Page 14 of Leave It On The Field (Grand Slam 3)
ChapterFive
SOPHIE
October 29, 2022
Just as I hang up with Seb, the security gate intercom rings again. It’s Seb’s childhood friends: Stone, Paul, and Ricky.
“I heard the alarm,” Seb’s dad says as he walks in from the patio. “Everything okay?”
“Yeah, it’s the Michigan boys.”
“Did you clear them?” His face drops from a smile into a scowl. He looks just like Seb when he does that. “Seb said he wanted the house to be family only.”
“Yeah, I cleared them,” I say, grabbing more snacks out of the refrigerator. “You know they would never let Seb hear the end of it if I didn’t let them in. They still think I’m a guest in this house, especially Ricky.”
Jack’s scowl deepens. “Ricky’s a pain in the ass. He has been his entire life. Don’t let him bother you, and if he does, tell me and I’ll put an end to it. This is your house as much as Seb’s now.”
“Thank you, Jack. You and Adie are always so sweet to me.”
“We love you like one of our own.” He grabs a few of the chocolate chip cookies I made yesterday. “Don’t tell Adie. I’m supposed to watching my sugar.”
“Our secret.”
He takes a big bite and sighs. “Heaven. And don’t let Adie bother you with her less-than-subtle hints about babies.”
“It’s fine,” I say, laughing. “She’s not as bad as my mom.”
“I think it’s a tie, and together, they’re a nightmare. I’ll run interference for you this week.”
“Appreciate it.”
I hear the front door keypad beep its first warning that the code was entered incorrectly. It only gives two warnings and then all hell breaks loose. I run to the door and fling it open. Ricky’s tapping on the keypad.
“Stop!” I push him back and hit the abort key three times to prevent the meltdown. “We changed the code.”
“Seb didn’t give us a new code,” he says, walking by me into the house. “Are you sure he changed it?”
“Yes, I’m sure we changed it.”
“What’s the new code?” Ricky pulls out his phone and gets ready to type it in. He glares at me when I don’t say anything.
Jack walks over. “You don’t need the new code, Rick, because you’re not staying here.”
Stone hurries toward us. “We definitely don’t need the code. Hey, Soph. Hey, Mr. Miller. We just got in and stopped by to say hi before we check in at the hotel. We can leave if you have too much going on.”
“Not at all,” I say, accepting a hug from him. “I’m glad you made it in safely. We’re hanging out by the pool. Join us. Hey, Paul.”
“Hey, Sophie,” Paul says, hugging me. “Hey, Mr. Miller. We won’t stay long. I know it’s going to be crazy the next few weeks.”
“Where are the ladies?” I reset the security system and close the door.
“Shopping,” Stone says. “They wanted to give us alone time with Seb. Is he still here?”
“No,” I say, “he left for the hotel a few hours ago.”
When we walk into the kitchen, Ricky’s already in the refrigerator helping himself to a beer. He pops off the cap and heads toward the patio door.
“Hey, Rick. You don’t just walk into someone’s house and help yourself.” Jack walks over and stands in front of him. “I know your parents didn’t raise you to be this much of an asshole.”
