be right before my game.
Decker glances at us.
“You’re good for each other.” My mom gives me her most honest, heartfelt smile.
I glance at Decker, mostly so my mom can’t see my look of panic.
I know my parents have questions on the whole marriage thing.
Why did we rush into it? Why didn’t I mention Hadley before?
My dad is more skeptical than my mom, but neither has outright asked me what’s going on.
To them, I wouldn’t marry her unless I loved her.
Especially when I’ve been so adamant that I didn’t want to be married until after my baseball career is over.
My mom has been so concerned about whether I’ll ever settle down and if the Kenzie and Lance thing screwed me up for good that she’s probably just happy to ignore the signs that something isn’t quite right.
I nod. “I think so too.” Hadley and I are good together. Look what we’re making work.
Seeing my mom so happy at me supposedly being in love makes me sad for the day I have to tell her we’re getting a divorce.
She bonds quickly with everyone, but she’s really attached herself to Hadley.
This morning when I came out of the bedroom, the two of them were drinking coffee and talking on the couch.
Last night, my mom FaceTimed Harper for them to have a proper introduction.
When I agreed to this marriage, I didn’t realize how much it would soak into my family life or how much I don’t mind Hadley being intertwined with my family.
“We gotta go.” Decker slaps me on the shoulder.
“Have a great game.” My mom lifts Tanner’s arm. “Say good luck, Daddy.”
“Daddy doesn’t need luck.” I wink, and my mom rolls her eyes.
I look past my mom and Tanner and meet Hadley’s eyes. She smiles and blows me a kiss. All I want to do is scale this net, climb up the stairs, and kiss the living shit out of her. And not just to prove to everyone that we’re legit.
On the way to the dugout, I try to get my head on straight. We need to be platonic. We cannot cross the line. We’ve got a good thing going, and sex will only fuck things up.
Hayes comes over to me, all geared up after coming from the bullpen with McIntosh. “Thinking pretty hard there. Want to talk about it?”
I jog down the steps and sit on the bench. Hayes sits next to me. The game will start soon, and I need to push all this other shit to the side.
I glance around. “Since my parents got here, we have to share a bed,” I whisper.
Decker comes and sits on the other side of me. I kind of want to tell him to move along. He’s like the good angel on my shoulder that never goes away.
Hayes laughs. “How’s the morning wood?”
“It could hold up the Willis Tower.”
He laughs again and smacks me on the back, lowering his voice. “Well, you guys used to do it.”
Decker leans in, acting like my conscience. “That was before the whole marriage and nanny thing.”
Hayes shrugs. “Yeah, but if they kept it just sex before, what’s changed?”
I like Hayes’s opinion more, so I turn to him.
“That’s what I’m thinking,” I say.
Decker shakes his head. “That’s what your dick is thinking.”
“You guys are really touchy-feely. I’m surprised you’ve lasted this long.” Hayes eyes Decker.
I study him for a beat. “You losing a bet or something?”
“No. I’m an honorable friend. I don’t bet on things like that.” Hayes’s crooked smile says that my assumption is right.
“What day did you pick?” I arch an eyebrow.
“I didn’t bet.” Decker raises a hand. “Because I knew you’d be an admirable guy and know when to keep your dick in your pants.”
I whip around in his direction. “Did you keep your dick in your pants with Penelope?”
He shakes his head.
“Let’s be honest, we’ve all crossed the line when we shouldn’t have,” Hayes interjects between Decker and me. “If you both know the score, I don’t see the problem.”
“See.” I smile wide at Decker, but he only grunts. “You’re my go-to advice giver from now on, Haymaker.”
“He’s just telling you what you want to hear.” Decker stands. “And he picked tomorrow, FYI.”
We all get ushered out for “The Star-Spangled Banner,” and that ends our
conversation.
I think what Hayes says makes sense, but on my way back to the dugout, my gaze snags on Hadley. She’s got Tanner standing on her lap, his two hands in hers, and she kisses his cheek.
Sex has always been about pleasure, but it’s also been fleeting. So if I sleep with Hadley, where does that put us for the rest of our year together? It complicates things, and I’m not ready to lose what we have. Or lose her, period.
Which means my dick stays in my pants, I guess.