On my way down.
“It’s ten-thirty. Sailor’s probably asleep.” I swear Austin only half thinks the majority of the time. It’s a damn good thing he’s good at playing ball. “Is no one going to bother telling him we’re on the roof?”
“Oh, shit.” Austin laughs.
Up. We’re at the rooftop bar.
“Don’t worry, I got it.”
A few minutes later, Declan shows up, waving a waitress over as he comes to stand by our table. He orders himself a local brew, then crosses his arms in front of his chest.
“You look as stiff as a fucking board, Declan. Take a seat.” Jensen gestures at the open stool next to Austin.
Instead of listening, he turns toward the railing, eyes on the skyline. Deep in thought, he chews on his bottom lip. The silence is unsettling, and the three of us look at each other in confusion, though none of us dare to interrupt whatever inner battle Declan’s having.
It isn’t long before I can’t take it anymore. “Hey, Declan. You good, man?”
Exhaling through his nose, he turns back to us, then drops into the chair next to Jensen. “I need to talk to you guys. Notcoach to player, but as a friend. Man to man. You guys are younger than me, maybe you’ll have some insight on how to dig myself out of the hole I just sank into.”
The waitress comes by and places Declan’s beer on a paper coaster in front of him, also bringing us refills. Austin passes her a twenty, then turns to Declan. “Alright, so tell us then. What’s this about? Did you get into it with the Rebels coach or something?”
“Piss off Blake Bradley?” Jensen asks. “That prick has it coming. Just because he owns the team doesn’t mean he knows baseball.”
Declan shakes his head. “No. It’s about my daughter’s nanny, Hailey.”
That gets my attention. Putting my glass down on the table, I lean forward slightly. “What happened, Declan?”
“Fuck,” he mutters, running his hand through his hair. “We crossed a line tonight. She—I—we. Dammit. We crossed a line we should have stayed the hell away from.”
Austin bursts out laughing, while Jensen twists in his chair to take a better look at Declan. He’s flustered—embarrassed even, if the light reddish hue on his cheeks is any indicator.
But I know there’s more to the story than Declan’s told us so far, and if spending a lot of time on third base has taught me anything, it’s that sometime the ending details are the most important.
He tosses his hands into the air. “She’s great with Sailor. Sexy as hell. Funny. But I promised myself I’d put Sailor first, no matter what. And being attracted to hernannyjeopardizes the good thing they’ve got going. I’ve made a damn mess.”
I take a long sip of my beer, patiently waiting for Declan to get out everything he needs to say. Seems like that was it though. He picks up his drink and takes a long pull of the dark amber liquid, careful not to drink the head as he gulps it down.
“I don’t see what the problem is.” Jensen shrugs. “If she’s consenting and you both want each other, then go for it. Nannies are a dime a dozen. You can find a new one for Sailor.”
“You don’t get it, though. It’s not that simple. Finding someone who relates to and bonds with your kid, and is willing to work with the crazy baseball lifestyle? Unheard of.”
“Is potentially losing your nanny the only thing holding you back?” I ask tentatively, trying to piece the puzzle together.
“No.” Declan shakes his head. “It’s not even that. It’s their relationship. Sailor’s already been through so much with her mother abandoning her. Since Hailey walked into our lives, Sailor’s been so happy. I can’t explain it, I don’t know how to. But I can’t risk starting something with Hailey and it going south, and Sail losing another woman she loves from her life.”
My heart aches for his daughter. I don’t have kids, but I love my nephew Bodhi more than I thought it was possible to love another human, and he’s not even mine. I can’t imagine what it’ll be like one day when I have a child of my own. “I can see the concern, but if you feel something for her?—”
Austin groans. “Getting soft on us, Gareth?”
I pinch the bridge of my nose. “Says the man who’s never been in a relationship.”
“Who says I haven’t?” he snaps, catching me off guard.
“Be for real,” Jensen chides, glaring at Austin.
“As I was saying—” I ignore them both and speak directly to Declan. “If you feel something for her, you have to consider it. We’re human. We make mistakes, sure, but pursuing someone you could see a future with is never a mistake in the long run. If you can see a future with Hailey, I don’t see a reason why you shouldn’t at least try. Your happiness matters too, Coach.”
My own words echo through my ears, and I realize I need to practice what I preach.
