Page 35

Vivienne

Today is the first day of the All-Star Break, which means, for the first time since this thing with Xavier started, he has time off from baseball and I woke up to a picture of two pouty faces. His exaggerated and ridiculous, Holland's forced by his thumb and finger, pulling her lips down.

Xavier:

Spend the day with us? We miss you.

I tap my finger against the screen. This feels like a breach of our rules. But is it really? We agreed to be friends outside of our extra-curricular activities, and friends hang out.

Vivienne:

Using the cute baby as a pawn seems unfair.

Xavier: I can live with that if it means I get a whole day with you.

Vivienne:

And what do you have planned for this day?

Xavier:

Does it really matter if you get to see this face?

This time Holland is laying belly down on his bare chest in only a diaper and he's channeling his best blue steel. One eyebrow is cocked, and he goes the extra mile, biting the tip of his pointer finger as his sleepy blue eyes stare intently at me. It's stupid and silly and does it exactly what he'd hoped it would.

I pull the covers over my head and laugh into my pillow knowing damn well that I'm lost to this game he's playing when I kick my feet and reach for my phone again.

Vivienne:

Tell me when and where.

I'll grab coffee for us on the way.

One more picture comes through. He's got one big hand covering Holland's back as he pumps his fist in victory. Seeing him like this, playful and relaxed, has me floating on cloud nine. Pride swells at how well he's adapted over the past two months, and despite having support from friends and Tenley helping him, the change in his confidence is all him.

Xavier:

Meet me at Cherry Creek Park. You bring the caffeine, I'll grab breakfast for us.

Vivienne:

You know I'm capable of feeding myself.

Xavier:

Disagree.

Vivienne:

Whatever.

Xavier:

Such a sassy mouth. Keep it up and I'll find a better use for it.

Vivienne:

It's cute that you think that's a threat.

Xavier:

And now I'm hard.

Vivienne:

Pictures or it didn't happen.

My phone dings again, and I'm disappointed that it's only a notification that Xavier has shared his location with me. Silently chastising myself for being such a needy hussy, I throw the covers off to get ready.

Another ding stops me, steps from the bed, and I dive for my phone. What I see on the screen has me sweating on the spot.

The words pack an overnight bag are accompanied by a thirst trap worthy of the drool forming at the corner of my mouth. Xavier's standing in front of his bathroom mirror shirtless, red hair a mess, a touch more stubble than normal along his jaw, and his hand disappearing down the front of the obviously tented basketball shorts. Somehow, it's lewd and cozy all at once.

I save it to keep me company when he's back on the road.

I race through packing my bag, my heart pounding with a dangerous mix of excitement and caution because spending time with the hot single dad who's not supposed to make me feel this way suddenly is like the only thing I want.