Page 68 of Leave It On The Field (Grand Slam 3)
Mo giggles as I shake his little sneakered feet. He immediately reaches for me.
“Wow, he usually doesn’t go this quickly to anyone except Dad or Butch,” Millie says. “Do you want to hold him?”
“So much that it’s almost physically painful. I need baby therapy so badly right now.” I sigh. “But his precious face will be splashed all over social media if he gets anywhere near me.”
“It’s fine. He hangs out with Butch all the time. His reputation is already shot.” Millie holds him out to me. “He’s really tired. He might be a little crabby.”
As I stand up to take him, there’s another round of “Sophie!” screams as phones shoot into the air. I pull Mo against my chest and start placing kisses all over his sweaty strawberry blond curls.
“Poph,” he says, looking up at me. He’s trying so hard to keep his eyes open.
“Go to sleep, baby Mo,” I whisper, rubbing his back. “Everything will be better when you wake up.”
When his forehead nods against my chest, I take a long whiff of his head. He smells like straight up baby heaven. I think I can literally feel my ovaries starting to dance.
“Uh oh,” I hear from behind me. “Sophie has baby fever. Seb better watch out.”
I turn to see Evelyn staring at me from about four rows back. She’s smiling, but her eyes are oddly intense.
“Oh, believe me,” I say, laughing. “Seb wants one as badly as I do.”
“Really?” Her voice is almost squeaky. “He’s never told me that.”
Before I can reply, Adie and Mom start working their way down the row in front of us.
“Oh my gosh!” Adie says, her hand flying to her chest. “Who is this beautiful baby?”
Maisie leans in and whispers, “In three, two, one—”
“That looks so good on you, Sophie. You’re a natural. I think it’s time for one of your own.” Adie nudges Mom. “Don’t you think so, Deb?”
“There it is,” Maisie says. “The baby bomb. Right on time.”
Mom’s nodding, but barely smiling. She locks her eyes with mine. “There’s plenty of time for kids later if . . . Well, there’s no rush.”
“What?” Adie whacks Mom’s arm. “I thought we were on the same page about grandchildren.”
I watch them walk to their seats. The muscles in Mom’s neck are popping out. I can tell she’s clenching her teeth.
“Well Deb’s still pissed,” Raine whispers as she leans down between Maisie and me.
Maisie whistles. “Oh yeah. She’s at the highest level on the Deb anger scale. Is it just about the sex room or did something else happen?”
“Well,” I say, leaning closer to them. “Did I mention that Seb kicked her out of my room and basically told her to mind her own business?”
They both lurch away from me.
“Holy shit.” Maisie’s mouth is hanging open. “How’s Seb still walking today?”
“Don’t know,” I say. “Mom hasn’t said a word to me about it.”
“I’m guessing that will change,” Raine says. “That’s not something Deb’s going to brush off.”
“She’ll get over it,” I say, kissing Mo’s head.
“You sure about that?” Raine sits back in her seat. “I’ve never known her to get over anything.”
* * *
