Page 14

Chapter Fourteen

MARCUS

Marcus

We’re all volunteering at the girls’ school on Saturday

Dax

When and where?

Bode

Suck-up

Noah

I’m in

Sam loves me

Graham

She loves me the most

Noah

No she doesn’t!

Graham

Yes she does

There’s no point in arguing when she loves both of you

Jasper

Well Sadie loves me the most

Because she can beat you at chess

Jasper

Asswipe

Dax

How come neither loves me the most?

Because you don’t babysit them

Dax

That’s because Noah and Graham always do

Noah

Because they love us the most

They love me the most

Graham

Why are we arguing about this? They clearly love us all

Bode

I didn’t sign up for this

I signed you up

Bode

Kids hate me

Jasper

Are you surprised by this?

Dax

Maybe if you tried to babysit more

I’d trust the girls to babysit Bode, but not the other way around

Bode

Tell me why I’m supposed to go and help now?

Because I said so

Bode

Fucker.

Our one day off

You can volunteer for Sam and Sadie’s school for a few hours and then have the rest of the day off

Bode

Any hot teachers?

New rule

Any time you volunteer at the girls’ school, or any function related to their school, there will be no hitting on anyone

Bode

You really know how to suck the fun out of everything

Nashville Prep at 1pm on Saturday

Don’t be late

Noah

Yeah, Bode, don’t be late

Bode

Is it too late to ask for a trade?

“ A re you excited for the carnival today?” I ask Sam, zipping up her coat.

“Kind of.”

“Why kind of?”

She shrugs a shoulder. “Jack said there was going to be a petting zoo. The goats scare me.”

“You can like the goats. It’s okay if you do.”

I am one hundred percent the reason they don’t like goats, and while I shouldn’t be happy about it, I am.

Goats are the fucking worst.

“I do like goats,” Sadie confirms as she comes up, zipping her own jacket.

A cold spell has made its way through Nashville this week, making it chillier than normal. I’ve bundled the girls up in hopes they won’t get sick being outside today. The last thing I need is for them to be sick.

“Sadie, maybe you can take Sam to see the goats while I volunteer?” I ask her.

“What will you be doing?” Sam asks.

I shrug. “I don’t know, but one of the teachers asked me to volunteer. The guys are coming with me.”

That has both girls smiling.

“Uncle Noah will be there?” Sam asks. “Yes! Maybe he can take me to see the goats.”

I smile at them. “Who do you think is smellier—Uncle Noah or the goats?”

Sam giggles. “The goats.”

“Do you think they’re smellier than I am after hockey?”

“You are smelly,” Sadie tells me.

“Not as smelly as Uncle Noah, though.” I tickle her side.

“Are we able to play all the games too?” Sam asks. “I like the throwing games. ”

“Can we win prizes?” Sadie asks me.

“Yes, there will be plenty of prizes to win.”

“Yes!” Sam pumps a fist. “We’ll win them all.”

“Make sure you leave some for others,” I tell them. They are nothing if not competitive, just like me. “Grab your hats and let’s get going.”

Both girls grab their sparkly gray hats and shove them on their heads. Haphazard pigtails stick out of each hat.

“I’ll win them for both of us,” Sadie tells Sam. “That way we can both play with them.”

Talk of goats, the carnival, and everything they can win carries us all the way to school. This is one of my favorite parts of being their dad. I’ve loved watching them come into their personalities and listening to them talk. It won’t always be like this, but I’ll take it while I can.

While the girls are excited for the carnival, I’m excited for my own reasons.

To see Harper again.

My wife.

Who would have thought that all these years later we’d be in each other’s lives again? Harper is so close, but just out of reach. I want her. I didn’t get her long enough the first time. Spending the briefest moments with her wasn’t enough. I don’t know if having her for my entire life would ever be enough.

It feels like we might have a second chance. I don’t want to jinx it. In fact, I’ll do whatever it takes to help force a new connection. If Harper wants me to help at the school carnival, I’ll do it. If she wants me in a clown costume, I’ll pick out the best one to wear.

I won’t say no to anything she asks of me.

By the time we get to the school, it’s packed. It takes two laps of the parking lot before I find a spot and get the girls out. Streams of people head toward the big open field behind the school. I find the guys waiting at the main entrance. Sam and Sadie spot them and go running, then get scooped up by Noah and Graham.

“Will you take us to see the goats?” Sam is asking Graham by the time I make it to them.

“Why doesn’t your dad take you to see the goats?” he asks her.

I clap him on the shoulder. “That’s your job.”

“Do you know how many kids are here?” Bode asks. I can’t see his eyes behind his sunglasses, but I’m sure they’re wide with worry. “I can’t handle this.”

“Too bad it’s too cold for a dunk tank. We could’ve put you in there no problem.”

“Asswipe,” he mumbles.

“C’mon, let’s go, boys.”

Noah and Graham set the girls down and hold their hands as we walk toward the entrance of the carnival.

Two rows of games stretch out behind the check-in booth. The rings of games echo in the field. Sugary sweet smells scent the air. The sounds of animals hit my ears and I groan. I only hope I can stay far, far away from them.

“This is unlike any carnival I’ve ever been to,” Noah comments.

“It’s the school’s biggest fundraiser,” I tell him. When we reach the check-in desk, I get tickets for the girls to play games and hand them each a stack.

“How did you get roped into this?”

“It’s the girls’ school. You volunteer as needed.”

“You’ve never volunteered us before,” Graham points out.

A few kids come up and say hi to the girls, distracting me from Graham’s question. “Dad, can we go play with them? ”

I nod. “Sure. Just make sure you don’t go wandering off, okay?”

With so many adults and teachers here, not to mention school security walking the perimeter, I’m not worried about them. Especially with their friends’ moms trailing after them.

“Okay!”

“Do you know where we need to check in to volunteer?” I ask the woman sitting at the desk.

If she answers, I don’t hear her, because everything else disappears when I see the woman who signed me up walking toward me. “Hi.”

“Hi.” Harper’s voice is sweet. She’s wearing a Nashville Prep hoodie with a black vest over it. Jeans cling to her legs, and a black knit cap sits on her head.

She is the most gorgeous woman I’ve ever met.

“Hi,” I repeat, not quite knowing what to say.

“Are you two just going to stand here, or are you going to introduce us?” Bode asks, interrupting us.

The fucker.

“Guys, this is Harper. Harper, meet your volunteers.”

She looks around at all of them, giving them a bright smile. “Thanks so much for signing up.”

“I—”

I elbow Bode in the side before he can say anything. “Where do you need us, Harper?”

“Follow me.”

I’d follow this woman anywhere, but I don’t tell her that. The guys trail behind her as Jasper drops back to my side. “That’s Harper?”

I nod. “That’s Harper.”

“Wow.”

Harper is handing out assignments when I get up to her .

“Marcus. You’re going to be taking tickets at the cotton candy stand.”

“Got it. Care to show me where it is?”

Harper points around Jasper. “Up front.”

“Nice try,” Jasper whispers.

“Damn it,” I mutter to myself. I head back the way I came, following my nose to the snack shack. Not only do they have cotton candy, but they’re also selling popcorn, nachos, and churros.

“Are you here to take tickets?” a frazzled-looking mom asks me.

“I am.”

“Great.” She hands over a bucket. “All snacks are one ticket. Think you can manage?”

“I think so.”

“Great. They’ll let you know if anything is sold out. I need to head over to face painting.”

I can’t get another word in before she’s rushing off and the line starts moving. Taking the tickets is a mindless job. A few times, my eyes spot the girls with their friends. Thankfully, their arms aren’t loaded down with prizes they don’t need.

Harper? She’s nonexistent. No matter how hard my eyes search, I can’t find her. So much for getting face time in with her today.

A few people ask for pictures, and I oblige, asking them not to post on social media. I don’t want people knowing why I’m here. Considering how long I’ve been in the league, it’s a wonder that I’ve been able to keep this private as long as I have.

“How are things going over here?” Harper asks, appearing as if out of thin air.

“Good.” I take another ticket as I keep the line moving toward the cotton candy booth. Hopping up other people’s kids on sugar? Done deal. It means I can also make sure the girls split a cotton candy if they come through.

“I appreciate all the guys helping out.”

“No problem. We weren’t busy today.” I take another ticket, ignoring the curious gaze of the woman I took it from. It’s the I know you, but don’t know where from look that I’m familiar with. “So, did you do anything fun this week?”

“Not really.”

“No?” I quirk a brow at her. There’s a break in the line, and I cross my arms, staring down at her. “You didn’t catch a hockey game by chance?”

“What?” She sounds shocked. “Why would I be at a hockey game?”

“Oh, I don’t know.” I smile, taking a ticket from a teen who comes through the line. “Might have seen you on the big screen.”

“Damn it. How in the world did you catch that when you’re supposed to be on the ice?”

I smirk at her. “When there’s a break in play, it’s easy.”

“It seems like you already know what I did.” Harper brushes a blonde lock of hair out of her face. “Are you gloating?”

“Not gloating. Just find it interesting you showed up. Didn’t feel like kissing the guy next to you?”

“Why would I kiss the random stranger next to me? I don’t make a habit of kissing men I don’t know.”

I step closer to her. “Who do you make a habit of kissing? Your husband by chance?”

Watching Harper’s reaction, I know she’s thinking about it.

“Wouldn’t you like to know?”

“I—”

I can’t finish before the girls come running up.

“Daddy! Will you come see the goats with us? Noah took us and they are so fun! We can feed them,” Sadie tells me. “They’re so cute.”

I groan. “I can’t, girls. I’m still volunteering here.”

Harper crouches low. “Do you want your dad to go see the goats with you?”

“Yes!” they answer together.

Harper glances up at me. “I think I can spare him for a few minutes.”

“You’ll like these goats, Dad,” Sam tells me, grabbing my arm. “They’re so cool.”

“You don’t like goats?” Harper asks, looking confused. “Why don’t you like goats?”

“I don’t want to talk about it.”

The girls giggle next to me, and Sam taps on Harper’s shoulder. “He doesn’t like goats because one bit his butt.”

“Hey, you little rat!” I tickle Sam’s side before she and Sadie run off, toward the goats I’m guessing.

The fucking goats.

Harper’s sweet laughter fills my ears.

“I’m sorry—one bit your butt?”

“Christ,” I groan, scrubbing a hand down my face. “I took the girls to a petting zoo one of their friends had for their birthday, and it chased me around and took a bite out of me.”

“Oh my God.” Harper doubles over in laughter. “I can only imagine your face when that happened.”

“It hurt.” I’m indignant. “You try getting chased by goats.”

Harper pulls her lips inward, like she’s trying to hold in more laughter. “Do you need me to supervise you?”

I nod. “Yes. I need you to make sure none of them try to take a chunk out of me. You wouldn’t want them to take out one of Nashville’s favorite players, would you? ”

“Are you the favorite?” Harper asks, leading the way to the petting zoo.

“Ouch. You’re as bad as the girls.”

“You make it too easy.”

The girls bounce up and down, Noah between them, when the ring of animals comes into view. The look on Noah’s face is one of pure giddiness. I’m not sure who is more excited, him or the girls.

“Don’t you have somewhere to be?” I prod at Noah.

“Nope.” He pops the p . “Right where I need to be.”

“Noah gave us food for them.” Sadie holds up two bags. “He got one for you.”

I take the bag from Sadie and resist the urge to flip off my teammate. Wild tufts of fur poke over the fence. One goat is watching me with a particularly evil eye before he sticks his tongue out. With a sigh and a healthy dose of trepidation, I follow my girls to the pen.

The girls tell me to hold out my hand and drop some food on it. I follow their instructions. The goat’s tongue is hard against my palm.

“See? They’re nice,” Sam tells me.

I sigh. The next thing I know, the girls will be asking for a pet goat. “I guess.”

Harper taps me on the shoulder. “I need to go check on the other booths.”

“Here, finish feeding them.” I drop the food into Sam’s hand.

“If I don’t see you again, thanks for coming today,” Harper tells me. “I appreciate it.”

“You should know something, Harper.” I lean close, whispering in her ear.

“What’s that?” I don’t miss the small shudder that racks her body, even though I can’t see her eyes.

“I will always show up for you.”