“I’m gonna need to get in on that,” Bellamy says.
I step out of his hold and step back, allowing the ladies, and then the guys, to each hug him.
“What do you need, brother?” Landry asks. He’s the last one to hug him.
“I don’t know. Tommy’s going to find out about Levi’s family. I’ve never met them, so they might want to handle services for both of them, but if not, I’ll handle it, or at least Natasha’s.”
“Lean on us,” Rowan tells him. “Whatever you need.”
“We’re all here for you,” Corie adds.
“What they said.” Amanda smiles sadly.
“Thanks. Maybe just take care of Sloane. Make sure she’s doing okay with Camden.”
“Hey,” I protest softly. “I’ve got this.”
Baker’s eyes soften as they land on mine. “I know you do, but I’ll feel better being gone so much in the coming weeks knowing that you have backup.”
“Oh, we’re the best backup,” Rowan assures him.
“I mean, I do still have your credit card,” Bellamy teases.
“That’s fine.” Baker smiles. “Sloane has her own now, too, and it has her name on it.”
“You heard him, ladies, I’m moving up in the world.” Everyone laughs, and the hint of a smile still lingers on Baker’s lips. This is going to be tough for him. The guilt is weighing heavily, and not knowing about the services is also a stressor. As soon as we learn more, he can begin making plans and start picking up the pieces.
“Swoan,” Camden’s soft cry comes over the baby monitor.
“Coming, buddy,” I say, as if he can hear me.
“I’ll go,” Baker tells me.
“It’s okay. I was there when he fell asleep, and he’s thinking I left him. I’ll get him changed and bring him down.” I squeeze his arm as I pass and rush up the stairs to get Camden. I know it’s small, but it’s something that I can do to help lighten his load. Besides, I do want Camden to see that I’m still here. That little boy has his tiny little fist gripping tightly around my heart.
Chapter Nine
Baker
* * *
My feet drag as I make my way to Coach Warner’s office. Reid and Bellamy told him I needed to talk to him. Not that I couldn’t have handled that phone call or text message on my own, but my friends wanted to help. Considering my coach is Reid’s father-in-law, I let them handle it.
It’s the first day of training camp, and the place is lit up with people shuffling through the halls, but I’m here an hour earlier than I need to be. I don’t know how long this talk with Coach will take, and I know there are processes for what I’m about to ask, so I figured it's better to bank on more time than not have enough.
Reaching his office door, I rap my knuckles on the frame.
“Come on in, Sinclair,” Coach Warner’s deep voice answers.
“Hey, Coach,” I say, stepping into his office and closing the door behind me.
“Have a seat, Sinclair,” he says, nodding toward one of the two chairs that sit across from his desk. “What’s going on?” he asks, steepling his fingers. “My daughter said you have a family emergency.”
“Yeah,” I say, running my hands through my hair. “My son’s mother was killed in a plane crash over the weekend.”
“Shit,” Coach mutters. “What do you need?”
“We weren’t together, but she was his mom, you know?” I say. It’s something I’ve been battling with. I’m sad for my son, and of course, I never wanted harm to come to her, but she wasn’t mine. She never was, and I never wanted her to be. Hell, she never wanted to be. Levi was her endgame, and I was just the fool who fell for her beauty for one night of release, and here we are.
