Page 62 of Fumble Into the End Zone
I scanned the half-filled baseball stadium before I returned my eyes to my friend. “He gave me power of attorney in exchange…”
“For what?” Stacie interrupted as she trembled with excitement.
“To give us a real chance, and I only agreed to stay for the weekend. But I told his grandmother I would move in while she was out of town,” I whispered.
Stacie slapped my shoulder with her mouth parted again. “Mia, how long have you known this man for him to give you power of attorney over his daughter? You agreed to move in?” she questioned.
I put eyes on Harley again and smiled as she dipped her hotdog in the ketchup.
“I’m staying until Mrs. Eddy comes back, but it’s been two weeks. I know it’s crazy, but he says he knows I’m his wife and I said fuck it. The sex is good. I already care about Harley. He gave me a house key and his black card. We’ll get to know each other along the way. He has already treated me better than my last two boyfriends. He doesn’t watch my food intake, and he texted for a week, telling me I’m beautiful. To share his daughter spoke volumes to me,” I said.
“About damn time. Friend, I’m lovin’ this new attitude on you. Sometimes, you have to jump in the deep end of the pool. Especially when the lifeguard is fine,” she said, and I shook my head.
We both put eyes on Harley, and she waved at us before picking up her hotdog.
“What’s going on with you?” I inquired.
Stacie propped her body against the glass, giving me a tightened face.
“Daddy and Rex are at it again. He doesn’t understand why we’re not married. Then, Rex changed his mind about not wanting children. It came out of the blue last week,” she said.
My red flags flew in the air. Rex was more anti-kids than Stacie and steered clear of them outside of team events.
“Stacie, hear me out. When Nathan’s mind suddenly changed about kids before he popped up with Onna. I’m not saying Rex is cheating, but you need to find out why he changed his mind.”
My friend gave me a tight mouth but shook her head in agreement. For Rex’s sake, I hope he wasn’t cheating or had a secret baby. The things she suggested I do to Nathan would’ve had us both needing a lawyer. We both walked inside the suite and found Harley finishing up her food.
“They’re getting ready to throw the first pitch. Do you want to come outside and watch under the shade or stay inside?” I asked.
“Outside,” Harley said.
After I helped her down and cleaned her hands, those sunglasses went back on her face.
Stacie mouthedI love herto me, and I shook my head.
Chapter 10
Game Day Tickets
Marcus
Iclimbed into bed and opened my text message thread to more pictures of Mia and Harley. My daughter and these sunglasses sent me into a hard cackle. After the baseball game, they went to the park. Mia sent various pictures of Harley on the swings with the other kids. Instead of texting, I FaceTimed Mia.
She answered in a headscarf. Those pouty lips had me wanting to crawl through the phone.
“Hey, you.”
“Beautiful,” I said, and Mia blushed.
“Shouldn’t you be sleep, there is a big game tomorrow against Miami? They have a strong secondary, Mr. Allen. Kellen is physical and will try to jam you at the line of scrimmage,” she said, and I gave a half smirk
“Marry me,” I requested, and she lowered the phone but lifted it again to show her face.
“Marcus, you need to focus,” she said.
I admired Mia’s flawless skin, her perfect shaped nose and beauty mark on the right side of her face underneath her lip.
“I am, baby. Did Harley give you trouble about going to bed?” I asked.
