Page 23 of The Home Game

“Hi.” Matty waved, grinning as Reese poked him in the cheek. “You’re Alexis?”

“Uhh, yeah. How do you know who I am?”

“Your dad mentioned your name.”

Her expression immediately closed off.

“He’s not my fucking dad!” she snarled. She pushed past them and stomped out the front door, slamming it behind her.

“Oh no.” Matty looked stricken. “I didn’t mean—”

“Hey, it’s okay,” Antoni said, stifling a sigh. “I know you didn’t mean it.”

“But I just made a mess of things, huh?” Matty cuddled Reese closer, looking conflicted.

Antoni winced. “She’ll … get over it.”

“I am so sorry. I didn’t mean to—”

“Hey, I know that.” Antoni patted Matty’s arm, feeling the need to reassure him. He looked genuinely distressed. “It’ll be okay, big guy. We go through this all the time. It’s not the first time it’s happened and it probably won’t be the last.”

“Was that Alexis stomping out?” Antoni’s dad said as he arrived in the entryway, his mom trailing behind her.

“Yeah.” Matty looked miserable. “I accidentally called Antoni her dad.”

“Ahh.” He nodded and held out a hand. “Enzo Bianchi. You’re Matt Carlson.”

“Yep.” Matty shifted Reese to his left hand so he could shake.

Enzo looked between him and Matty. “So, how long have you two been dating?”

CHAPTER FIVE

“Well, that was awkward,” Antoni muttered as Matty backed the SUV away from his parents’ house.

Matty laughed, pausing at the end of the driveway because he wasn’t sure where he was going. “It’s all good. Your dad just misunderstood.”

“Yeah, but …”

“You can clear that all up later,” Matty said with a shrug. “Now, where’s your house? I need to know where I’m going.”

“Oh,” Antoni said, straightening. “Yeah. Okay, so you need to go right outta here, then make the first left.”

“I can do that,” Matty said. He glanced in the rearview mirror, smiling at the sight of Eli reading and Reese playing with a little stuffed bear before he focused his attention on the street behind him.

This time, Matty drove slowly, keeping to the speed limit and obeying all of the traffic signals. He had precious cargo in his SUV.

Matty’s chest warmed a little, the way it did when he had Macky and Elena’s kids in his backseat. Matty was so envious of the Makarovs. They were such a sweet, happy family.

The ride was mostly silent except for Reese making happy noises and Eli occasionally laughing at something in the book. Alexis stared at her tablet while River stared out the window, holding a grungy stuffed rabbit.

Antoni looked exhausted, leaning his head against the window and muttering directions every so often.

“Turn right at the park, then go three blocks,” he instructed, rubbing at his eyes tiredly.

“Park!” River said, sitting up in her booster seat and pointing. “Go! Park!”

“Uhh, hey, not today, guys,” Antoni said with a sigh. “I’m sorry.”

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