Page 14

Chapter fourteen

Holt

“You did what?” I glare at my sister as I give Hazel a bottle.

“Invited Rebecca to drive with us.” She shrugs as if it’s no big deal. “Figured we’re all going to the same place, so we might as well carpool. She wasn’t going to come, but I insisted it was way better than spending the day alone.”

I stare at my sister. It’s bad enough she’s making me go, now she’s harassed Rebecca to come with us, too.

“You’re as much of a meddler as Wes is,” I mutter under my breath.

Except Wes is only a meddler in people’s love lives whereas Hadley is a meddler in people’s lives in general.

“I heard that,” she says over her shoulder as she walks out of the living room. “We’re leaving in two hours. Make sure you’re ready.”

I grunt in response since she’s already out of earshot as the door to the guest room, which has become her room, closes behind her.

I finish feeding Hazel, grateful that she’s too young to talk and insist I do things I don’t want to do.

“We need to keep you away from your Auntie Hads when you’re older. Don’t need her teaching you her meddling ways,” I mutter as I lift her to my shoulder and pat her back. She lets out a loud burp, and then I feel something warm down my back.

“Fuck.” I quickly set her in the pack and play in the living room before yanking off my shirt .

“Gross,” I mutter as I roll it into a ball. I really should use burp clothes the way Hadley does.

Once I’ve put on a clean shirt, I tidy up the kitchen and living room. Might as well do it while I have time. It’s definitely not because I need to distract myself from thinking about Rebecca driving with us to Hunter’s.

Absolutely nothing to do with not wanting to think about spending the day with my teammates. They’re like family to me, and I love them, but lately the last thing I want to do is see the concerned expressions on their faces whenever I walk into a room. It reminds me how much of a failure I am.

A failure of a friend, who hid his breakup for months.

A failure of a boyfriend, whose ex hid her pregnancy from him—didn’t even deem him worthy of knowing about it.

Their looks remind me I’m a single dad—emphasis on the single— because my daughter’s mother discarded me. Discarded both of us. I wish things could go back to the way they were before they knew the truth.

Glancing at the clock, I realize I’ve wasted an hour and need to get dressed, and get Hazel ready.

As I bend down to pick her up, an unmistakable smell hits my nose.

Just my luck. When I lift her up, I realize it’s even worse than I thought because she’s apparently had a blowout.

I grab the blanket that’s hanging on the side of the pack and play and wrap her in it.

She starts crying as I make my way into the bedroom.

“I know. You must be so uncomfortable. I’m sorry,” I murmur softly, trying to calm her down.

I set her on the changing table and unsnap her onesie, fighting the urge to gag as I reach for the wipes, making a mental note to buy a box of disposable gloves. I take her diaper off, and the smell that hits me makes my eyes water. Hazel cries louder.

I place one hand on her stomach to make sure she doesn’t squirm off the changing table as I turn toward the door and yell for my sister.

“What’s going— Oh shit, that’s awful,” Hadley says as she comes up next to me.

“Can you get me a garbage bag?” I bite back a gag.

“Yep.” She hurries out of the room as I clean Hazel up.

“I think we’re going to have a quick bath,” I tell my daughter.

Hadley comes back with the garbage bag and holds it out for me.

“Don’t yell at me, but I’m throwing out her clothes and the blanket.” I grimace.

With Hadley’s help, I get Hazel cleaned up and dressed. While Hadley entertains Hazel, I take a quick shower and throw on clean clothes.

“Are you sure we have to go? This isn’t even our holiday,” I say to Hadley a little while later as she helps me buckle Hazel into her car seat.

She laughs, a reusable shopping bag filled with who knows what slung over her shoulder. “Yes. It’ll be fun.” She heads toward the front door.

“And if it’s not?” I grumble under my breath before picking up the car seat, and the diaper bag that I packed with two extra outfits.

I’ve learned my lesson after the poop fiasco. With a sigh, I follow her into the hall, and she knocks on Rebecca’s door.

“Hiya,” Hadley greets her.

They chat quietly for a few seconds, and then Rebecca steps into the hallway behind my sister, and I forget how to breathe.

She’s beautiful.

Every time I see her, even when she’s dressed in scrubs or black slacks and a Storm polo, I think that, but there’s something different about the way she looks today. Her black jeans accentuate her curves in a way I’ve not seen before.

I give myself a mental shake. I can’t think about her like that.

She’s a coworker. My physical therapist. She’s off limits. Besides, I don’t want to date anyone, and even if I did, it couldn’t be her because things would be awkward when we broke up. Because she’d eventually realize she didn’t want me, the same way Kat did.

“Hi, Holt.”

Rebecca grins at me, tucking her hands into her pockets before bending down to peek at my daughter. I get a whiff of her perfume, the same floral smell as before, and I wish I knew what it was because it’s now my favorite flower.

“Hi, Hazel. You’re adorable in your Storm outfit. So festive.”

I chuckle. “Hey, Dr. Jansen.”

She stands up to her full height and peers up at me, her brown eyes brighter than usual thanks to the navy-blue shirt she’s wearing.

“What have I told you about calling me Rebecca?” She shakes her head at me.

“Come on, we’re going to be late,” Hadley interrupts.

“Late? There was no start time. They said ‘stop by anytime after noon.’”

“Whatever.” Hadley turns, strides toward the elevator, and pushes the Down button.

We make our way to my SUV. My brand-new Mercedes-Benz G Class SUV, better known as a G-Wagon, which I bought when Hazel came into my life.

“Nice ride,” Rebecca says.

“Thanks.” I focus on buckling in Hazel’s car seat.

Hadley jumps into the backseat ignoring Rebecca’s objections. I groan internally. Is Hadley up to something? I hope like hell she and Wes don’t conspire together.

Everyone is silent the entire ride. Me, because I’m trying not to breathe too much, lest I inhale the smell of Rebecca’s perfume. It’s on the tip of my tongue to ask her what it is, but that feels too personal, too intimate, and is none of my fucking business.

All too soon, we’re pulling into the neighborhood Hunter and a few of the other guys live in, and I make a mental note to ask him for the name of his realtor.

My apartment is only going to cut it for so long now there are three of us living there.

Even if Hadley is only staying for the season, it’d be nice to have room for my parents to come visit.

“Hey, guys,” Hunter greets us with hugs for the ladies and a handshake for me.

“Come in.” He holds the door open wider, and we step inside.

“The ladies are in the living room chatting about who knows what.” He waves his hand.

“We’re smoking a couple of turkeys out back.

A bunch of people are out there. There are appetizers laid out in the kitchen. If you’re hungry.”

“Let’s go.” Hadley grabs Rebecca’s hand and all but drags her into the other room.

“How are you?” Hunter asks as I follow him into the kitchen carrying Hazel, who is napping in her car seat.

“Hi, Holt,” Madison greets me. Her eyes light up when she spots my daughter. “We set up a spot for Hazel to nap in the guest room if you want to let her sleep.”

I take a deep breath, trying to tamp down the emotions that threaten to overflow at the thoughtfulness of my friends.

“Thanks. I appreciate it.”

“Come on, I’ll show you.”

I follow Madison out of the kitchen and down the hall.

“We borrowed a baby monitor, too.” She pushes the door open for me.

She really thought of everything, didn’t she? It didn’t cross my mind to bring something for Hazel to sleep in. I didn’t even think to bring her stroller. Does that make me a bad dad? I grimace.

I step inside and gently take Hazel out of her car seat and settle her in the bassinet. It must be my lucky day because she doesn’t wake up. Madison hands me the monitor, and we creep out of the room.

“Thanks,” I mumble.

“Of course.” She puts a hand on my arm and I pause turning to her. “I know Hadley is staying with you to help, but if either of you ever need anything, please call. Or if you both want a break, and need someone to babysit Hazel.”

I dip my chin in acknowledgment of her offer, at a loss for words, and follow her back into the kitchen.

The front door slams. “Where’s my niece?” Wes hollers, coming into the kitchen, Sebastian trailing behind him.

“She’s asleep. Or she was, but your yelling might have woken her,” Hunter says.

“Sorry, Cap.” Wes at least has the courtesy to look sheepish. “I’m excited to see her. ”

Hunter mutters under his breath about not being the captain.

More teammates and staff arrive, and there’s a flurry of activity as we greet each other as if we didn’t all see each other yesterday.

“How are you doing, honey?” Judy, Madison’s aunt, asks me when I finally escape the kitchen and step out onto the porch. She’s sitting at a table with her husband, Curtis, and Coach.

“Hi, Aunt Judy.” I go over to where she’s now standing, her arms out, and let her hug me.

I close my eyes, sinking into her touch. I didn’t realize how much I needed a hug. Especially from a motherly figure. I miss my mom.

“It’s going to be okay, my boy,” she whispers, patting me on the back.

I nod, stepping away from her and straightening to my full height. I shake Curtis’s hand and wave hello to Coach, who is now engrossed in a conversation with Brody. I chat with Curtis and Aunt Judy for a few minutes before Wes comes outside.

“Hey,” Wes says. “Anyone need a drink? Cap sent me to check.”

“I could use one, but I’ll come in and get it,” I tell him.

He holds the door open for me, stepping back so I can walk inside. We pass through the living room, and my gaze wanders over to where Rebecca is sitting with Ansley and Sutton on the couch, deep in conversation.

“Doc looks really pretty,” Wes says as we walk out of the kitchen a few minutes later, drinks in hand. “I think today might be the day I finally ask her out.”

“No,” I growl, the word coming out before I can stop it.

He pauses, turning to me. “Oh? Did she tell you she wasn’t interested?” I cross my arms. “Or do you want to ask her out?”

Nope. Not going to respond to him because I know that’s what he wants, so I stay silent. It was bad enough I reacted the way I did. I don’t know why I did. I’m not interested in her that way. Even though I think she’s gorgeous, smells nice, and I enjoy talking to her.

I. Am. Not. Interested.

He breaks into a shit-eating grin, punching me lightly on the arm. “I think you should go for it.”

I glare at him .

He chuckles.

The little shit knew exactly what he was doing. We stare at each other in a silent war until Hadley makes her way over to us.

“There you are, Holty. Hi, Weston Adam.” Hadley pats me on the arm, and I break eye contact with Wes to look at my sister.

“Not my middle name, Hadley Jane . But if you’ll excuse me, nature’s calling.” Wes gestures down the hallway toward the bathroom before sauntering off.

She shakes her head, rolling her eyes at him, and I raise my eyebrows, something I’ve found myself doing a lot today.

“Whatever. Can I get your help in the kitchen, Holt?”

“Yeah,” I say, following her back through the house.