Hayden:I’ve always been a fan of being the underdog so don’t count yourself out yet. And you’ll be proud of ME. Frankie is watching Gwen tonight for a few hours so I can come over. I want to be there, no matter what happens. Do you know what time?
Charlotte:You’re the best. I know it’s hard for you to trust Frankie like this, so thank you for doing this for me. And my guess is five.
Hayden:I’ll be there.
There. That felt better. Charlotte had told me once that, some days, she could go hours without looking at her phone because it was an endless stream of students. She was easy to be around and talk to, so I had no doubt students flocked to her. That was why she hadn’t texted. I relaxed and shoved my phone in my pocket.
Today was an easy day, everyone settling down before the holiday break. Then things would pick up. I had a tour scheduled with a potential recruit, and then I was gonna work out with some of the guys before heading to pick up Gwen. Man, my nerves were fried thinking about Charlotte. I wanted this for her so damn much, even though I knew it would be a long shot.
I’d suffered heartbreak two times in my life, and it sucked. First, when I realized I’d never be promoted from the minors and quit to pursue coaching, and then when Gwen’s mom decided not to be in Gwen’s life. I knew that pit in your stomach, the disappointment that could seep into all areas of your life.
I’d be there for Charlotte. I’d make sure to help her no matter what happened with the interview. My phone rang again with the random number I’d been seeing the last two weeks. I ignored it and focused on my job, hoping it’d make the time go by faster so I could see Charlotte.
Was I acting like a giddy fucking teenager again? Yes.
And did I care? Not at all. I loved her, and once we got past this wedding, we could be open about it. Flashes of summer vacations, of us helping Christian and Penny navigate parenthood, of us getting married all crossed my mind. I could almost hear my mom telling me to slow down because I didn’t do anything half speed. I was all in from the start, and Charlotte was no different. Maybe I’d get her flowers to show her how much I cared? Yeah. I’d get her favorite flowers before going over there tonight. That seemed like a good plan.
The other assistant coaches chuckled at me as I ran out of the office. Rosa, the newest addition, gave me so much shit, but there was a kindness about it. I never shared anything about my personal life, and now they all knew about Charlotte. I didn’t know life could be like this… happy. I loved my daughter and career and the life we had, but I rarely didanything for just me, and Charlotte was all mine. I picked up flowers, then Gwen, and we made our way home. Frankie was due to arrive in twenty minutes, so I had plenty of time to get Gwen washed up and ready for dinner. I was killing this whole dating-and-dad thing.
“Daddy, do dinosaurs poop?”
I snorted, chopping up some apples. “Yes. All creatures go to the bathroom.”
“I don’t think so. Dinos make sparkle dust. That’s what I actually think.”
“Sparkle dust it is.” God, this girl. She puffed out her chest and went back to building a house out of magnets. The doorbell rang, and I grabbed a towel to dry my hands as I went to let Frankie in.
When I had interviewed her, she agreed to my terms of texting me every thirty minutes. She had an older brother who had two young kids whom she watched all the time and who was also a hover parent. She could call me a hovering helicopter parent, and I’d be just fine. “Hey, Frankie,” I said, opening the front door with a smile. “Dinner is almost—”
I stopped.
Simone stood at my doorstep.
“Hi, Hayden.”
That voice. The tone, that light lilt to the second syllable of my name… hearing it was like a gunshot to the chest.
“Simone.” I swallowed, panic clawing up my throat. Why the fuck was she outside my house, where my daughter was? “Why the fuck are you here?”
“I tried calling and texting you a few times. You ignored me.” She crossed her arms over her chest, her facetightening into a scowl. “This wouldn’t be a surprise if you had answered.”
Gwen could see her mom. The one who left her.I glared at Simone, an anger so fierce that I barked, “Leave. Leave right now.”
“No. I’ve tried calling and texting for weeks! I really need to speak with you. It’s important. It’s about our daughter.” Her voice wobbled on the edge of tears. That sound used to upset me, when I wanted to please her. Now fury replaced sympathy.
Our daughter.The words made me recoil. How dare she?
“By surprising me? At my house? Withmydaughter?” My voice rose, and I gripped the edge of the door tighter. “No.No.”
“Hayden, if you avoid me, I’m going to keep showing up.”
The worst-case scenarios flooded my mind, each worse than the last. What if she wanted to take Gwen away from me? What if she tried to fight for full custody?
“What do you want?”
I glanced inside, where Gwen sat at the table, still playing, unaware of everything. My heart thudded, and my senses went into fight-or-flight mode. Frankie would be here soon. I could get Gwen comfortable with her, and then I could hear Simone out. Yeah.
“I want another shot at being a family with you.”
