I look at Alie. “She will?”
“Yeah, she’ll be with me while I’m working. She likes all the pictures and drones and the snacks that all the players sneak to her.” She winks at Sera, who giggles.
I nod. “Good. Then I’ll see you both then.”
Sera walks over to me and wraps her arms around my leg, like it’s the most normal thing in the world.
Shocked, I look at Alie for guidance, and she nods with a smile.
I squat down, breaking her hold on me, but before she can move away, I open my arms in invitation. She dives into me, almost knocking me off-balance.
“Oof, you’re strong,” I tease.
She giggles the sweetest sound. “Bye,” she says, then releases her hold around me.
I swallow hard.
“Bye, Seraphina,” I say as she skips away to the couch.
Alie walks me to the door, and we stand there quietly, just looking at one another.
“You were really great with her,” she says softly.
I shake my head. “I feel like I have no idea what I’m doing.”
“None of us do.” She shrugs. “We just figure it out.”
“Right.” I nod.
“I’ll talk to you later?”
“Yeah, that would be nice.” I lean down and kiss her cheek.
Then, with one last look over Alie’s shoulder, I see Sera watching us carefully, a stuffed football in her hands.
I wave at her, and she waves back with a smile.
Something settles deep in me. It’s not fear, or anger, but something … steadier and protective. And I can’t wait to see them both again.
CHAPTER
TWENTY-TWO
Liam
Monday rolls around, and it’s media day. The facility feels louder. Even from the outside.
More … alive. Almost like game days.
The buzz in the air hits me the second I walk through the doors. Cameras. Staff running around. Equipment carts loaded with jerseys and banners.
It’s a controlled type of chaos that I typically thrive in.
I nod to people as I make my way through the traffic and head down to the locker room. Before I even open the door, I can hear Aston Griffith.
“They seriously can’t expect me to smile for a hundred photos without being properly caffeinated,” he says loudly in his thick Texas accent.
I can’t help but smile as I walk into the room.
