I catch her eye and smile.
She gives me a small smile.
After homework, Zinnia goes to watch TV. The guys migrate to the living room with her.
I stay in the kitchen with Tiger.
“You okay?” I ask.
“I don’t know.”
She hugs me, wraps her arms around my waist, and presses her face against my chest. I hold her, running my hand through her hair.
Then I lean down and whisper in her ear. “You could stay the night at my place.”
She pulls back slightly. “Cal—”
“I know. I know. You can’t leave Zinnia. I’m just saying... whenever you can. My door’s open.”
“Your place is twenty minutes away.”
“So? I’ll make it worth the drive.”
She blushes, so I kiss her forehead. Then I let myself think about the day when her mom will take Zinnia for a sleepover. When it’ll just be the four of us. No interruptions. No responsibilities.
Just us.
The thought makes me grin.
“What?” Tiger asks.
“Nothing. Just thinking.”
“About?”
I whisper in her ear, “About how one day your mom’s going to take Zinnia for the night. And we’re going to have you all to ourselves.”
Her face turns red. “Callum.”
“What? It’s a nice thought.”
She shakes her head, but she’s smiling. That’s all I wanted.
That weekend, we travel for back-to-back games. Wisconsin on Friday. Minnesota on Sunday.
The plane ride is long. Boring. I spend most of it texting Tiger.
Me: Miss you already.
Tiger: Same and you just left two hours ago.
Me: Think about me tonight.
Tiger: Always.
She’s not catching the hint.
Me: And maybe Jax.
