Chapter Twenty-Five
Cat
A light tap on the door and an innocent, loud voice pulls me from the heavy slumber of a restless night’s sleep. My head is full of cobwebs, my body feels weighed down, and I’m completely disorientated.
“Cat, are you up?” Scarlett stage whispers, waking up the entire house, I’m sure. A light clatter can be heard pacing around her in the hallway.
Usually, I’d be up with her at this time, but last night I struggled to fall asleep, the scene before a sleepy little girl came to grab her pup playing on repeat in my mind.
My cheeks lift, and a flutter spreads through my chest, remembering David asking if I wanted to date him.
He was adorable. The expression on his face, the way he looked at me, and the almost kiss that had my heart racing and butterflies swarming were all the reasons I found myself counting sheep at two a.m.
But the thing that kept me tossing was the little girl outside my door now.
What if she’s not okay with us being together? Or what if she thinks I’m trying to replace her mom?
Yes, she’s been asking if we were staying married, and I know she likes me. But being her new mother? That’s a whole different can of worms with big shoes that I’m not sure I’m ready to step into.
I didn’t know Fiona, but I do know that I could never replace her, nor would I want to try. But the pressure I’m putting on myself has me terrified.
And if I dive deeper, maybe not just where Scarlett is concerned.
Some more insistent pounding followed by an even more determined call has me tossing the covers off and dragging myself out of bed.
Opening the door, two radiant faces beam at me. A wry smile pushes through my sleep-deprived mind. “Are you trying to wake the entire house up?”
Scarlett’s eyes pop, and a tiny hand covers her mouth as she tries to stifle a giggle. A huff of laughter falls from my lips, and I shake my head, resting a hand on the top of her head. “Let’s go get breakfast started.”
Skipping toward the kitchen, Emmy trotting in front of her, I hear the click from a door behind me, and my heart skitters. “I’m up.” David yawns dramatically, leaning against the door frame, looking delicious in his sleep-rumpled state.
Boldly, I let my gaze roam over him. He’s slightly disheveled in a white t-shirt and flannel pants. His hair sticking up and morning scruff covers the ridges of his jaw. My pulse hums. Rugged looks good on him.
When my eyes meet his, heat creeps up my cheeks, and I suddenly feel self-conscious about my morning appearance. “Good morning,” I say, running a hand over my head in a desperate attempt to tamp down any flyaways.
A smile wobbles on my face, and I whirl toward the kitchen, throwing over my shoulder. “I better get in there before Scarlett hurts herself.”
Scarlett won’t hurt herself. Duncan has made sure that girl knows her way around the kitchen better than most chefs, but the hallway is starting to feel too small for David and me to be in the same space.
Walking into the kitchen, Scarlett already has the frying pan out and next to the stove. I look around to find her body and Emmy’s head in the refrigerator. “What are we making?”
When she tries to carry the butter, eggs, cheese, and bacon, her little hands full, I grab some of the items from her. “Omelettes.”
“I love omelettes.” My lips twitch, and I move over to the counter, putting everything down. “Especially cheese omelettes.”
Next stop, coffee machine. I grab the carafe and fill it with water. Turning back around, I bump into something solid.
“Sorry,” David says, his husky voice right next to my ear, sending shivers through me. “I should’ve let you know I was behind you.”
“It’s okay,” I say breathlessly, every inch of me aware of his body standing so close to me.
I pour the water into the reservoir of the coffee machine and start to reach for the coffee and filters, when David’s voice stops me.
“I got it.” I stand transfixed as he reaches his hand over me, his body grazing mine. Scarlett giggles at something Emmy does, and the spell I’m under is broken.
David leans down, grabs a mixing bowl from the bottom cabinet, and places it on the counter.
“Here.” I hand him a whisk, the nutty smell of butter melting in the frying pan fills the air. His gaze lifts to mine and my stomach swoops. His eyes are that warm brandy that starts butterflies dancing and heat rushing through me.
“Thank you,” he says gruffly, before turning to Scarlett. “You ready?”
“Yes!” She yells, dragging a step stool next to the counter, anticipation lighting her face.
The coffee pot hisses as the water heats, the soft clang of metal rings while David mixes the eggs. Scarlett’s excited chatter vibrates around the room as she hands her dad another egg. Leaning against the counter, I watch them work effortlessly together. A team.
A longing so deep tugs at my gut. This moment—the two of them—is perfection.
David’s gaze finds mine, his eyes so tender, and a rush of heat flows through me. In his eyes is a silent invitation that my soul says yes to.
A lopsided grin crosses his face, and my mouth lifts in response. “Do you want to come to the Brewers game with me this weekend?”
“Yes, yes, yes!” Scarlett pipes up, bouncing on her toes, and an exuberant bark follows, confirming that going is indeed a good idea.
“Sorry, honey,” he runs a hand along her cheek. The love shining there sends another pang to my heart. “You’re staying with Uncle Duncan and Aunt Ava.” His hesitant gaze lifts to mine, and my heart stammers. “I was asking Cat if she’d like to go.”
Scarlett’s head bounces between the two of us a few times before asking eagerly, “Like a date?”
“Like a date.” David nods, never taking his eyes off me. My breath catches, and my eyes widen. “What do you think?”
“Yes, yes, yes!” Scarlett yells again, stepping down from the step stool and wrapping her arms around my waist. When she rests her chin on my stomach and looks up at me, my heart squeezes. “It’s a yes, right, Cat?”
Emmy lets out a body-shaking woof. Just as I push the hair off of Scarlett’s face and smile down at her.
“Like Emmy said, yes.” My gaze flits to David, to find him beaming at me. I point toward the frying pan. “It might be time to flip.”
A slow grin crawls across his face, and my knees weaken. His gaze dips to my lips before he refocuses it on the frying pan.
And just like that, with his daughter’s approval, we are officially dating.
Sitting in the backseat of the car David had waiting for me, the highway is filled with bumper-to-bumper traffic. The drive to the hotel the team is staying at is slow going, and gives me too much time in my head to worry about something I can’t control.
Or change, and not just because it’s last minute.
My thumb anxiously runs over the gold band on my left hand as I re-read David’s text from the beginning.
David:
Can’t wait to see you later!
The hotel staff is expecting you and will help you get settled quickly so you can head to the stadium.
Just one thing…
There’s only one bed.
Only one bed…
I swallow hard. Sliding my hands down my jeans. I inhale a shaky breath and slowly exhale, attempting to calm the swirling in my stomach. But if my racing pulse is any indication, I will need more than deep breaths.
Two rooms are out of the question. We knew that, but David said his rooms usually have two beds, so he didn’t think calling to make sure was necessary.
Apparently, it was.
It’s almost 5:30, the team is getting ready for the game, and I don’t want to bother David now, especially since there’s nothing he can do.
We’re both adults, and a king bed will have plenty of space. You can easily fit three people in one without worrying about touching.
That’s honestly not the issue. I mean, yes, one bed is an issue. But sharing a room already felt weirdly more intimate than living under the same roof with him somehow.
Cat, you’re an adult. David’s an adult. Sharing a room or a bed—a king-sized bed—is not that big of a deal.
Right?
“Right!” I mutter, feigning a confidence I don’t feel.
“Did you need something?” The driver asks from up front, and I remember I’m not alone in the car.
“No, I’m good. Just a little nervous.”
“First baseball game?” He asks, pointing to my Smokies jersey and t-shirt with David’s number on the front.
I run my hand over the number and smile. “No, but it’s my first game as a fan.”
“You’re going to have fun. The Smokies and the Brewers always put on a good show.”
“A fan?” I ask, meeting his eyes in the rearview mirror.
“Brewers till I die,” he smiles, his eyes sparkling. “We should reach the hotel in a few minutes.”
“Thank you.”
I nearly jump out of my skin when my phone buzzes.
David:
Checking in to see that you’re safe and on your way to the hotel…
Warmth spreads through my chest, and my lips curl at the corners. He’s so sweet.
Cat:
In the car.
In traffic.
But almost at the hotel.
David:
grin emoji
We’ll be heading to the field soon, so I won’t be able to respond to any texts after this.
Your tickets are at the front desk. You’re sitting behind the team dugout with the other players’ families.
Cat:
Perfect.
See you soon.
David:
Cat?
Cat:
Yes?
David:
Are you sure you’re okay about the bed situation?
I can sleep on the floor.
I am not making him sleep on the floor!
Cat:
It will be fine.
It will be fine.
Cat:
Please don’t worry about me.
Just focus.
David:
Knowing you’ll be there, wearing my jersey, sitting twenty feet behind me, is already making it hard to focus.
But in the best way.
I feel the car stop. “We’re here. I’ll grab your luggage.” The front door opens and closes.
“Thank you,” I respond, and turn my attention back to David’s text.
Cat:
smiling face with smiling eyes emoji
See you in a little bit.
And just like that, I’m worried about more than one bed.
Table of Contents
- Page 1
- Page 2
- Page 3
- Page 4
- Page 5
- Page 6
- Page 7
- Page 8
- Page 9
- Page 10
- Page 11
- Page 12
- Page 13
- Page 14
- Page 15
- Page 16
- Page 17
- Page 18
- Page 19
- Page 20
- Page 21
- Page 22
- Page 23
- Page 24
- Page 25
- Page 26
- Page 27
- Page 28
- Page 29 (Reading here)
- Page 30
- Page 31
- Page 32
- Page 33
- Page 34
- Page 35
- Page 36
- Page 37