“See you later?” I narrowed my eyes at Emily. “What is there a league thing today?”
“She’s going on a date,” Maddie offered. “He asked her before the game.”
“He asked…what?” I raised my head and found Emily’s sheepish gaze.
“It wasn’t exactly like that?—”
“So, he didn’t ask you out on a date in front of a bunch of eight-year-olds?”
I caught my mother’s scowl and took in a deep breath to calm down and lower my volume.
“Here,” Maddie said, unfastening her earrings and dropping them into Emily’s hand. “You can wear them on your date and be even prettier. I heard my mom really liked you, so she would be okay if you wore her earrings for a night.”
“Oh my gosh,” Emily whispered, staring at the earrings in her hand before closing her fingers around them. “I remember these earrings, and I’d be honored.” She cleared her throat and smiled down at Maddie. “I really liked your mom too.”
Maddie’s mom would want her to wear those earrings on a date withme, and it was all I could do not to scream that. But this was the price I had to pay for hesitating.
This was wrong. She shouldn’t be going on dates with slimy referees or anyone else but me. When Caden had said to fight for her, I’d never thought I would actually have to. Did I think she’d just wait around for me? How fucking stupid and arrogant was I?
I kept drawing these bullshit boundaries between us since Emily had come back into my life. Waiting until I had my shit together wasn’t an option if I didn’t want to lose her for good.
So, I would fight for her.
Because enough was enough.
“You guys have a good day,” Emily said, sweeping her gaze quickly over all of us. “I’ll take very good care of these, I promise.” Her eyes darted to mine for a moment before she shifted to leave.
“Did you hear when and where Coach Emily’s date is?” I asked Maddie, my eyes still lingering on Emily as she left the field.
“Six, I think, at Julianna’s.”
I expected my mother to glower at me or pull me aside to whisper to get a grip, but a small smile ghosted her lips as she came closer.
“How about a sleepover?” she asked Maddie. “You can tell Grandpa all about the goal you kicked today, and we’ll order dinner. We can follow Uncle Jesse home in my car, and we can pack a bag for tomorrow.”
Maddie pursed her lips and grabbed my hand.
“But I haven’t seen Uncle Jesse all day.”
“He’s got some work to do,” my mother whispered, arching a brow when she met my eyes over Maddie’s head. “Anoverdueproject.”
Maddie crinkled her nose. “But you said you were done with work.”
“I am, Mad,” I whispered, kissing her forehead. “But this is important too. I promise we’ll have a popcorn movie night tomorrow, so make sure to remember all the game details for me.”
She gave in with a reluctant nod and peered up at me. “The popcorn-maker popcorn, not microwave?”
“Yes, only the best popcorn for my favorite niece.” I tugged on her braid, courtesy of her grandmother.
“Thank you,” I mouthed to my mother.
She nodded and leaned in to kiss my cheek.
“Go get our girl.”
I’d spent a lifetime letting the world have the girl, now woman, I’d loved because I’d thought she was better off without me. I was done, but I hoped not too late.
But for now, I’d head home and help my niece pack a bag for a night at her grandparents’ house.
