In Her Own League — 20 Emmett

20

EMMETT

Isaiah and Kennedy’s backyard is packed with all the players from the team, everyone from the Health and Wellness Department, the team photographers, equipment managers, and social media staff.

Essentially, it’s every person from the franchise who is involved in each

game we play, both home and away.

All but one.

The Rhodes’ new house is stunning, and their sprawling backyard is just as impressive. There are plenty of tables and extra chairs for sitting, and lawn games are scattered across the grass. The weather is perfect, as is their view of the nearby lake.

I’ve been over a few times since they moved in early spring, but it’s fun to see them host their first gathering. They may have been an unlikely pair in the beginning, but they’re good for each other and I’m proud of the life they’ve built for themselves here.

“Can I get you another?” Kai asks, holding up his empty beer bottle.

I check the one I’m currently nursing. “I’m good. I’ll wait until we eat.”

“What did you bring?”

Shrugging, I bring the bottle to my lips. “I don’t know. Whatever Miller made for me.”

Kai chuckles. “Well then apparently you contributed a watermelon and feta salad, and I brought a corn and tomato dish I can’t pronounce.”

“How innovative of us.”

Kai looks around the busy backyard. “Reese isn’t coming?”

I down the rest of my beer. “Apparently not. I invited her last week, but that was also the last time I was alone with her to ask.”

I’ve seen Reese every day at the field, in that polished pencil skirt with her sleek blonde hair, fully in boss mode and focused solely on her job.

We’ve hardly been alone since that kiss. It’s this torturous game of being in the same room with her but not being with her in the slightest.

Then there’s the reminder that this isn’t a game at all. This is her reputation at stake, and that’s enough to reinforce my resolve of keeping my distance.

At least that’s what I tell myself until the side gate to the backyard opens, and all that willpower I’ve been trying to muster since leaving Reese’s condo threatens to crumble at my feet.

Reese steps into the yard, serving dishes in her hands with that perfect pink manicure wrapped around them in a white-knuckled grip.

I’ve seen Reese outside of work enough times now that I shouldn’t be shocked when she’s not wearing her business attire, yet still, she somehow takes me by surprise.

She’s traded her usual pencil skirt for a pair of well-fitted jeans and light- yellow cardigan, unbuttoned at the top. Casual but still completely put together. She swapped her stilettos for a pair of Chucks and added a bend to her sharply cut hair, which is tucked behind one ear, showcasing those earrings my attention tends to snag on.

She looks fucking adorable, and I think she might cut my dick off if she ever heard me call her that.

The buzzing chatter of the backyard around me silences, and at first, I think it’s one of those cliché movie moments where the guy locks eyes with the woman he’s gone for and everything else around disappears to nothing.

And while, yeah, I’ve got my attention locked on Reese, the sounds around me didn’t falsely fade out. The backyard conversations and laughter truly did die down because everyone is looking in her direction too.

Reese glances up to find just about everyone staring at her and the panicked expression on her face cracks my heart in two. Her hands are full, her blue eyes are wide, and I’ve never seen her less confident than she seems right now.

I want to rush over to her, wrap her in a hug, thank her for coming, and tell everyone to be fucking normal about the team owner showing up to join us.

But I can’t because every person watching works for her. And that kills

me.

I take Kai’s empty beer. “Go help her.”

The words are barely out of my mouth before he’s already taken off in her direction.

God, she looks so freaked out right now and I feel terrible. And helpless.

I feel really fucking helpless. As someone who prides themselves on taking care of my people, just standing here doing nothing is torture.

I know people are staring in her direction simply because they’re surprised to see her outside of work, but if they can just go back to whatever the hell they were doing before she walked in, that’d be great.

Isaiah is the one to break the awkward silence, thank God.

“Welcome!” he says, loud enough for everyone to hear. Which isn’t all that loud because, again, everyone is just silently watching her.

He meets her at the back gate the same time his brother does.

Kai takes the dishes from her—three, to be exact—and Isaiah points her in the direction of the drinks, the bathroom, and where the food will be served.

The backyard is still way too quiet and I’m about two seconds away from grumpily growling something that will definitely out the fact that I’m more than a little smitten by this woman. But thankfully, Isaiah beats me to it.

“Okay, everyone. You all see her literally every day. Stop being weird and go back to whatever you were doing.”

There’s a nearby speaker system that hasn’t been used yet today because it’s been so loud back here, but Isaiah turns it up and the music is enough to ease the uncomfortable void.

I know I didn’t raise those boys or anything, but there’s still a swell of pride for them handling the situation how I hoped to handle it myself.

The people around me slowly get back to their previous conversations, and I give myself to the count of ten until I’ll allow myself to go see her. By then, enough people will have found something else to focus on rather than

the team owner.

One.

Two.

By the time I get to three, Miller steps out of the backdoor slider and spots Reese slowly and unsurely migrating to join the party. And my daughter, my beautiful, sarcastic, doesn’t-give-a-shit-about-making-anyone- uncomfortable daughter beelines right for my boss and wraps her in a hug.

Reese is stiff as a board, and I can’t help but laugh from my spot across the yard.

But that’s Miller for you. She has no boundaries in the same way she has no filter. You feel uncomfortable and unwelcome? Well, she’s going to hug

the shit out of you until you realize you’re wanted here. Either that or she’ll make some inappropriate joke at your expense that’ll break the ice real freaking quick.

Finally, I watch as Reese’s stiff shoulders loosen, and she hugs my daughter in return.

I’m always proud of my girl, but I could not be more thankful she is who she is, that she doesn’t have a shy bone in her body or give a shit that she just caught my boss off guard. Because I can already sense that Reese is a bit less guarded.

I don’t know what number I’m supposed to be counting, but it’s got to be past ten by now, so I toss the two empty bottles in a nearby recycling bin and take a step in her direction right as Isaiah places the last platter on the food table.

“Food is ready!” he announces loudly enough for everyone to hear.

An instant swarm of people head in that direction, but I’m just trying to get to Reese.

I veer through bodies, pushing my way through the crowd, trying to find her. Every once in a while, I catch a glimpse of blonde hair or a peek of that yellow sweater. But there’s so many people here it feels as if I’m swimming upstream and unable to make any progress.

Until I do, and realize I’ve passed her, finding her in the middle of the line to get food along with everyone else.

Cutting into the line, I slip in right behind her.

“Um, Coach.” Cody taps my shoulder. “You cut in front of me.”

Reese’s back is to me, not acknowledging that I’m standing directly behind her, but I see her body move in a silent laugh and know that she’s aware I’m here.

I look over my shoulder at my first baseman. “I’ve got to be honest, Cody. I truly could not care less.”

“Yeah, totally. Me neither. It’s not like I’ve been waiting all day for this or anything.”

Reese has this stunning smile on her face, trying to hold back her laughter when she turns back to Cody. “Do you want to go ahead of me?” she asks him. “I don’t mind.”

“Oh, no. That is so nice of you, Reese, but to be honest, I just really want to hold this over his head for a while. Thank you, though.”

She turns back to walk forward with the line, and Cody looks at me, pumping his brows a couple of times like a fucking idiot.

Shut up, I silently mouth.

“I just love that you can read my mind, Coach. We’re so connected.”

I step forward in line, keeping myself only a few inches behind Reese, my chest real close to her back. But we’re simply in line for food, so this is an innocent enough position if anyone were watching.

“So, what did you bring?” I ask quietly.

The corners of Reese’s mouth turn up, keeping her focus ahead of her.

“I brought a loaded focaccia with prosciutto and arugula. But then I got worried that people might be vegetarian, so I also made a caprese salad. But then that has dairy, and some people are dairy-free, so I also made this cucumber and avocado dish, just in case.”

“You brought three separate dishes?”

“I was nervous no one would like the one I brought. At least now I have better odds.”

I do my best not to tease her, but my cheeks hurt from the splitting grin I’m trying to bite back. Business Barbie is fucking endearing, and she has no idea.

My fingers are itching to touch her, to place my hand on her hip and give her a squeeze. To wrap my arm around the front of her shoulders and reassure her that she’s doing great.

But I can’t. Because I work for this woman along with everyone else at this potluck.

Instead, I keep my voice low and my mouth close to her ear when I say, “I’m glad you’re here.”

She looks up at me over her shoulder, brows pinched. “Are you sure it’s okay?”

“Without a question. You’re a part of this team too.”

The crease between her eyes softens, and God, she looks so fucking kissable glancing up at me like this. It’d only take me craning my neck to meet her lips with my own.

And I’m hit with the harsh reminder that I don’t get to do that again.

We’re nearing the start of the food tables, but the coolers of drinks are lined up right before, so that’s the task I choose to distract myself with.

“What can I get you to drink?” I ask.

“What are you having?”

“I’ll probably stick with a beer.”

“Is there a seltzer?”

“Any specific flavor?”

“Whatever looks good.”

I grab one that looks to be the most popular flavor since it’s the last one left, then grab a Corona for myself. And that only makes me think of Miller, so I grab her one too. It’s the least I could do for her being welcoming to my boss.

I hand Reese the cold can, lacing the necks of the two beer bottles between my fingers, and by the time I’ve got the cooler closed, we’ve made it to the front of the table.

Reese grabs a paper plate from the stack, but when she also tries to snag all the different disposable utensils, she fumbles a bit with her seltzer.

“I got you.” I grab all the needed utensils for both of us, including a stack of napkins. Then I take her plate, exchanging it for the beers in my hand.

“You just tell me what looks good when we pass it.”

She gives me this look, as if silently telling me that my making her a plate for dinner looks a bit odd. A bit questionable. Possibly inappropriate.

But I ignore it.

I situate a second plate in one hand, including the forks, knives, and napkins, using my free hand to serve us both food. Anytime we pass a dish that looks remotely like one that Reese described bringing, I ask for confirmation if it is. When she points out the three that are hers, I make sure to add a healthy serving of each on my plate.

Our plates are full by the time we reach the last table where the desserts

are displayed.

“Oh shoot,” she says.

“We can come back for this.”

Reese lifts a brow in my direction.

“I mean you can come back for this. Alone. By yourself.”

She laughs under her breath, slowly walking away from the table of sweets. And that pure look of disappointment that she doesn’t have enough room on her plate for dessert is just another thing I like about the woman.

“Okay.”

Using one of the plastic forks, I push all the food on my plate together, mixing the flavors in a way they probably shouldn’t be. But it buys me a bit of real estate along the edge. “Which one looks the best to you?”

Reese hums, stepping back to the table as she eyes each and every one carefully. “Maybe that one?”

“Good choice.” I add a scoop of my daughter’s blackberry cobbler to my plate for her. “Miller made this one. Well, I’m pretty sure she made most of these.”

“Did she? I haven’t gotten a chance to try one of her desserts before. I’ve heard the guys on the team raving whenever Kai brings her cookies to the field.”

“She’s incredible. You have to check out her patisserie.”

“I’d love that.”

“I’ll take you sometime.”

Reese opens her mouth to say something but doesn’t. A heavy pause lingers, and it’s then I realize my mistake.

“Or you could take yourself,” I amend.

We get through the food tables and move out of the way for everyone waiting behind us.

“I want to go sit with Miller.” I nod toward the direction of that picnic table. “I haven’t caught up with her yet today.”

“Sounds good.” Reese holds out the two beer bottles in exchange for her plate of food. “You’re a good dad, you know that?”

I should give her the plate. I should let her go sit wherever she wants. I should put a bit of distance between us to keep any rumors from starting up.

But she can’t say things like that and expect me to leave her alone.

“Come sit with me.”

Reese hesitates, her eyes discreetly bouncing to the people around us. “I don’t know if that’s such a good idea.”

I start in that direction with her food, not giving her much of a choice other than to follow me.

“It’ll be fine, Reese. You’re going to sit on the bench next to me, not on my lap. I don’t think anyone is going to have something to say about us sitting at the same table.”

“Just keep it professional,” she mutters under her breath, walking at my side.

“What do you think I’m going to do while we’re eating dinner with my daughter and my pitching coach? Stick my tongue down your throat?”

She smacks me in the bicep with the back of her hand, and I catch the sly little grin on her lips.

“You’re thinking about me sticking my tongue down your throat right now, aren’t you?”

She gives me a single nod of her head. “Yep.”

“Keep it professional, Reese.”

“Don’t tell me what to do.”

We join Kai and Miller at a picnic table. I set Reese’s plate in front of her, then her utensils, and she places the two beers next to me.

We take the bench opposite them, and thankfully Reese is too busy tucking her legs under the table that she doesn’t catch my daughter grabbing my attention.

Miller lifts a single yet knowing brow. Should I call her Mommy? she

silently mouths.

Fucking hell.

“Behave yourself,” I quietly remind her.

“What?” Reese asks.

“Nothing,” Miller and I quickly say at the same time.

Kai just laughs without a care in the world because for once he’s not on the receiving end of Miller’s asinine comments.

“I brought you a beer, but I’m starting to regret that decision.” I push the Corona across the wooden table to her.

Miller hesitates, looking at the bottle, then to Kai.

“What?” I ask.

Kai gives the smallest nod of his head, a weirdly eager look on his face.

Miller wraps her hand around the beer, but instead of bringing it to her lips to take a sip, she pushes it back in my direction.

From next to me, Reese lets out this excited little gasp. The sound is fucking adorable and so unexpected coming from her, but I have no idea

what she’s figured out that I haven’t.

“Can’t drink that,” Miller states.

My eyes bounce from her to Kai then back to her, both of them watching

me expectantly.

“No way.”

Miller huffs a laugh, her smile blooming, waiting for me to confirm I’ve

figured this out on my own.

“Are you pregnant?”

She nods frantically.

My voice goes all soft. “Are you really?”

“Yeah.”

“Oh my God.” I stand from my seat as she does the same and I meet her, wrapping my arms over her shoulders and pulling her into a hug. “Holy hell. Congratulations, Millie.”

My mind is all over the place. Is she feeling okay? Is she excited? Does she need anything from me?

Then it moves on to the same thought process that occurs anytime

something big happens in Miller’s life.

I wish Claire were here to see this.

I’m so thankful I get to be a part of Miller’s important life moments, even though her mom can’t.

And finally, I wish I had someone to share this with.

“I’m going to give you guys some privacy,” Reese says from her seat at the table.

“Stay,” Miller and I say at the same time, pulling back from our hug just long enough to watch Reese freeze halfway to standing.

I wait until she swings her legs back under the table, retaking her seat before I go back to hugging my daughter.

“I’m so happy for you.”

“Thanks, Dad.”

“You’re feeling okay?”

She nods against me.

“Are you happy?”

“So happy.”

“Good.” I swallow hard. “That’s all I want for you.”

Her grip around my waist loosens so I pull back, hands on either side of her face. How this is still the same girl I used to play dress-up with or who hung out in the dugout during my practices, I have no idea.

Kai smacks me on the shoulder, so I move on to him, giving him a hug as

well.

“Love you, Monty.”

“Love you too. I’m so excited for you guys.”

The girl I spent the last twenty years focused on raising is now raising her own family. That’s both incredible and terrifying. Miller doesn’t need me in the same way she once did, but that’s the whole fucking point, right? I raised her to be her own person.

“Does Max know yet?” I ask, retaking my seat at the table.

Miller shakes her head. “We’re going to tell him tonight.”

“He’s going to be stoked. I’m so happy for you three.”

Miller leans her head on Kai’s shoulder before he wraps an arm around her and places a kiss on the top of her head. And in that brief moment, I feel like an interloper intruding on a private moment. It’s kind of a big deal the first time you tell your parent that you’re also going to be a parent. And though Miller already is, becoming Max’s mom didn’t come with an announcement.

So yeah, I feel like an intruder, sitting across the table and watching my daughter share this important moment with her person.

But my attention is quickly stolen when, under the table, a hand smooths over my thigh, squeezing just above my knee.

Reese smiles brightly up at me, her blue eyes shining under the summer sun. Clearly, so excited for me and the news I just received.

And that’s when I realize, for the first time in an awfully long time, I got to share an important moment with someone too.