Dad laughs. “Mind? Your mother is ecstatic to wear a new jersey. Did you hear they bedazzled jerseys this week atJolie?”
I frown. “What are you talking about?”
His lips twitch in amusement. “Hanson is out, buddy. Hate to break it to ya, but everyone will be wearing an Addie jersey to the game.”
That makes me unreasonably happy. “Really?”
“Yup. Your mom is going to have Avery help her bedazzle her own tonight so she’ll match all the Langfield women and her Mimi.”
I almost want to stay so I can see that in person. “That’s great,” I say, voice tight.
My father slips his hands into his slacks and rocks back on hisheels. “So you, uh, gonna make your move? Or did Beckett scare you off at the football game?”
I cough out a laugh. “I don’t know what you are talking about.”
He stares me down, blue eyes piercing. He’s not buying what I’m selling.
I don’t back down. There is nothing going on. No matter what I wish were happening.
“Listen…” He ducks, shaking his head. When he looks back up at me, his face is a mask of regret.
It’s an emotion I recognize. One I feel all the way to my soul.
“I wasted so much time thinking I was doing the right thing for your mother. Believing I knew what she needed. I stayed away for years, and because of that, I missed out on her pregnancy. I wasn’t there for her or my little girl the day she was born. I missed out on the first eleven years of Chloe’s life…” His chest falls with a defeated sigh. “You don’t get that time back. There’s no rewind. I know she isn’t Avery’s mom, but”—he shakes his head—“she’s the love of your life and she loves your little girl.”
My heart lodges itself in my throat. “I know that.”
He scowls like he can’t believe I’m aware yet still being so obstinate. “So what are you waiting for?”
“Maybe it’s just too late for us.” I rough a hand over my face, fighting the heat building behind my eyes. “She’s dating someone else. And I still haven’t resolved this shit show with Tabitha. Knowing her, it won’t go smoothly even when I finally serve her with divorce papers. She’s going to try to ruin everything in my life. It’s what she does. And I don’t want that to touch Adeline.”
With a heavy sigh, he shakes his head. “Leave Tabitha to me. You—” He blows out an aggravated breath. “Try chasing your happiness for once, rather than worrying. You’ve been doing it since you were a boy. Trying to make things easier for everyone else. And I get it, your mother’s battle with cancer meant you learned a lot earlier than most that life isn’t fair. But your mom never stopped fighting. So why the hell did you?”
Your mom never stopped fighting. An hour later I’m still rolling those words around in my head. Why did I give up the fight?
When I get home, the house is quiet. Finn, Winnie, and Hope took the kids out for dinner and a movie.
Finn texted, inviting me along, but I quickly declined. Why would I want to endure the chaos of dinner out with a bunch of kids if my own isn’t even there?
In the silence, I’m wondering if I should have agreed. Or maybe I should drive over to Bray’s and talk him into giving me another tattoo. I’d do just about anything to distract myself from thoughts of Adeline and her goddamn date.
I need a shower. A reset maybe.
I pull my shirt over my head and toss it onto the bed. Then I snag a pair of shorts from the dresser and shuffle to the bathroom.
When I push the door open, I stagger back. Because the room isn’t empty. No, Adeline fucking Langfield is standing at the sink wearing nothing but her jersey.
Jesus, I thought the sight of her inmyjersey would be the stuff of fantasies. But seeing her in hers has me losing all goddamn sense. Her toned legs are bare, the pale skin mouthwatering. Immediately, my attention is drawn to the freckle behind her knee I discovered it when we were seventeen and at the beach together for the first time.
Fuck, this woman is my goddamn dream come true and she’s getting ready for a date with someone else.
Will she sleep with him tonight? That thought makes my stomach roll. Will he treasure her? Please her? Treat her the way she deserves to be treated?
I blow out a breath, forcing the thoughts from my head. “Sorry, I thought you’d already left. I’ll use another bathroom.”
“JJ.”
I’m still staring at that freckle when she spins around. The movement is what I need to break from the trance I’m in. I drag my attentionup and find myself face to face with her. Beautiful honey eyes, red lips, soft skin.
