“Tacos!”
“Let me take him,” Tucker says as he closes the distance between them. I step farther into the kitchen, stopping by the island in the center of the room as I watch them. There’s atwinge of jealousy in my chest as Payton smiles at Tucker while he undoes the straps and cradles Brody in his arms. Payton rests her hands on his forearms, staring down at their little guy for a moment.
A relationship was not a priority for me these past eight years. Baseball was my sole focus and it left little time to get involved with anyone. I knew as soon as my baseball career was over that I’d be heading home to shift into my new focus—the ranch.
But watching the two of them together with the life they share and the life they created, stirs up a sense of longing deep inside my chest. It’s something that might not be for me, although it’s something I find myself wanting more these days.
Maybe it has to do with the changing seasons of my life. Maybe this retirement and moving has awakened a part of me that I didn’t know was inside before.
Or maybe it’s because I’ve been alone for so long… and I don’t think I want to be alone forever.
“Come sit,” Payton says, waving me over to the dining area. Tucker carries three plates over, setting them all on the table before he starts to bop Brody up and down. He stirs in Tucker’s arms, his mouth widening as he yawns. “Would you like me to make yours?”
Tucker shakes his head at her. “You eat first, then I’ll get mine.”
I take a seat across from Payton, next to Tucker, and she motions for me to help myself. Grabbing a tortilla, I fill it with some chicken and then move onto the toppings, loading up my shell.
“Are you excited to get back to your hometown?”
I chew a bite of my taco, swallowing it back down as Tucker stands near Payton, rocking Brody as they both wait for my response. “I am. I miss it there.”
“He hates it here, babe,” Tucker laughs, his face lighting up.
“That’s true,” Payton giggles. “I’m sure you’ll be much happier there.”
“I think I will be,” I say after swallowing another bite. It’s not that I’ve been unhappy here, it’s just not what I grew up with. Even after being here for as long as I have been, it still has never truly felt like home. “It’s home, ya know?”
Payton nods and so does Tucker.
“You’ll come back to visit sometime though, won’t you?” Payton questions me as the two of us finish eating and Tucker continues to rock Brody.
“You guys can’t get rid of me that easily.”
Payton laughs softly and Tucker's chest rumbles with a chuckle. I pop the last of my taco into my mouth, rising to my feet before Payton gets the chance to. I step over to Tucker, holding my hands out.
“Here, I’ll take him so you can eat.”
Tucker raises an eyebrow. “You sure about that?”
“I’m not allergic to kids,” I laugh, taking the baby from him. “And it’s not my first time holding him.”
“Fair enough,” Tucker nods, smiling as he quickly sits down in his seat and wastes no time piling taco meat onto a tortilla. I shift my weight from leg to leg, swaying back and forth, staring at Brody’s soft features while he sleeps.
“Do you think you want any?”
I adjust Brody in my arms, my eyes slicing to Payton’s as she looks over at me. “What?”
“Kids,” she smiles, looking at Brody, Tucker and then back to me. “Do you think you want any?”
“Oh, I dunno,” I admit, shrugging my shoulders as I’m careful not to disturb the baby. He’s warm in my arms, tucked in against my chest. “I haven’t thought much about it.”
“You’re good with them,” Tucker chimes in, shrugging his shoulders. “Well, you’re good with Brody.”
“I think good things are going to happen for you back in Wyoming.” Payton gives me a dreamy smile, her eyes filled with hope. “Maybe you’ll find the woman of your dreams and finally settle down. And who knows…maybe you’ll even have kids of your own.”
Tucker snorts. “I don’t think I’d hold my breath if I were you.”
“Oh, stop that,” Payton scolds him, pursing her lips. “Everyone deserves to have a happily ever after.”
