“Will you take me to the park, Decker?” Monroe asks, still wrapped around his legs.
“Sure, but I’m gonna need that necklace. It’s not safe to climb with that on.”
She takes it off right away. “It’s Paperclip Day.”
“Cool, another checkmark.” They high-five each other and take off.
Dickwad is talking Leighton’s ear off while she packs up the bag. He’s head to toe in Prep Baseball Report gear, and I shake my head. I detour through the dugout, the boys staring at me in awe, even though I don’t think they exactly know who I am. I don’t have to explain that we play for the Colts, Easton’s doing enough of it for the three of us.
Once I’m on the field, Leighton catches sight of me, and the smile she gives me… shit, it’s one most men would dream about. It has to mean something. I understand her not being ready with everything she has going on, but no one smiles at someone like that if they don’t want more.
“Hey, babe.” I come alongside her, wrapping my arm around her waist and pulling her into me.
“Hey.” She steadies herself with a hand on my chest.
“This must be the boyfriend.” Dickhead holds his hand in front of me. He’s so arrogant that he’s yet to look me in the eye.
“You bragging about me, babe?” I kiss her cheek.
“I just said you played some baseball too.” She smiles wide, and I can assume from her tone and her comment how the conversation between the two of them went. “How was the game?”
“We won, and your man went two for three.”
Dickwad’s eyes snap up, and as recognition hits, his jaw falls open. “Your boyfriend is Hayes Carlisle?”
“Oh.” Leighton’s voice is syrupy sweet and drips with sarcasm. “Did I not mention that?”
He clears his throat. “I think you forgot that part.”
“Honey, this is Mike, but he likes to be referred to as Butter. You know, smooth as butter.”
I’m about ready to bust out laughing from her tone of voice.
“Mike is good,” he says, shifting in place.
I hold out my hand. “Pleasure.” We shake. “How did my girl do?”
“Great. She did great.”
“I told you you had nothing to worry about. That some helpful dad would volunteer to help. Thanks, Butter?—”
“You can call me Mike…”
I ignore his response. “Excuse us, we need to get home and feed the kids.” I reach for the bag of equipment. “Let me get that.” I keep my arm around her waist and lead us away. “See you, Mike.”
“Yeah, bye.” His voice is distant.
I tap Leighton’s ass with the hopes he’s looking to make it very clear that she’s mine.
“What are you doing?” Leighton says under her breath.
“Just playing the part, babe.” I kiss her cheek. I’ll take any excuse I can get to be affectionate.
“All right then. When I come to a baseball game, I’ll grab you by the dick.”
I laugh. “Do you think you’d hear any complaints from me?”
She leans her head on my chest, and I tuck her in a little tighter. I’ll fake it until she believes there’s nothing fake about what’s happening between us.
