The words are barely out of my mouth before he’s already taken off in her direction.
God, she looks so freaked out right now and I feel terrible. And helpless. I feel really fucking helpless. As someone who prides themselves on taking care of my people, just standing here doing nothing is torture.
I know people are staring in her direction simply because they’re surprised to see her outside of work, but if they can just go back to whatever the hell they were doing before she walked in, that’d be great.
Isaiah is the one to break the awkward silence,thank God.
“Welcome!” he says, loud enough for everyone to hear. Which isn’t all that loud because, again, everyone is just silently watching her.
He meets her at the back gate the same time his brother does.
Kai takes the dishes from her—three, to be exact—and Isaiah points her in the direction of the drinks, the bathroom, and where the food will be served.
The backyard is still way too quiet and I’m about two seconds away from grumpily growling something that will definitely out the fact that I’m more than a little smitten by this woman. But thankfully, Isaiah beats me to it.
“Okay, everyone. You all see her literally every day. Stop being weird and go back to whatever you were doing.”
There’s a nearby speaker system that hasn’t been used yet today because it’s been so loud back here, but Isaiah turns it up and the music is enough to ease the uncomfortable void.
I know I didn’t raise those boys or anything, but there’s still a swell of pride for them handling the situation how I hoped to handle it myself.
The people around me slowly get back to their previous conversations, and I give myself to the count of ten until I’ll allow myself to go see her. By then, enough people will have found something else to focus on rather than the team owner.
One.
Two.
By the time I get to three, Miller steps out of the backdoor slider and spots Reese slowly and unsurely migrating to join the party. And my daughter, my beautiful, sarcastic, doesn’t-give-a-shit-about-making-anyone-uncomfortable daughter beelines right for my boss and wraps her in a hug.
Reese is stiff as a board, and I can’t help but laugh from my spot across the yard.
But that’s Miller for you. She has no boundaries in the same way she has no filter. You feel uncomfortable and unwelcome? Well, she’s going to hug the shit out of you until you realize you’re wanted here. Either that or she’ll make some inappropriate joke at your expense that’ll break the ice real freaking quick.
Finally, I watch as Reese’s stiff shoulders loosen, and she hugs my daughter in return.
I’m always proud of my girl, but I could not be more thankful she is who she is, that she doesn’t have a shy bone in her body or give a shit that she just caught my boss off guard. Because I can already sense that Reese is a bit less guarded.
I don’t know what number I’m supposed to be counting, but it’s got to be past ten by now, so I toss the two empty bottles in a nearby recycling bin and take a step in her direction right as Isaiah places the last platter on the food table.
“Food is ready!” he announces loudly enough for everyone to hear.
An instant swarm of people head in that direction, but I’m just trying to get to Reese.
I veer through bodies, pushing my way through the crowd, trying to find her. Every once in a while, I catch a glimpse of blonde hair or a peek of that yellow sweater. But there’s so many people here it feels as if I’m swimming upstream and unable to make any progress.
Until I do, and realize I’ve passed her, finding her in the middle of the line to get food along with everyone else.
Cutting into the line, I slip in right behind her.
“Um, Coach.” Cody taps my shoulder. “You cut in front of me.”
Reese’s back is to me, not acknowledging that I’m standing directly behind her, but I see her body move in a silent laugh and know that she’s aware I’m here.
I look over my shoulder at my first baseman. “I’ve got to be honest, Cody. I truly could not care less.”
“Yeah, totally. Me neither. It’s not like I’ve been waiting all day for this or anything.”
Reese has this stunning smile on her face, trying to hold back her laughter when she turns back to Cody. “Do you want to go ahead of me?” she asks him. “I don’t mind.”
