Page 53 of Draft Pick
“I’ll see what I can do,” I tell her, knowing this distraction won’t last long before her belly ache really catches up with her. “Why don’t you drink some water and go watch cartoons for a little while? Or color a picture? Mommy isn’t picking you up for another hour.”
We’ve successfully eaten all the pancakes, and fuck were they good. I don’t know what Doc put in them—actually, I do because she showed us. Butter. A shit ton of butter and buttermilk. Jesus. Now that I think about it, we ate butter for breakfast and loved it.
I can officially say I’m trained and qualified to make edible pancakes.
“Princess Juniper, can you walk me to my room?” My girl and her obsession with names. I can’t keep up, but Juniper didn’t seem to mind, going right along with her imagination.
“If that’s okay with your dad, Queen Addie of Emerald City?”
Both girls look at me. “Go for it.” I wave them away and finally take a deep breath as Addie leads Juniper up the stairs and to her bedroom.
God, her ass looks good in sweatpants. This is wrong. So, so wrong.
What am I doing? And why am I having thoughts about my daughter’s doctor that are in no way appropriate, considering our relationship? It’s been a while for me…a long while. Maybe I’m just sexually frustrated. That could be it.
I don’t know how to act. When I saw her show up at my bar on a date, I saw red. All I know is that I wanted to stop it and demand she ditch the guy for me. But that’s crazy…I’m thinking crazy. I’ve got nothing to offer Juniper, and shit, what would it look like if I started dating her?
Strikers centerfielder, Crew Briggs, seeks out daughter’s pediatrician.
That would give Atlanta something to talk about.
I think it’s best if I just keep to myself for now. I’ll likely be tormented by watching her date other men, but I’ve got too much shit going on to add another heart to care for.
“A Barbie dream house? You really arethatdad, huh?” Juniper announces her return down the stairs, humor laced in her tone.
I peer up from the dining room table, unable to help myself from focusing on how beautiful she is. For once, Juniper isn’t in scrubs or black. She’s dressed down in gray sweatpants and an oversized burnt orange hoodie that reads “Nashville” on it. Her black hair is down in loose waves, and god, I’m stunned.
“I’m a weak fuck when it comes to her,” I admit, gathering myself together.
She sits at her once vacated seat, directing her full attention to me. It’s just us now, the first time since leaving Joe’s Bar, that we’ve been alone together. The gravity ofwherewe’re alone right now hits me. “I can’t say I blame you,” she laughs, absentmindedly grabbing her empty coffee cup and walking to the kitchen to refill it. “Want some more?” she asks me, and I politely decline.
“I’m good. Thanks, though.”
It’s been so long since I’ve had a woman in my home that I forgot what it felt like. But Juniper’s presence is easy here. I like that.
I wait for her to return, fully expecting her to pack her things and leave, but she doesn’t. Maybe she wants to stay. “So, how’s she doing?”
It takes me a second to realize what she’s asking. “Oh. Better,” I exhale. “Much better, actually. The meds seem to behelping. I know I was hesitant about starting them, but we’re finally seeing real progress at home and at school.”
Genuine happiness radiates from her. I can feel the tangible joy of her smile from here. “I’m so happy to hear that, Crew. That’s all I could ever hope for as her doctor.”
I black out because I feel warmth on my skin. Juniper’s words are just a simple instrumental in the background to the zapping at my temples. She’s touching me. Touching my forearm, and has yet to pull away. “Has Addie mentioned how she feels taking them?”
I shake my head, refusing to move an inch. She still hasn’t let go. Her palm is soft and warm. My eyes meet her curious ones. “Just that she feels a little sleepy in the mornings. Usually thirty minutes or so after taking them.”
“That’s perfectly normal,” she reassures me. “As long as it’s not hindering her personality, which it doesn’t look like it is, there’s nothing to worry about.”
“I’m really sorry for ever questioning you, Juniper. I hope I didn’t make you feel inadequate. I just had hesitations about it all, and then discovering Dr. Wolk’s retirement only made me more worried. I just want to do right by her, you know?”
Her hand slips away, just enough to put us a few inches apart. “Listen, Crew, I’m no parent, and I’ll never pretend I know what’s best, no matter how qualified I may be. My advice is always from a medical standpoint. Butyouare Addie’s father. You and her mother know best. Always. Trust your gut with that.”
Trust my gut? My gut says I should listen to every single thing this beautiful woman says and not ask questions.
I’m genuinely curious if her proposal from another man got lost in the mail or what? Who in their right mind would be foolish enough not to lock Juniper Wilde down?
Me, by the looks of it.
“I appreciate that. I’ve struggled with my role as a decent father,” I admit, exhaling quietly. “I want to be more present. But between work and the restaurant, I’m hardly home, and I hate it. We make up for our missed time together when Iamhome, but I know it’s still not enough. I’m terrified I’m gonna miss out on the big stuff, you know? I’ve already missed so many of the small things.”
