8. Cohen
Cohen
My sister was coming to visit, and I was pumped.
Callie hadn't met Ellie yet, and I was excited for her to finally meet my daughter. My younger sister was my only family. Our father left when I was two and Callie was barely a newborn, and our mother died in a car accident when I was in college.
I hated that I didn't get to see her very often since she lived in Tennessee. Between my baseball schedule and her being a full-blown boss bitch in PR, it was hard to find the time. But Callie was flying in today and was staying through the weekend to catch one of my games.
After watching Ellie for the whole day while Ava went to Primrose Hill, and apparently passing a test I didn't know existed, she’d begun letting me keep Ellie for longer stretches when I had a day or two off.
She acted like she was doing me a favor, but honestly, I was pretty sure she really enjoyed the break and being able to do some things for herself.
Farrah was always telling Walker that self-care made her a better mom or something like that. Ava had probably figured that out too.
I was running around frantically trying to clean up and make sure I had the bed made, fresh towels out, and all my sister's favorite foods when I heard the elevator chime. I headed toward the foyer, fully expecting Callie, but was instead greeted by Ava with Ellie.
Ava flashed me her gorgeous smile, blue eyes bright.
Every time she looked at me that way, I swear my brain short-circuited.
"Hey, I know I'm a little early dropping off Ellie, but I wanted to drop off a bottle of my dad's new vintage as a gift for your sister.
" Ava's father was a talented winemaker, and her parents owned a very successful winery and vineyard in Primrose Hill.
"She'll love that, thanks." I stepped up and took Ellie from her arms so she could take the bottle to my wine fridge and set down Ellie's bags. As Ava passed, I tried not to inhale her intoxicating scent…or check out her ass—I failed miserably. It wasn’t my fault she’d gained curves in all the right places since she’d had Ellie; her jeans were practically painted on.
Ava had always had an incredible body, but now it was softer in all the right ways.
Her ass rounder, thighs thicker, tits fuller.
I bit down on my bottom lip to stifle the moan that was sure to escape.
After setting everything down, she spun to face me. "So, what do y'all have planned for today?" She leaned back against the island in my kitchen and tucked her long dark hair behind her ear.
Just as I was about to respond, the elevator chimed again, announcing the arrival of my sister. I placed a kiss on Ellie's head before handing her back to Ava. "Hold that thought, Callie’s here."
I rushed around the corner to find my little sister making her way into the foyer, "Cal!" I pulled her into a hug, squeezing her tight. I hadn't seen her in a while.
Callie laughed. "Coh, I can't breathe."
I stepped back and looked at her. "You cut your hair?" I tilted my head to the side, examining the new length. We shared the same dark brown wavy hair and hazel eyes—most people assumed we were twins. She usually kept her hair longer, but she had it cut short, sitting just above her shoulders.
She propped her hand on her hip. "What? Does it look bad or something?"
I shook my head. "No, it looks awesome, just different."
Callie narrowed her eyes, "Good answer, big bro." She patted me on the chest as she strode by me towards the kitchen. The minute she saw Ellie, she threw her hands up and squealed, already making grabby hands at Ava.
"Oh, my God! Gimme my niece!"
Ava laughed and handed Ellie over. "I’m so happy you get to finally meet your niece! I brought you one of my dad's new vintages, you're gonna love it."
Callie snuggled her face into Ellie's neck and inhaled. "Ugh, she smells so good!" She glanced at Ava. "Is it the vintage you told me about?"
Ava nodded.
"I've been dying to try it ever since we talked about it. Thanks!"
Ever since they talked about it? When the hell did that happen?
Confused, I gestured between the two of them. "You two talk?" This was new information.
Ava waved her hand dismissively. "Yeah, I got her number from Walker. I wanted to send her pictures of Ellie, and we just started talking."
Why didn't she just get her number from me?
Callie, never taking her eyes off Ellie, nodded. "Yup. We both love wine and making fun of you, so basically, a match made in heaven.”
“Totally." Ava snickered.
I glared at my sister. “Ha. Ha.”
"Well, I should take off and let you two catch up." Ava rubbed her hand across Ellie's hair.
Callie glanced up at Ava. “You’re leaving already? You should come to dinner with us.”
Ava turned toward me, navy eyes hopeful—as if asking for permission.
How the fuck do I say no when she looks at me like that?
I relented. “Yeah. You should join us. We’re going to that burger spot down the street—Torrie’s.”
She grinned, clasping her hands together. “I love Torrie’s!”
Callie smiled. “Then we can open that bottle you brought when we get back.”
Wait. When we get back? What the hell?
Between dinner and then my sister and Ava polishing off a bottle of wine at my place, I felt like the third wheel all night.
At least I had my daughter to hang out with.
As annoying as it was, I had to admit it was nice to see my sister and Ava get along so well. Callie usually hated the girls I dated. Granted, none of them were ever serious, so that probably didn’t help.
But it was hard to ignore how easily Ava fit into my life.
I’d just gotten out of the shower and was getting ready for bed when I heard movement in the kitchen. Curious what Callie was up to this late, I headed that way.
When I entered the kitchen, my sister was seated on one of the stools, dark waves in a low knot, and a strawberry Pop-Tart in hand. I chuckled and shook my head. "I don’t know how you eat that crap this late. It’s pure sugar—how are you not up all night?"
She took a bite, eyes never leaving her processed pastry treat. "Some things are better left a mystery. Plus, you're the one who bought them for me."
I settled onto the stool next to her. "Fair enough." She offered me the other Pop-Tart, but I declined.
"What are you doing, Coh?"
I tilted my head, "I’m sorry—what? I’m sitting here watching you eat a sugar bomb before bed. What do you mean, what am I doing?"
"I mean with Ava, you dumb jock." She leveled me with a glare.
"Again. Not tracking."
I was totally tracking, I just didn't want to fucking talk about it.
Callie let out an incredibly dramatic sigh.
"I'm not just saying this because Ava is awesome, and I love her.
But I watched you two tonight. With each other.
With Ellie." Her lips pulled up in a grin.
"You moved together as a unit for your daughter.
Ellie got fussy—you handed Ava a bottle without being asked.
When she finished, you reached for a burp cloth.
She dropped it, and you immediately grabbed another and passed it to her. No discussion, just automatic."
She paused a moment. “I’m so impressed by the dad you’ve become.
You never wanted kids, and yet you stepped into this role without hesitation.
Without letting fear win. But I think your fear is winning when it comes to Ava.
You don't look at anyone the way you look at her.
I've known you my whole life, Coh… she means something to you. "
I blew out a breath and scrubbed a hand down my face. "Of course she means something to me, Cal. She's the mother of my daughter."
Callie shook her head. "I'm not buying that bullshit.
And I don't think you do either." She placed a hand on my shoulder.
"I know why you keep everyone at arm's length, I know why you never wanted to have kids—trust me—I know.
But I just don't want your misplaced fears to ruin your chance at happiness and a family of your own…
one I know you've always craved but never knew you could have." She pushed herself off the stool. “Just… think about it. I’m going to bed. I’ll see you in the morning.” She placed a kiss on the top of my head and made her way down the hall towards the guest room.
Leaving my head in a far bigger mess than when I’d walked in.
The rest of the weekend with my sister was relatively uneventful. She got a lot of bonding time in with Ellie and got to come to my game. It was always tough saying goodbye since I never knew when I’d see her again, but she swore she’d be back sooner rather than later.
With my sister gone and a win tonight against Minnesota, the guys and I decided to go to our usual bar to celebrate.
Once we all settled onto the couches in our roped-off section, a server brought us our drinks.
I took a long pull from my beer and glanced at Drake Cooper, my close friend and our catcher. "Elle coming tonight?" I asked.
He shook his head. "Nah, she went home after the game. Said she had a headache."
His longtime girlfriend, Elle, never seemed to come around, which I found odd—but I left it alone. Drake would talk about it if he wanted to.
Beckham plopped down next to me, nearly spilling my beer. "Found some girls. They're coming over here." He clinked his beer bottle against mine.
I internally groaned. I wasn't in the mood tonight. "You almost spilled my beer, you big oaf," I grumped.
Beckham chuckled, "You need to get laid, Jordan. You've been awfully grumpy lately."
Shane Witek, one of our closers, nodded in agreement. "I have noticed a little edge to him lately."
Maddox Price, our centerfielder, decided to chime in as well. "Yeah—now that you mention it, when was the last time Jordan took a girl home?"
"I'd say he's lost his touch," needled Beckham.
"Definitely off his game," Maddox added.
"What happened to the old Jordan?" Shane teased.