Page 89 of Deking
I shrug as I look down at his daughter, who’s peacefully sleeping.
“She’s met Grace and knows Cora pretty well at this point. I figured if she has their approval, Emery and Peyton would go easy on her. Even if they don’t, she’s strong. She will impress them. I’m sure of it.”
“Very true. Probably the right call there, honestly.”
“I have my moments.”
Brett rolls his eyes. “I don’t know about you, but I’m fucking starving. How do you feel about crashing the girls’ lunch date?”
“Do you know where they are?”
He scoffs. “Dude, I have my girl’s location. Of course I know where she is.”
“Then lead the way.”
Is it wrong to interrupt their lunch? Probably, but I really want to see how she is around the people I consider family.
twenty-two
Aknock at the door has me wondering who could be here. The guys are at an away game, so I know it’s not Wyatt.
“Agatha, get the door, would you?” Dad mumbles in his sleep.
He fell asleep about an hour ago. I don’t normally like letting him take a nap so late, but he had a rough day, according to Will.
Leaving him in the living room, I make my way toward the door. I’m surprised when I open it to find Cora, Peyton, and Grace standing there.
“Emery wanted to come too, but the baby is sick, and she didn’t want to subject your dad to that,” Grace tells me when she sees the look on my face.
“What are you guys doing here?” I ask.
“We are having a watch party, obviously,” Cora says, holding up the bags.
“I have ice cream that should probably find a freezer,” Peyton adds.
I step to the side and usher them in.
“I thought you were going to the game,” I tell Cora.
“I was going to, but then I thought it would be fun to watch it together. I know you couldn’t go because of your dad, but we brought the party to you.”
My eyes tear. They changed their plans for me? To include me? My old friends would have never.
“Are you sure? I know you two really wanted to see Wyatt play in person,” I say, looking at Grace and Peyton.
“The guys know we are here. It’s fine. Trust me,” Grace says softly.
“Grace and I can watch Beckett and Clay play anytime. Besides, hopefully one day Wyatt will be playing with them, and we can all go together.” Peyton turns toward me, leaning against my kitchen counter.
That sounds like a fantasy, but I don’t know if Wyatt and I will even be a thing by then. Sure, we have been taking baby steps forward in whatever this is, but it still feels so fragile. Like it could end at any minute.
Or maybe that’s my own insecurities talking. He has big things planned for the future. He is going to be drafted while I will be here. Sure, I could nurse from anywhere, but I refuse to leave my dad behind. If I take him with me, I will be taking him from Will.
My life is complicated, which means the future she speaks of is out of reach as long as my father is alive, and I refuse to wish anything different for him.
I don’t say all of this, though. Instead, I force a smile on my face.
“How about we order pizza and wings?” I ask them instead.
