Page 46 of Hard Count (Newhouse University #4)

NASH

SEVEN YEARS LATER

“What’s wrong, baby girl?” I pick up my daughter and lift her out of her crib. “Are you hungry?” I lay her down on the changing table. “Or do you miss Mommy too?”

Drew reported back to work two weeks ago and our morning routine hasn’t recovered. Not that my wife ever truly stops working. Her brain is constantly in motion. It was nice having us all together more often post season.

I find a shirt and matching bottom with ruffles for Reese in her dresser and quickly get her changed and dressed.

“Vroom. Vroom. Vroom.” Kade comes rushing into the bedroom with a toy car in each hand followed by our six year old pug, Pickles .

“Hey, buddy. Are you ready for breakfast?” I put Reese on the ground and she toddles behind her brother while Pickles chases both of them. She just started walking a few months ago but she tries hard to keep up with her brother.

“Yes!” he screams. At four years old, Kade has two volume levels: loud and louder.

“Want to go see Mommy at work and get food there? What do you say?”

“Can I help?” he asks.

“Yes. You know your mom loves having you with her.” I ruffle up his ashy blond hair. He is his mother’s twin with lighter hair and green eyes. But Reese, she is all me in the looks department but clever like her mom.

I put Pickles in her crate. Then pack up Reese’s diaper bag and add a few snacks for the car. We can have a picnic while we wait for her to finish practice. We’ve been doing this a lot lately. Alabama is still hot in July but a lot easier to deal with now that I’m not wearing pads and a helmet.

Not for long. Starters report to camp in two weeks and then it’s back to work for me too.

Kade sings along with the radio as we drive the twenty minutes to Newhouse.

My parents begged us to move into their neighborhood like our friends Lauren and Hart did.

After living in a condo for two years, Drew and I wanted a little more space and settled on a house in between where I used to live, Newhouse, and the Blazers’ practice facilities.

My teammates and their families have slowly taken over the community the past five years.

It’s nice to have familiar faces around.

“Kade, you need to wait for me. Okay, ‘lil man?” I unbuckle him and he immediately slides out of his car seat and starts jumping around in the back of the SUV. I wish I had his energy.

“Okay. Okay. You ready, Reese?” He rubs his nose on her cheek and tickles her belly. “I can help buckle her,” he says. His little hands clamp down on the buckle on her car seat harness. He pushes so hard I’m worried he might shit his pants.

“Why don’t I put my hand on the bottom and you help me push.” I put my thumb on the release and Kade places his on top. Together we push the release button. “Thanks. Couldn’t have done it without you.” I give him a fist bump and then help Reese out of the harness.

I throw the diaper bag over my shoulder and pop Reese on my hip. Then grab Kade’s hand before he has the chance to run through the parking lot.

“It’s hot, Daddy,” Kade groans four feet from the car. I ignore him knowing good and well he’s not going to care about the sun or the heat once he sees the football field.

“What are the rules?” I ask him this every time we visit Drew.

“I stay with Mommy. I don’t run onto the field unless mommy says it’s okay. I don’t tell anyone they’re terrible. That’s Mommy’s job and it’s not nice.”

“And what else?” I ask, as we pass through the gate .

“Stay with Mommy,” he grumbles and kicks a rock.

“That’s the most important one. Go on.” I squeeze his hand and set him free. He takes off running right to the cute blonde wearing a Newhouse baseball cap with a ponytail sticking out the back.

Kade slams into the back of Drew’s legs and she immediately scoops him up and starts looking for me.

Her tongue flicks over her lip as she watches me walk in with our daughter in my arms. This is how she used to look at me in a football uniform.

Now all it takes is me going into dad mode to turn on my little fox.

I spread out a blanket and set Reese up with her sippy cup and snacks while I watch her mom run the team through practice drills. After we graduated she got offered a position as a junior analyst. That quickly changed to lead analyst the next year.

Her third year on the coaching staff she was offered the offensive coordinator position.

And for the last two years she’s been their head coach.

They’ve won four championships since she’s been on staff.

Football season is hectic in our house but I love going to the games when I can and cheering her on for a change.

Drew gathers all the players together for a final chat before ending practice.

All of the guys line up and give Kade fist bumps and high fives.

It’s safe to say this is one of his favorite parts of practice.

Kade asks his mom something and she holds up her hand signaling five minutes.

He takes off with a football in hand while Drew walks over to me and Reese.

“Hey, you two,” Drew says, giving me a kiss and picking up our daughter. “What are you doing here, pretty girl?” She kisses her cheek. “Did y’all eat breakfast yet?”

I shake my head. “No. I thought we could get something here,” I say, pulling Drew in between my legs and skimming my fingers up and down her thighs.

“I’ll get Erin to run over to The Round Table for us.” She takes her phone out of her back pocket and fires off a text. “Should we get them out of the heat?”

“Yeah. Kade! Come on, let’s take a break and eat. I’ll take her.” I reach my hands out for Reese.

“I can carry her.”

“I know but I like the way you look at me when I do it.” I pull her in for a kiss. “How’d they do today?” I ask, as we hold hands and walk back to her office.

“Good. They’re starting to act like a team. It’s a complete rebuild this year. We only have one starter from last season. I asked Dad if he wanted to come over for dinner so I could pick his brain.”

I open the door to the practice facility. “What did he say?”

“He hasn’t written me back yet. I’m guessing he’s busy working your new teammates over right now at camp.”

“You’re probably right.” We pass by the locker room and head down the hall that leads to the admin and coaches’ offices.

“Dada!” Reese shouts pointing at a photo on the wall.

“That’s right. And who’s that?” I ask.

“Mama. ”

“And who else is in the photo with us?”

“Pop Pop!” she screams pointing to my father-in-law. It’s one of my favorites. It was taken right after we won the championship game my senior year. We’re covered in confetti and have the biggest smiles on our faces.

I have a similar photo in my home office except Drew and I are looking at each other. I’ve played a lot of exciting and important games in my career. But this game will be the one I’ll tell my kids and grandkids about because I won it with my best friend, the person I love most, my wife.

I smirk when I walk into her office and see the Coach Pierce sign on the door.

I won’t ever get tired of seeing that. We did things a little out of order and got married six months after Kade was born.

We weren’t sure how our parents’ would take the news but they were thrilled.

Especially Sydney. She was so excited to become an aunt.

Even living in a different state she manages to spoil her niece and nephew rotten.

“My dad just texted,” Drew says, getting my attention. I put Reese down and she beelines it straight for the play area Drew has set up in her office.

I crowd her where she’s sitting on the edge of her desk. “Is he going to come over?” I kiss up her neck and inhale her sweet orange scent. Orange is still my favorite color to this day because of her.

“I want to show Pop Pop my new cars,” Kade says as he drives one of the many toy cars over the backs of the leather club chairs.

“He is. And he wants to bring his girlfriend.” Drew’s eyebrows pop up in shock. “I didn’t know he was seeing anyone. Have you noticed anything unusual?”

“No. But if I had to guess…” Oh shit. I think I might know who it is and if I’m right, he may have just put his job on the line.

"You're not going to tell me who?" she asks, putting her phone down and sliding her hands up my shirt and behind my back.

I wrap my arms around her and pull her even closer. "Once I know for sure I will. It's someone he should have avoided if it's who I think it is."

"People could have told you the same thing." Her nails leisurely scratch my back.

"They would have been wasting their time. There's nothing that was going to keep me away from you. You're mine, little fox. Always have been. Always will be."