“Baker.” She pauses, waiting for me to focus my attention on her. “I’m a kindergarten teacher who’s barely started her career. I’m sure the pay is perfect, and it’s better than nothing, which is what I’ll be getting as soon as the summer is over, so you’d be helping me, too,” she says softly.
“You really don’t mind?” I ask.
“Sinclair!” Landry laughs. “Don’t kick a gift horse in the mouth, brother. Sloane’s the perfect answer dropped in your lap.”
“I know,” I say, running my hands through my hair. “Thank you, Sloane. Truly, you don’t know what this means to me.”
She shrugs. “I’m happy to help, and it will be good for me not to sit around and wallow in my misery of now being unemployed.”
“Next week, can you come over and maybe, I don’t know, just hang out with him, learn his routine? I’ll be gone a lot once camp starts. I can come home each night instead of staying with the team.”
“What were you planning to do?” Sloane asks me.
“I was going to stay the first week because Natasha is supposed to have him. Fuck, Natasha.”
“Puck!” Camden says, and my eyes widen.
“No, bud, we don’t say that. That’s a bad word.”
“No, bad,” Camden repeats.
“That’s right. Daddy shouldn’t have said that.”
“Daddy bad,” Camden says, and I can’t help but smile. This fucking kid of mine is cute as hell.
“Yes,” I agree with him, before looking back at Sloane. “When she’s in town and has him, you’ll have to work with her, too.” I wince because I know that Natasha is not a favorite of anyone in this room, including her own son, which is just heartbreaking.
“Oh, I can handle her,” Sloane assures me. There’s a glimmer in her eyes that makes me worry for Natasha, but if I’m being honest, I’m sure it’s a moot point. It’s been over a month since she last saw our son. I’m betting she'll miss her next scheduled week, as well. That’s been her MO lately.
“She can handle it,” Corie vouches for her best friend.
I know she can. Sloane is good people, and I trust her. “Thank you, Sloane. Just—thank you.”
“Anytime.” She stands from her chair and takes Camden from Knox. “You want to hang out with me every day?” she asks him.
“Swoan.” Camden places his hands on her cheeks and gives her a sloppy kiss.
“You’re the only man I need in my life, kid,” she says, laughing. When Camden turns to look at the rest of us, as we laugh with her, she quickly wipes off his sloppy kiss where he doesn’t see her.
“Now, our bellies are full, Sloane has a job, and little man’s party is planned, so what now?” Landry asks.
Corie covers a yawn. “Nap time.” She laughs.
“This one could use a nap, too,” I say, rubbing my hand up Camden’s back. He settles his head on Sloane’s shoulder, and something happens inside my chest. A squeezing sensation. He’s never done that with Natasha—not that I’ve ever seen. Hell, he sees Sloane and the rest of the ladies more than he sees his own mother. I hate it, but I’m grateful for them being in his life.
“We should roll, too,” Reid says.
I glance over at Foster. “Want to stop by and watch some game tape?” I ask him.
“Nah, I’m going home to crash, too. We have one more week before it’s hell week, and I’m going to soak up all the sleep I can get,” he says, standing.
“What time should I be there Monday?” Sloane asks.
“Well, you can come now, if you want? I’ll get him down for a nap, and we can go over things. I mean, if you want? Monday is fine, too. You’ll be there regardless.” The truth is, I don’t want to go home to a quiet house. Camden will be sleeping, and I’ll be left alone with my thoughts, and I don’t want that, not tonight.
“Sure.” Sloane shrugs. “Might as well get it all hashed out while this little guy naps. I’ll follow you home.”
“That’s great. Thank you again for doing this.”
