Grinder (Seattle Sharks 1)

“Sure,” I responded and stood.

She asked the normal questions. How was my shoulder? To what did I credit our victory? What did I have in mind for the rest of the season?

I gave the rote answers about teamwork, the strength of my shoulder, and my optimistic outlook.

Once she was done, I showered and dressed as quickly as possible.

“You’re coming tonight, right?” Rory asked as we took our bags from the locker room.

“What?”

“Do not pull that shit,” he threatened. “It’s the first game, the first victory, and we’re going out tonight.”

I grimaced in apology. “Man, I have Lettie.” And Bailey.

“And a nanny. Come on, it’s tradition,” Warren countered.

“He doesn’t want to leave the nanny,” Rory stage-whispered.

“Shut the fuck up. What are you, twelve?”

Rory shrugged. “Truth, man.”

I looked up, saw my girls leaned against the wall with the other families, and my heart did a little flip at how...right that looked.

And then I saw my mother chatting Bailey’s ear off. Lord have mercy.

She was a little over fifty, but I swear the woman only looked forty. She had that classic, raven-haired beauty most women paid top dollar for, with a class that you couldn’t put a pricetag on. She’d also been the one to take care of me and Lettie when Helen walked out while I was still in recovery.

“I’m not making any promises,” I said to the guys as we made our way to the girls.

“Tell him he has to go, Mrs. M,” Warren asked, giving my mother a charming smile.

She arched an eyebrow. “Has to go where?”

“Hi, Mama,” I said, kissing her soft cheek at the same moment Lettie attacked my leg.

“You played phenomenally,” Mom answered with a smile.

“What do you think, Lettie-Lou?” I asked as I lifted Lettie into my arms. She gave me a resounding smack of a kiss on my cheek but leaned back when I tried to do the same.

“You’ll mess my warpaint,” she said, pursing her tiny lips in a way that reminded me way too much of Bailey.

I noted the black streaks under her eyes that had my number drawn in. “We can’t have that,” I said and growled at her neck as she giggled.

I looked up and met Bailey’s shy smile with one of my own. Shit had been off with us this last week, more awkward than we’d ever been with each other, and I knew it was because of that kiss.

That hot, perfect, taste of her.

Damn, I wanted more.

“Where is he supposed to go?” Mom asked the guys, snapping me out of my stare-fest with Bailey.

“We always go out for drinks the night of the opener,” Warren explained.

“Tonight is Bailey’s night off,” I countered. I never left her with random sitters, and they knew it. No Bailey, no going out. Period.

“Well, then it’s a good thing there’s plenty of room at grandma’s,” Mom said, holding her arms out for Lettie. “What do you say, Scarlett? Want to come have a sleepover with Grammy?”

“Yes!” She shouted, lunging out of my arms. Mom caught her easily and kissed her forehead.

“Good!”

“Can we watch Music movie? Please?” Lettie turned those eyes on Mom and she melted.

“You’re still into the Sound of Music?” she asked.

Lettie nodded seriously. “The hills are alive, Grammy.”

I smiled as Bailey laughed, her hand lightly touching my arm. This was what family was supposed to be, sharing these moments, the happiness after a victory, the joy of watching Lettie grow.

It was wrong to picture Bailey in that role—especially when I knew she’d inevitably leave to start her own family, her own life—but I couldn’t help it. Everything was easy, happy, and that feeling was intoxicating—addictive.

“Then it’s settled,” Warren said, slapping me on the back. “We’ll see you later, my man.”

We said our goodbyes and headed to the parking lot. Bailey handed over her keys to Mom since she had Lettie’s car seat and she’d driven Mom here anyway, and I kissed Lettie goodbye.

“You be good for Grammy, okay?”

“Always,” she answered with an impy grin.

“I love you,” I said, as I hugged her tiny body tight and let her go.

“Love you!” She said before running over to Bailey. “Love you, too!”

Bailey dropped to her knees and hugged Lettie. “I love you, tons and bunches.”

“Let’s go, kiddo,” Mom said as she buckled Lettie into her seat. The door shut with a resounding thud, and though I knew it was Mom taking her, a stab of nervousness still hit me.

“You sure you don’t want me to bring you a bag for her or anything?” I asked.

“Of course not,” Mom said right before she kissed my cheek. “I love taking her shopping. Now go enjoy yourself, Gage. You need the downtime.”

“Thanks, Mom.”

Her eyes darted over to where Bailey was occupied making faces at Lettie through the window. “She’s good for you.”

“Mom,” I warned quietly so Bailey wouldn’t hear.

“You deserve happiness, Gage. Don’t shun it out of fear. She’s not Helen.”

I stiffened at her name. “It’s complicated.”

She gave me the mom look.

“That’s only because you complicate it.” She kissed my cheek again and then patted it like I was ten. “I’ll see you tomorrow.”

My heart clenched as they drove off, and Bailey laid her hand on my arm. “Ready to head home?”

I looked down into those gorgeous eyes as the word “home” resonated through me. “Yeah,” I answered, my voice low. My gaze dropped to her parted lips. It would be so easy to close the distance between us and kiss her. God knew that I loved the way she tasted, the way she fit against me.

In that moment I realized how great it was to love her as one of my best friends...and how easily I could fall in love with her as so much more. Because you’re not already screwed enough as it is.

“Gage?” her eyes widened and she leaned forward slightly as if she didn’t realize it—as if she was drawn to me as magnetically as I was her.

Maybe Mom was right and I deserved happiness...maybe Bailey wouldn’t leave. Maybe she’d be the one who stayed. But I also knew the one thing she wanted out of her life—kids—was the one thing I wasn’t ever going to have any more of.