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Chapter thirty-eight

Hazel James

“How do I look?” I ask Emmett as I step inside through the garage door.

He has a game tonight, and I’ll be taking June and Raven to watch him play. I’m wearing the jersey Emmett gave me in New York, and I’ve left it open to show the white tank top I have on underneath. I paired the top with some denim shorts and Emmett’s hat.

“Like I’m going to be distracted all night.” Emmett pulls me to him by my belt loops. I giggle as he dips down to kiss me.

“Can you two wait to be gross until I’m somewhere else?” Raven asks from behind us. She pushes past, muttering ew under her breath.

“She’s a little moody today. Her friend started dating the guy she’s had a crush on,” I explain.

“I’m not moody, and I don’t care who Victor dates! I don’t even like him like that,” she shouts over her shoulder as she walks into the living area.

Emmett chuckles. “I hope you can still have a good night.”

I wrap my arms around his neck. “I’ll be watching you, so it’s guaranteed to be good.”

“Watching me play or admiring how I look in my uniform?” he teases in a low, sultry tone.

I play with the hair at the nape of his neck. “The world will never know.”

“Mmm but I will.” His lips meet mine. Though either of the girls could come across us at any moment, he’s unhurried in his movements. A hand sinks into my hair while the other splays my hip. His mouth caresses mine with a reverent passion. The soft scratch of his beard on my skin sends tingles down my spine. When he finally pulls back, I’m breathless and a little dizzy.

“You make it difficult to stop kissing you,” he murmurs.

“Why stop, then?” I ask with a smile.

“Miss Hazel, we’re matching!” June yells from behind Emmett.

“That would be why,” he says, making me laugh.

I step to the side of Emmett just in time for June to throw her arms around my waist in a hug. Sure enough, she’s in a jersey and shorts, as well as an adorable ball cap. I hug her tight, swaying a little side to side to make her giggle.

“I told Ray-ray she needs a jersey to match us. Can we get her one, Daddy?” June asks, looking up at Emmett with her signature puppy eyes.

She’s taken to calling Raven Ray-ray. Raven tried to get her to start calling me Hay-hay, like the chicken from Moana , but June stated that I was going to be Miss Hazel until it was time to call me Mommy. I might have shed a few–or a lot of–tears at that.

“Sure,” he says, “if Raven wants one, she should get one.”

Earlier, Raven barely wanted to wear the Nashville Cowboys t-shirt I got her, but maybe she’ll change her mind once we’re there. I know that the transition from being at Mom’s to being with me full time has been hard on her even if she won’t admit it. There were things she got away with there due to Mom’s negligence that I won’t allow. So while I know she’s grateful to be with me, I also know that she’s a little sensitive to the new dynamic of our relationship. And dealing with teenage drama just adds to that mental load. Not to mention the fact that for the past week, we’ve been packing up my apartment. Hopefully the game and then staying at Emmett’s tonight will be a good break for her.

“Yay!” June lifts her arms up and spins in a circle. “Look what I can do. I learned it at school.” She stops mid-spin, puts her hands on the ground, and kicks her feet up in what’s either an unsuccessful handstand or a half-cartwheel. I somehow manage not to laugh at the display.

“Great job!” I encourage once she stands back up.

“Very good,” Emmett says, amusement in his voice. “Now, go get on your shoes so we won’t be late.”

She looks down as if she just realized she wasn’t wearing any. “Yes, sir!”

Her princess sock-clad feet slip and slide as she runs back in the direction she came.

“She’s got a lot of energy today,” Emmett comments.

“She has a lot of energy every day,” I laugh.

“Are you sure you’re okay taking a moody teenager and a hyper five-year-old to a packed stadium?” He brushes his thumb along my jaw. “I’d be okay if you stayed home.”

“I wouldn’t have said yes to coming if I didn’t think I’d be fine.”

He raises a brow.

“ Okay ,” I concede. “I would have pushed myself, but I promise I’m not. This will be fun for all of us, and we can always leave earlier if it gets to be too much.”

“As long as you’re sure.” He dips down to kiss me again. “Personally, I’m tempted to stay home every time I kiss you.”

“Then maybe you should stop kissing me,” I whisper.

“Impossible.”

We kiss until June comes running back shouting that we’re going to be late. I get in my car with flushed cheeks that have nothing to do with the Tennessee heat.

“The game is about to start!” I say and quickly sit down between Raven and June.

We got here early to watch warm-ups, but left to get Raven a jersey along with mandatory stadium snacks a little before game time. I pass a cotton candy to June and a tray of nachos to Raven. She smiles at me, and I’m glad to see the atmosphere lighten her mood.

“How about we take a quick photo together?” I ask as I pull my phone out of my pocket. I worry that Raven will roll her eyes, but she and June both agree. They lean in against me and we all grin for a selfie. I don’t let myself look at it for too long because I know I’ll start crying. And considering the fact that I tear up every time Emmett wins…I should probably hold back so I don’t end up on the jumbotron with mascara running down my face.

I put my phone away right as Emmett steps on the mound. His fingertips trace the brim of his hat, then he points up at us. I told Raven what to do before the game, so in unison, we all copy his movement. I blow him a kiss after, and I catch a hint of a smile beneath the shade of his ball cap before his expression turns focused and serious.

Those dark eyes of his lock on to the batter and he makes his first pitch. My breath catches as the batter hits the ball.

“Oh no,” I murmur. While I don’t know much, I know that the goal is to have them not hit. The batter starts to run, but one of the players throws to the first baseman who tags the base, getting the batter out.

A few minutes into the game, a shadow casts over us. I look up to find a tall, blond man that I feel like I’ve seen somewhere before. He’s wearing a Nashville Cowboys t-shirt with…suit pants?

“Uncle Brock!” June screeches over the noise of the crowd, hopping up from her seat to launch herself at the guy.

My eyes widen. This is Brock Jones, Emmett’s agent? On the phone he sounded like a man who’s been in the industry for decades, not someone close to my age.

“Hey Junebug,” he says with a grin as he picks her up. “How you been, kid?”

“The bestest ever! Have you met Miss Hazel? She’s going to be my mommy but not yet because there’s grown-up stuff she and Daddy have to do first.”

“Is that so?” Brock asks, amusement lighting his brown eyes. They could use some light too, based on the heavy circles beneath them. He walks June over and takes her seat, letting her sit on his lap.

“Yeah, and that’s her sister Raven, but I call her Ray-ray. They’re going to live in my grandma and grandpa’s old house and we’re going to drive to school together every day!”

“Okay, sweet pea, I think you’ve told him enough,” I say with a nervous laugh.

Brock maneuvers around June to stick his hand out. “Nice to finally meet you in person.”

I shake his hand, then he stretches further toward Raven on my other side. She shakes it too, a blush staining her cheeks. I’m so teasing her about that later– after I remind her that he’s way too old for her.

“I have to admit,” I say as he settles back into the seat, “you’re not what I expected.”

“I get that a lot.”

“My cotton candy fell,” June says before I can respond to Brock. Sure enough, her cotton candy cone is on the ground, the pink sticky fluff now covered in dirt.

Brock looks around, then puts his fingers between his lips and makes a sharp whistle sound. Nearby, one of the vendors turns our way. Brock gestures for him to come over.

“It doesn’t look like he sells cotton candy,” I say.

The vendor comes over, a basket with foil-wrapped hot dogs hung over his chest.

Brock pulls a leather wallet out of his suit pants–still confused on his choice in attire–and grabs a hundred dollar bill. I’m quite sure it’s one of many in that wallet, based on how thick it is.

“Can you get a couple waters and a cotton candy from the concession stands for us?” He glances at me. “Want anything else?” I shake my head. “Keep the change.”

“Y-yes sir, thank you,” the hot dog guy stutters, then rushes off in the direction of the stairs.

“One cotton candy for the princess, coming right up,” Brock says while bouncing June on his knee.

She giggles. “Thanks, Uncle Brock!”

“You didn’t need to do that,” I feel obligated to tell him. “We could have snuck away to grab one.”

“Yeah, but then you’d miss your man striking this guy out,” Brock says, gesturing to the field right as Emmett throws the ball. Sure enough, it’s an out.

“Go, Daddy!” June yells, clapping her hands.

“Well, thanks,” I say, though it still feels strange for him to swoop in and pay a hundred dollars for cotton candy.

He shrugs like it’s no big deal.

“So, I didn’t know you were coming. I assume Emmett doesn’t either,” I say, but keep my eyes on the game. I don’t want to miss anything, but I’m also intrigued by Emmett’s mysterious agent showing up.

“I was in town meeting a potential new client, and figured I’d stop by the game. I try to support Emmett when I can.”

“Is that why you’re wearing dress pants?” I ask with a laugh.

“Not enough time to change. Had to buy this shirt on my way in, too.”

“Between merchandise and snacks, you’re going to have spent a lot on this game,” I comment.

I see him glance over at me in my peripheral vision.

“You’re dating an MLB player. This kind of money is nothing. I’m sure he’d buy you two of everything here if you just said the word.”

I stiffen. “I’m not with Emmett for his money, if that’s what you’re implying. I love him.”

I turn to see Brock nodding. His eyes are on the field again.

“I didn’t think you were, but that’s good to know. It’s not like all that money would buy you anything of worth anyway.” He pulls out his phone. It looks like he’s getting a call, but I don’t have time to see the name on the screen before he’s answering it.

“You’ve got Jones,” he says in a completely different tone than the one he’s been using. After a moment of listening, he says, “Hold on for just a sec, Porter.”

He stands and sets June down in her seat. She looks up at him with a frown. “It was good seeing you, Junebug. Enjoy that cotton candy for me.” His eyes go to me next. “Tell Emmett I said hello. Duty calls.”

He starts making his way down the row of seats.

“Oh–um, nice to meet you!” I yell, earning a wave over his shoulder.

“That was weird,” Raven says from beside me.

“Very weird,” I agree.

After the game, I’ll have to find out what Emmett thinks of everything. Or…maybe tomorrow. A smile stretches my lips as I think of our agreement to meet up in the backyard tonight. It’s going to be a late meeting, but it’ll be worth it for some time alone. My stomach flutters. Brock was right about money, because even though I’d give every dime I have for this feeling, it doesn’t cost a thing.