“What about you?” Baker asks me.
“Oh, you two go ahead. I’ll hang out here,” I tell him.
“Nope. You’re coming with us. Roll the wagon over here,” he says, unhooking the crowd control ribbon and letting me pass. Bellamy is right behind me with her stroller, while Reid coos over Coral.
“Coral, sweetheart, did you come to see Grandpa?” Coach Warner asks, joining us.
“Nice try, old man,” Reid jokes. “My girls are here for me.”
“Hey, Bella,” he greets his daughter.
“Hi, Dad.”
“I’m stealing these two,” Baker says, before grabbing my hand, Camden still in his arms, and leading me out onto the field.
“Wow, I’ve never been on the field before,” I comment, taking it all in.
Baker stops and turns to face me, my hand still in his. He gives a gentle squeeze as his hazel eyes bore into mine. “I’m so damn glad you’re here.”
“Well, this little man wanted to come see his daddy.” I ignore the way his gaze—or is it his hand in mine—has my heart fluttering inside my chest.
“Daddy, pway.”
Baker laughs. It’s a deep, rich sound, and I feel as though it’s been ages since I’ve seen that from him. “We can play,” he tells his son. He sets Camden on his feet, just as Landry, Foster, and Knox join us. Landry scoops Camden up under his arm as if he were holding a football, holds out his other arm in front of him as if he needs to block, and takes off running. Camden’s laughter echoes around the stadium.
“Go. Do your thing,” I tell Baker. “I know the crowds will be here soon.”
“We’re playing ball, remember?” he asks, still holding my hand.
“Who? You and me?”
“Yep.” He grins, and I love the sight of his hazel eyes lighting up with happiness instead of worry and despair. “Go long, baby.” He grins and turns, picks a football up off the ground, and takes off running, while I stand here swooning at the fact that he just called me baby.
He launches the ball in the air, and I watch it, bracing myself to catch it, and when the ball lands in my hands, my mouth falls open in shock. I thrust my hand in the air in celebration, and Baker whoops for me. I toss it back to him, but he has to run forward to catch it.
“A football player, I am not,” I say with a laugh when he reaches me.
He tucks a strand of hair behind my ear. “I had the hardest time leaving today,” he confesses.
“We were all cozy, snoozing away,” I say, avoiding what I think he’s trying to tell me.
“It’s the best night of sleep I’ve had in a very long time,” he admits.
“We want in,” Reid says, as he and Bellamy approach us. “Coach stole my daughter,” he grumbles.
“Oh, stop.” Bellamy laughs. “Let him have some time with her.”
Reid’s answer is to kiss his wife. “Game on, ladies,” he says, with a wicked gleam in his eyes.
We spend the next half hour or so tossing the ball between the four of us. I check on Camden and the guys, as well as Corie and Rowan, who are giving him all their attention. When the crowd starts to get heavy, I know we need to let the guys greet their fans.
“I should go get Camden so you can get to work.”
“I’ll get him.” Baker jogs off and takes his son from Foster before coming back to me. He’s jogging lightly, which bounces Camden in his arms. His little hands are gripping his dad’s jersey, and he cackles with laughter the entire way back to me.
“Come on, buddy, let’s get a drink and a snack.”
Baker hands him to me and whispers in my ear, “Thank you for this. Stick around.”
