When the game is done, Jake bounces over to us, dirty and sweaty and as happy as he can be. “Uncle Jack, did you see that? Did you see me score?”
I love that he still bounces like this when he’s excited. It’s one of those things I was afraid he’d grow out of before I was ready.
“Aunt Kate, is Hays here? The twins?Hoe my glob, are you havinganotherbaby?” He screws his face up and adds, “Gross,” under his breath.
“I am,” Kate says at the same time that I scold, “Jacob, what did you say?”
“What? You said I’m not allowed to sayoh my God, so I changed it.” He shrugs and reaches for Jack. “Uncle Jack, you have to come meet my coach, Miles. He’s the best, seriously. He fixed Mom’s plumbing. And Bronson dances for him, just like he did for Dad.” He jogs away from us, Jack trailing behind.
“Well now, he’s seen to your plumbing. Is that code or…” Kate might be grinning at me from ear to ear, but the look Jack’s throwing me is filled with all kinds of promises to discuss this later.
“Literally, my bathroom plumbing. That’s it.” I open the back door of my car and spread a towel on Jake’s seat. It’s not the dirt that concerns me; it’s the sweaty-boy smell and my upholstery.
“Oh, he’s the one who changed out your handheld. Maybe he needs to make up for that little snafu.” She waggles her brows at me and turns toward her husband and Miles sandwiching Jake as they approach. “Sweet mother of God,” she says under her breath.
And she’s not wrong. Those two broad, badass men flanking my young son are enough to make ovaries explode everywhere.
“Aunt Kate, this is Miles. He’s my coach and Mom’s plumbing friend.”
Jake has got to quit saying that.
“It’s an absolute pleasure to meet you, Miles. I’ve heard so much about you,” Kate drawls, letting her Mississippi roots show.
Miles smiles warmly and takes Kate’s hand. “Good things, I hope.”
“Only the best.”
At that, Jack scowls, and I have a sudden urge to buy some hip waders with the way Kate has shit piling up.
“You doing okay?” I ask Miles, shifting closer to him. It’s been a few days since I’ve seen him, and I realize I’ve missed him.
“Good enough, considering the amount I drank last night. Do you have an extra sports drink or water?”
I rifle through the bag in the back of my car and hand both Miles and Jake plastic bottles.
“You go out drinking like that often?” Jack ask, his brows pulling in tight.
After dealing with my dad and his protectiveness, Miles doesn’t seem at all fazed by Jack’s interrogation. He shakes his head and drains the sports drink. “No, man. Just went out with my SEAL buddy, Chance. Really wish I had declined and come by Chloe’s instead. I definitely would’ve made a better first impression.” He bows his head and chuckles.
“Not another Chance.” Kate laughs as Jack mumbles, “Jesus.”
Miles cocks a brow and looks to me for an explanation.
“Kate’s ex who’s now completely out of the closet,” I tell Miles. “It only took him three years to tell his parents?” I add and Kate nods her agreement.
“We’re going to go get a late lunch, you want to come with us?” I turn to Miles as he eyes the empty bottle in his hand.
He shifts and pushes a hand through his hair. “I think I need to shower and sleep a little,” he says, looking embarrassed.
“Come by later, then. We’ll be hanging out tonight. Nothing big.” Without thinking, I lean up on my toes and brush a kiss on the edge of his mouth.
His warm hand settles on my hip. A throat clears behind me, and when I turn, Kate’s smile takes over her face. Jack looks like he could have a stroke. But Jake, his shy smile is the only thing that matters to me.
Miles squeezes my hip once before extending the same hand to Jack. “Great to meet you. Glad you got to see Jake play. Enjoy lunch. I’ll catch up with you later, okay?”
Ice rattlesagainst the glass as Kate stirs a splash of cranberry juice into her seltzer. She tucks her feet between the cushions of the couch and sighs dramatically. “This really needs a big splash of tequila. And a whole lot less of the seltzer and no cranberry. I just want tequila.”
I almost feel bad, sipping on the Paloma she so lovingly crafted for me. Honestly, I think she made it just so she could sniff the ingredients. And maybe lick her fingers.
