Page 37

CHAPTER THIRTY-SIX

CHEETAH

T anner narrows his eyes at Harper at the poker table. “Are you counting cards?”

Harper giggles. “What? Me?” She looks down at her full house and innocently shrugs. “It was a good time to go all in. I guess I got lucky.”

Daylen blinks a few times as he stares at everyone’s cards. “What the fu…dge? We were just hustled by a nine-year-old.”

I’m realizing that she threw the first few hands until we upped the ante and assumed she didn’t know what she was doing. She even folded a winning hand at some point and said she didn’t realize it was a good hand.

There’s only one person who could have taught her this.

Tanner’s lip twitches as he grits out, “Kamryn fucking Hart.”

Harper gasps. “That’s ten dollars in the swear jar, Daddy.”

She reaches her little hands out and collects all the chips on the table, worth a few hundred bucks. “I think it’s my bedtime.”

Tanner accusatorily asks, “Since when are you excited about bedtime?”

“Since I have three hundred and forty-six dollars to put into my piggy bank. I see a trip to the candy store in my future.”

It’s the night before Tanner and Bailey’s wedding. All he wanted was a poker night with his friends and Harper. They leave for their honeymoon right away, so including Harper was important to him because he won’t see her for a while.

Harper walks around the table with a huge grin as she kisses everyone on the cheek. She whispers to me, “Text Kam and tell her that I hustled everyone.”

I wink at her. “Will do.”

When Harper leaves, Layton looks at me. “You were the last to arrive tonight. I didn’t mention it in front of Harper because your fun facts are always dirty, but it’s time to pay the piper.”

I think for a few moments until something Kam mentioned a few weeks ago hits me. “Have you ever really considered the wording of Juicy Fruit commercials?”

I see them all deep in contemplation and notice the moment it hits each one.

I chuckle. “Yep. Take a sniff, pull it up. The taste is gonna move you when you pop it in your mouth. The Juicy Fruit marketing department are dirty fuckers.”

Tanner rubs his beard. “That sounds like something Kamryn would know. Don’t become as deranged as her.”

That’s now the third time tonight he’s made a less-than-flattering comment about Kam. I’m a little fed up with it.

I fake a smile and say, “Wait until you see what she has in store for your wedding tomorrow.”

Frankly, I can’t believe he let Kam plan it .

I stick around after everyone has left. I’m helping Tanner clean up empty bottles when he turns his head to me. “Is something on your mind?”

I nod. “Yes. I get that you and Kam are a bit of a mismatch, and I’m cool when you two take playful jabs at each other when you’re together, but I can’t have you talking shit about my girl behind her back.”

He jerks as if he’s taken aback. “I didn’t realize it bothered you.”

“I know. That’s my fault. I’m always one for keeping things light, but she’s the woman I love, and she’s about to become your sister-in-law. Find some common ground. I know she’s going to bust your balls, and you have every right to give it back to her but keep the fighting clean.”

One corner of his mouth turns up. “You’re right. And I will.” He rubs his beard. “I do have respect for her, Cruz. Did she tell you that I offered her a job?”

“What?” I couldn’t possibly be more shocked right now.

“Yep. A few weeks ago, before we found out about the pregnancy. I did some digging and found out that she’s been in law school. She told me that you were the only one who knew at the time.”

“I was.”

“She’s the perfect person to represent female athletes, don’t you think?”

I can’t help the huge grin that finds my face. “I love this as her next act.”

“I do too. So, yes, I bust her chops just as she busts mine, but at the end of the day, you should know I respect her. I wouldn’t have offered her this huge job otherwise.”

I nod. “I’m glad we cleared the air.”

“Me too. I like this side of you. If Kamryn is to thank for it,” he winks at me, “then perhaps she’s not all bad. What are you thinking for your next act? You have time, you’re still moving well, but it’s never too early to plan for the future. Take it from Layton. Sometimes it sneaks up on you before you’re ready for it.”

I blow out a breath. “For the longest time, I thought I’d go home to Texas, start a family, and possibly do some coaching.”

“Is that what you want?”

I shake my head. “I don’t think it is. Not at all. It doesn’t excite me in the least. Kam mentioned to me that she thought I’d be a natural in the broadcasting booth. What do you think of that?”

His face lights up. “I love that for you. You have both the personality and game knowledge.”

“I think so too. I know I have time, but I was thinking I’d take a few broadcasting and communications classes in the off-season to get myself prepared. Kam emailed me local programs that offer it.”

He pats my back. “She’s good for you.”

“She most definitely is.”

The wedding day has arrived. Kam is with Bailey as they prepare for her big day. I’m in my elevator, about to walk Chewy before I head over to Tanner’s house.

As I exit, I see Evan holding the front door open for me. He smiles down at my puppy, and Chewy jumps all over Evan’s legs as he feeds him from his never-ending supply of doggie treats that now live in his pocket. “Is Sir Chewbacca Hart Gonzales, Prince of South Philly, excited about our evening walk?”

Evan is walking him while we’re at the wedding.

Chewy lets out a high-pitched puppy bark and I nod. “He is. Thanks for helping us. We won’t be back until late.”

He rubs under Chewy’s ear, much to Chewy’s delight. “ My pleasure. Tell the lady of the house that anytime she needs help when you’re gone, to please ask. I enjoy walking him.” He pats his big belly. “I could use a little extra exercise.”

“I will. Thanks, buddy.” I wink at him. “You’ll look after my family when I’m away, right? Keep the lady of the house out of trouble?”

He smiles. “I’ll try. Trouble finds that one though.”

I chuckle. “It sure does.”

As I make my way onto the street, I pull out my phone and click on my mother’s phone number. She answers right away. “Hola, mi hijo guapo.”

“Hola, mi madre bonita.”

“You must be excited for Tanner’s wedding. Make sure you send pictures later today. I want to see Kamryn in her dress and you in your tuxedo.”

Tanner has us dressing a bit more casually than that, but I won’t burst her bubble.

“I will. I umm…need to talk to you, Mamá.”

“Is everything okay?” she asks in a worried tone.

“Honestly? I’ve never been better. I have a few things to tell you, starting with the fact that Kamryn is moving in with me.”

We moved a few of her bigger items while I’m still in town, but she’ll gradually move in when I’m away. She had too much going on with the wedding this week, but her lease is up next month, and she told them she’s not returning. I’ve never been more excited for Spring Training to be over so I can get back to her and our apartment. And of course, our baby boy.

Thankfully she agreed to find another home for that damn waterbed. Apparently, the girlfriend of the weird ginger neighbor was into it. She’s moving in with him and loves the idea of them having a waterbed .

Mamá gasps. “That’s wonderful. She’ll accept your proposal any day now. I know it.”

I sigh. “I know I’m going to spend my life with her, but—”

“But what?”

It’s now or never. I’m laying all my cards on the table. “I don’t know that we’ll ever get married. I don’t know that we’ll ever have kids. But I do know that we probably won’t be moving back to Galveston.”

Three whammies all at once. I grab my balls as I wait for a response.

She starts yelling in Spanish, but I stop her in an unusually loud, harsh tone for me. “Mamá, let me finish!”

She’s quiet, so I take a deep breath and calmly continue. “I know you’ve always had my future planned out for me, but I never saw it the same way as you. In fact, I never saw it at all until Kamryn came into my life. I never said anything to you because I didn’t want to upset you, but it’s my life, and I’ll live it how I please. Kamryn and I have some post-ball career plans that won’t work in Galveston. We’ve made our home here in Philly and don’t plan on changing it anytime soon. As for marriage and children, I don’t know exactly what the future holds for us, but I’m happy. She’s the love of my life. That will never change. I can live without everything else, but I can’t live without her.”

“But you’re sacrificing—”

“That’s not how I see it at all. I’m only gaining.” I exhale a deep breath. “I need you to be okay with this. I’ve spent the past ten years not wanting to come home because of the pressure you put on me. Pressure to do things I never really wanted to do but was always too afraid of hurting you to say. I want to visit with a clear mind. When Kamryn and I come to town, it should be fun and full of love, not expectations. I won’t have you put pressure on me anymore, and I certainly won’t allow you to ever put pressure on Kamryn. Whether you like my choices or not, they’re mine. I don’t ask that you agree with them. I ask that you respect them.”

I hear her sniffle a few times. My stomach clenches at the thought of being the cause of it, but this conversation is overdue. Long overdue.

It’s deafeningly silent for several long beats. She’s a loving mother. She may have had a certain future in mind for me, but she ultimately loves me unconditionally. Maybe it will take her time to get there, but I know she will.

Chewy lets out a series of high-pitched barks at a few dogs that could swallow him whole. I love that he’s unafraid to assert himself. He must get that from Kam.

My mother calmly asks, “Is that my handsome grandpup?”

I can’t help but smile, knowing it’s her way of letting me know we’re going to be okay.