“It’s nice that you have a nanny. Could use that from time to time,” Cody muses, and my memory flickers back to when Gareth told me Cody’s wife is sick.
“Hailey is a lifesaver. I’m grateful to have her.” Taking another pull of my beer, I shift my focus to the rest of the attendees and scope everyone out. Cody doesn’t say anything further, and for a brief second I feel like I should offer to ask if Hailey would ever want to babysit before I think better of it. It’s not my job to offer up her services—not to mention, I employ her full-time.
“So, Coach. Do you live in Bridge Point?” Dylan asks, clapping me on the back. He’s wearing light blue shorts with Hawaiian flowers, a plain white T-shirt, and brown leather flip-flops, leaning into the laid-back persona I’m stereotyping him to have.
“You can call me Declan. And yeah, Bridge Point’s my hometown. We moved a few times when I was a kid but always ended up back here. You?”
“Ridgewood.” He grins. “Born and raised, but I moved down to San Diego after high school.”
“What brought you back?” I let another swig of beer sit on my tongue for a moment before swallowing the crisp, bitter taste down.
His face drops for a fraction of a second before he smiles tightly. From my peripheral, I see Gareth switch his weight from one foot to the other, as though he’s anticipating Dylan’s next words. “My mom passed away, and our dad lives across the country. My little sister never left Ridgewood, so I moved back to be near her.”
“Bro, your sister is only a year younger than you.” Gareth’s eyes narrow for a beat.
“Yeah,” Dylan says sarcastically. “Littlesister.”
Gareth shakes his head and takes another drink.
I look between Gareth and his best friend, trying to figure out what the sudden shift in attitude is, before saying, “Well, you and your sister will have to come to a game sometime.”
Dylan beams. “Yeah! Indy would love that. If we can get her to take a night off from the bar, that is.”
Gareth mumbles something under his breath then takes a long drink before tossing the bottle into a trash can. He shakes his head and walks over to join Jensen a couple of tables over.
“She’s a bartender?” I ask politely, although I’m looking for an exit strategy.
“Yeah, at a biker bar in Ridgewood called Andromeda.”
“That’s cool.”
“Ever been there?” he asks curiously.
“Can’t say that I have.”
“We should all go sometime.” Dylan grins and pulls his phone from his pocket. Without looking back up at me, he adds, “Betcha we could get a round on the house.”
“Yeah, maybe after a home game sometime,” I tell him to placate him, but I have no intention of ever going to abikerbar with a man who looks like one of Sailor’s Ken dolls. Even if it is with a group.
Excusing myself from the conversation, I walk over and fire up the barbecue so I can get started on cooking. Everyone seems content for now, but I’ve been at enough of these things to know there’s a fine line between having a good time and being irritated that there’s no food.
It seems like the blink of an eye by the time I’m standing around the hot charcoal flipping the last few pieces of chicken. I’ve spent the better part of my time at the grill chatting with the three men who’ve made it their mission to befriend me, and when Sailor finally arrives and flings herself at my legs, she holds me in a tight hug and says, “Hi, Daddy!”
“Hey, baby girl.” I pick her up, situating her on my hip like I’ve done so many times prior.
“Damn,” Austin mutters under his breath and I glance up to see Hailey walking through the gathering with a million-dollarsmile on her face. Or at least that’s how much I’d pay just to catch a glimpse of it.
A swell of possessiveness inflates within me at Austin’s outward appreciation, but I can’t rip my gaze from her long enough to give a shit if he’s staring.
Hailey lights up the stadium as she keeps her sole focus on Sailor and I, unknowingly ignoring everyone who’s stopped mid-conversation to look at her.
She’s a vision, and she has no fucking idea.
“Hey,” she greets, stopping on the other side of the grill. A plume of smoke wafts from it, so she sways her hand, attempting to clear it from her face. “Hi, I’m Hailey.” She outstretches her hand to Jensen, then introduces herself to Austin and Gareth next.
My heart thunders in my chest as each of the guys grasp Hailey’s delicate palm in their hand, jealousy pulsing that I’m not the one touching her skin.
Needing a distraction, I introduce the guys to Sailor, and Gareth stretches his neck, looking around for his brother and nephew. “Let me go find Bodhi so the kids can play.”
