Page 21 of Leave It On The Field (Grand Slam 3)
“It’s been good for all of us. It’s never too late to make new friends. We love spending time with your parents. We invited them to the lake house this winter. I’m going to teach Bob how to ice fish.”
“Did I hear my name mentioned with fishing?” Dad looks up at us from the foyer where he’s chatting with Butch. “Jack, do you think we have time to catch a few tonight before we lose the light?”
“There’s always time for fishing,” Jack says.
“Amen, brother,” Butch says, nodding. “And you can fish at night too. Just shine a light on the water’s surface. They’ll find you.”
“Butch, you better catch a few with us before you leave,” Dad says, pointing toward the back patio. “Seb left his equipment down on the dock.”
“I would like nothing better than that, sir, but I need to get your daughter to the hotel. Raincheck?”
“Yep,” Dad says. “I’m always down for fishing. Let’s get at it, Jack. We’ll see everyone tomorrow at the game. Butch, look after these ladies for us.”
“Yes, sir,” Butch says, turning to me. “Hey, Sophie. You ready to go?”
“Yes, but first, Seb told me the big news. Congratulations.”
“Thank you,” he says, a grin bursting onto his face. “We’re really excited.”
“What big news?” Adie asks from behind us.
“My girlfriend and I are expecting,” Butch says, his face almost breaking as his smile somehow gets wider.
“Congratulations. Babies are such a blessing,” Mom says, glancing at me with her eyebrows raised. “Is it the young lady you were with at the wedding? Ava?”
“No, ma’am,” Butch says. “I met Kit this summer.”
“Oh, that was quick. Was the baby planned?”
“Mom!”
Butch chuckles. “The baby was very planned. We both want kids and didn’t see any need to wait once we found each other.”
“That’s so beautiful,” Mom says. She points to Raine and me. “Maybe your girlfriend can talk to these two about the joys of bringing children into the world.”
“Mom! Stop. It’s none of your business, especially where Raine’s concerned.”
“It most certainly is my business,” Mom says, crossing her arms. “For both of you. I’ve known Raine since she was born. I’ll be a grandma to her kids just as much as yours.”
Butch looks at Raine and me, narrowing his eyes. “I promise I’ll work on them, Mrs. Banks.”
Mom walks over and slides her arms around his waist. She lays her head on his chest. “Thank you, sweet Butch, and please call me Deb.”
“Mom!” I pull her away. “Quit touching Butch. Adie control her.”
Adie smiles. “Not a chance. I think she should touch him more. I’m actually a little jealous.”
Butch flings his arms open wide. “Plenty of room for both.”
Mom dives back into his chest as Adie skips over to join her. Butch wraps his enormous arms around them.
Adie makes an uncomfortable cooing sound. “Big chests were meant to rest on and yours is just the biggest.”
“Adie! Oh my god.” I point at Butch. “Release them and stop encouraging their drunken behavior.”
“Spoil sport,” Mom says as Butch squeezes them once more, and then releases them. “You probably just want him for yourself.”
“Probably,” Adie says, nodding. “Actually, I don’t know if my son’s going to like Sophie hanging out with someone so, uh, virile.”
