Page 7 of Their Perfect Daddy

MONTY

“ Y ou’re going to be gone the entire time?” I ask my brother as I pour another scoop of protein powder into the blender.

Micah yawns, the sound making my own appear despite having been up for an hour already. It’s a workday, which means I need to be ready to take on whatever challenge the coaches have for me.

I can’t stay the best if I don’t focus on the game. Everything else is extra.

While I love to party and hang with the guys, I’m going to focus on work above all else moving forward. I want to prove to everyone who thought I wouldn’t make it that I absolutely deserve my spot on the Bulldogs.

And now that my brother has decided to come to more of my games, I have to be even more on point. Can’t let him down. Can’t let my parents down.

Sure, they’d love me no matter what. It doesn’t mean I don’t feel pressure to make them proud.

Thinking of Micah makes me think of his friend Danny.

While I’d hoped to speak to him when I visited them at work the other day, I knew it wasn’t going to be an easy task.

Danny made sure to avoid me the entire time, even going so far as to pretend I wasn’t there while he went back to work after a few bites of food.

My brother gave him strange looks as I tried to get more information about what they were working on. Eventually, I realized I was simply a distraction, and I needed to head out. I’d get another chance to apologize to Danny at some point.

Hopefully I can soon.

I’d spent every night thinking about him since the incident. His lean body in that lace haunts me in the best of ways. I wake up hard as a rock and am unable to function until I stroke one out to thoughts of him.

I also wanted to know if he’d gotten the gift cards I’d sent. Did he already spend the money on them? Is he trying to figure out who sent them? I had a million thoughts on the subject, yet no hope of getting answers anytime soon.

Micah’s voice brings me back to the present as he says, “It’s something I need to explore, little bro. I can’t let these feelings sit, you know?”

The way he says it makes me wonder if he’s aware of my feelings for his friend. He can’t know, can he?

Or maybe he can. While I tend to miss context clues, Micah picks up on all things subtle or not. It’s why his event planning business does so well. He can tell if his clients enjoy something before they ever open their mouth to explain their opinion.

I know my purpose is for something else completely. I thrive on the field, not in an office.

Humming, I continue to add the ingredients for my shake before I need to head to the stadium. “I get it, ok. Just gonna be weird. Our parents are off on a trip and now you are too. What am I supposed to do? It’s lame to spend the holiday alone.”

“Definitely don’t throw a party. Your teammates’ wives and partners are going to freak if they wind up hungover for the family photos,” he replies with a laugh.

I smile. “That would be something, huh?”

It’s not even remotely something I want to do. Partying has a place. This isn’t it.

I want a family vibe for the holiday. The closeness you get while sharing a meal and exchanging gifts is what I long to experience. It’s been ages since we’ve all been together. For some reason, I thought this year might be different.

Not that previous years have been horrible. Usually, I get to see our parents for part of it. It’s not their fault I’m so fucking clingy . They really did take good care of us once we became a blended family. And before that I still had an amazing life.

It’s more that I’ve always been the type to want to be surrounded by other people. Being alone is boring as fuck. Too much time lost in my thoughts that way. That place is no fun. I would much rather be with others.

Distraction is the key to happiness.

Except nothing is distracting me enough from Danny to get my shit together. He’s somehow managed to sink deep into my subconscious that he pops into my mind far more than he should.

“Loud noise,” I say before pressing the blend button. The screech of breaking ice and blending ingredients is the only sound for a minute. When it’s ready, I stop and hear my brother groan.

“A little more warning next time. That was way too loud. Is your phone right by the damn thing?”

“I mean, yeah. I’m right by it, which means the phone is too. Don’t be a sourpuss because you aren’t quick enough.”

He sighs. “Not all of us are professional athletes with fast reflexes. Speaking of which, I’m sure you need to get to practice. I need to get to work too. We’ve got some events coming up, and Danny is going to be left in charge of it all while I’m gone.”

The mention of his friend has me perking up as I pour my drink in a shaker bottle. I nearly make a mess with the excitement coursing through me.

“He’s going to be alone? Is that ok? Does he need help or anything? I could do it.”

It’s quiet for a second before he says, “I’m not sure that’s a good idea. You might make things weird for him after whatever went down between you two.”

Now it’s my turn to groan. “How am I supposed to make anything right if he won’t let me talk to him about it? I swear it was a misunderstanding. I think if he and I could have a conversation it would all be fine.”

“You think so?”

“I do,” I tell him firmly. “This isn’t me gassing myself up. Danny is… he’s amazing. I want a chance to know him better. Even if it’s only as a friend.”

“Don’t make me regret this, Monty. He’s a good guy, and he deserves only the best. If you can’t be there for him, then leave it be.

” He takes a deep breath. “But if you really believe you can fix this, then do it. Danny hasn’t been the same since the party.

He hasn’t mentioned any sports related topics at all since we got back.

That piece of him closed off completely. ”

“Well, fuck. That’s not good.”

“ Exactly. So fix it. Please. He’s my best friend. I can’t stand seeing him this upset.”

My stomach churns at the vulnerability in his voice. It’s one thing for him to joke around with me about things. This is completely different.

“I promise to do my best,” I tell him.

“Thank you. Go crush it at practice. I don’t want… Never mind. I’ll explain it all later.”

His words get my attention. There are things my brother hasn’t told me. He’s keeping secrets.

Then again, so am I.

Technically it’s not my secret to tell. I can’t explain why things are strained with Danny without giving him all the details about the lace and my freak out.

“Later, bro.” I end the call, then grab my keys and head out the door. My drive to the stadium consists of me playing The Fray at top volume while chugging my shake.

The minute I’m in the parking lot, I take off for the training room. I’m early enough the halls are mostly empty. I wave to some of the trainers I pass before reaching my destination.

I open the door expecting to be the first person inside, only to stop when I see a few familiar faces already hard at work.

Aries Merry and Bellamy Bellport are jogging side by side on the treadmills.

With how perfectly put together they are, I wouldn’t be surprised if they were filming a commercial.

Across the room from them, Jett Fawkes is doing squats with one of the trainers spotting him while Pete Mendoza Jr. is doing a kettlebell circuit.

Taking on the role I’m known for, I let out an exaggerated laugh. “And here I thought I was being an overachiever.”

Bellport and Merry wave their hands at me as they slow their treadmills down. Fawkes and Mendoza don’t acknowledge me. Likely because they’ve both got on headsets and are deep in the zone.

I drop my bags next to the others near the door, then head over to the two friendlier people in the room. Merry pretends to box at me when I reach them. I bob and weave, playing along with the goofier of the two men.

“What are you doing here so early? Trying to earn brownie points after getting the line drunk not too far back?” Merry asks.

Bellport snorts, then shakes his head. “Nothing makes up for the team blowing chunks at practice. I didn’t think hangovers lasted that long.”

“They shouldn’t. I think the guys probably kept the party going after leaving my place,” I admit.

It’s never my goal to affect the way everyone plays the game. My parties are always meant as a way to decompress rather than to become destructive. Unfortunately, not everyone ends the party after last call. I can’t help what grown men do outside of my home.

Bellport’s expression tells me I might be wrong. I feel confident about my choice to hold off on partying and drinking altogether. I really think it could be the reason behind it all? I’ve been thinking it’s on them. The truth is that I’m the root—or rather, the start.

Just thinking I’m the cause has me shifting in place. I hate being the one at fault. It’s part of the reason I’m obsessed with fixing things with Danny. He needs to know I’m not disgusted by him. It’s my fault since I couldn’t fucking speak clearly once I saw that fabric.

Shaking my head, I focus back on the conversation happening in front of me.

The guys have taken to discussing the plan for today’s workout.

Part of the Bulldogs training plan includes a weekly email with a breakdown of the exercises we’re doing.

It allows the early guys who come in ahead of practice to get started before all the trainers get here.

“Where’s your head at, Tempest? You didn’t even laugh at my joke.” Merry pushes my shoulder.

I shrug. “It’s nothing. Lots on my mind. My brother just told me he’s going on a trip for the holidays. This comes after finding out our parents are too. I’ll be alone for Christmas.”

Bellport’s eyes widen slightly. It’s so quick, anyone else wouldn’t catch the movement, but I’m used to watching him enough that I do notice.

Before I can ask what’s going on, he says, “You should come to the Bellport holiday dinner. We always have people outside of the family there. Mama loves feeding the masses. It would be good for you to not be alone.”

“I can’t?—”

“Nah! Fuck that. You totally can. You just said you don’t have plans.” Merry gives me a firm look. It’s opposite his norm so all I can do is nod.

“Then it’s settled,” Bellport adds.

Laughing at them, I agree. “Sure, I guess so. No reason for me to have an opinion I guess.”

“Don’t be a brat, Tempest. We’re trying to help you out. Be happy about it and know you’ll eat good while you’re there. Our boys are coming too, so you’ll have someone else besides teammates around that you know.”

I brighten at the mention of their partners. Finn and Raymond are fun to be around. They always make me feel lighter when we all wind up in the same place. I don’t know how to explain it or why it happens. I only know that I crave it when I think about the duo.

I won’t dare admit it aloud though. Don’t need my teammates thinking I have crushes on their men.

“Guess I can make it. You’ll send me details, right?”

Bellport smirks. “I’ll do you one better.” He grabs his phone and texts as he talks. “Sending Mama an update to let her know you’re coming. She’ll reach out to you for if you’ll have a plus one.”

I shake my head. “Not happening. I don’t have anyone to bring.”

“That could change before the party,” Merry says as he towels sweat off his face.

“Doubtful.”

Especially not when the one person I’m obsessing over won’t even speak to me.