ChapterTwenty-Seven
STEVIE
“Are you excited to see Daddy play?”
Caleb looks up at me with big brown eyes. Tiny headphones are secured around his ears, protecting him. He doesn’t understand a word I’m saying, but his face is happy.
He definitely takes after his father.
Going in through a separate entrance, I follow the path I took the last time I was here.
I adjust Caleb’s jersey, one that says “Daddy,” as we take the elevator up. Bode bought him one with his last name on the back, but Eve thought it would be a fun surprise for Bode after the game.
“Good afternoon. Can I help you find where you’re going?”
I smile at the older gentleman. “Hi. I’m headed to suite seventeen, but is there any place we can store his stroller?”
He beams at me. “Ahh, yes. Right this way.”
I push the stroller after him.
“There’s some space back here,” he starts, pointing to the small entryway I didn’t notice the first time I was here. “You can leave it here so it’s out of the way.”
“Thank you so much.”
Voices filter out of the suite into the hall.
Before too long, I won’t be able to hold him. He’s growing like a weed and is getting heavy.
“Stevie,” Harper greets me, “I’m so happy you could make it tonight.”
“Thanks.” I adjust Caleb on my hip, who now has a fistful of my hair in his mouth. “It’s nice to see you again.”
Having a familiar face here makes it less awkward. Having walked in by myself the last time I was here, it feels different taking Caleb.
I’m not his mom, but I feel protective of him.
Harper gives me a one-armed hug, thanks to the screaming toddler on her arm. “Sorry about him.”
“Is he okay?”
Harper waves me off. “He’s fine. The girls went to the bathroom with their Gigi and he got mad that he couldn’t go.”
“Ahh. Well, at least we don’t have to worry about that with this one.”
Harper smiles at him. “How’s he doing?”
“You mean how is Bode doing with him?”
She shrugs and leads me farther into the suite. “I mean, you said it, not me.”
Food of all kinds is spread out across the counter. Pasta salad. Sliders. Mac and cheese. Hot dogs. All of it smells delicious. Tubs of ice hold soda and various drinks.
“Pretty sure that Bode is Caleb’s favorite person.”
Harper eyes me. “From the looks of it, you’re also right up there.”
“Stop it.”
