Page 13 of Blindside Love

“She gave you her number?”

I smile, remembering the sneaky girl and how she was the best wing woman ever, even if it was entirely unintentional.

“Yeah, her daughter, Addison wants to have a playdate with Rory. We ran into them in the lobby when Rex was with me. She told her mom that I couldn’t let them know when they were over if I didn’t have her number. When she put it in my phone, I saw her text herself, meaning she has mine too.”

“What’s stopping you then? Just text her.”

“That’s the question, Cade. I don’t know what’s stopping me.”

Rex

When do you get home?

I am home. We got back this morning. What’s up?

Rex

Let’s go out. Sawyer has been bugging me to get everyone together, but my schedule has been fucked lately. Mom said she’ll watch Ro on Friday. Are you free?

We have a game. Meet up after?

Rex

Sounds good.

Still on for dinner with everyone on Wednesday?

Rex

I wouldn’t miss all-you-can-eat wings for anything.

After our flight, I hitched a ride with Miles back to my place. The only downside is that I have to lug all my gear in through the lobby. I wave to Fred, one of the doormen who smiles back as he opens the door for me.

“Good morning, Mr. Adams. Glad to see you’re back in one piece,” Fred says with a nod. “Not that I had any doubts.”

“Of course, and for the millionth time, call me Trevor.”

“And for the millionth time, not a chance, Mr. Adams,” Fred says with an attempt at a serious face, but he can’t hide his smirk.

I just shake my head, smiling as I walk by, heading through the lobby. It’s busy here, people walking around, the front desk staff talking on their phones, and some sort of oldies music playing through speakers, yet I can hear her.

I look around, trying to figure out where her voice is coming from and then I see her, standing over by the elevator with Addy clinging to her leg. Her facial expression is one I haven’t quite seen before, her jaw clenched as she stares at someone I can’t quite see yet, but as I get closer, I see that it’s her ex.

I want to stop whatever is happening over there because I hate that this man is bothering Ellie. Even worse though, I hate that this man got to marry Ellie and have a baby with her, but that’s not really something I want to dissect today. But by the look on Ellie’s face, this conversation is far from over, but as I watch she keeps glancing down at Addy who’s still hugging her.

But as I get closer, I catch Addy’s eyes, smiling in her direction and she surprises me, letting go of her mom and running over, squeezing my legs in a bear hug. She catches me off guard, so I make a quick attempt to not take her out with my bag and gear, but she doesn’t seem to mind.

“Hi Mr. Trevor,” she says quietly, a voice I’m not used to hearing from her. Ellie looks over nervously as she watches us, but I just smile and wave her off, setting my things down in the chair next to us, and guiding Addy to the chair next to mine.

I’m not exactly in a rush to get upstairs, that just means back to the real world and I’m just not ready so I might as well hang out with one of the coolest five-year-old’s I know.

Of course, next to my Rory girl, who is the OG mini-BFF.

“Hi, Ms. Addy.” I smile, unzipping my bag and pulling out a mini paper bag. Guess now is probably the best time to give her a surprise gift and help her take her mind off the drama between her parents that looks like it might be simmering down. Handing it to her, her eyes widened in surprise, pure joy radiating from her face.

“What’s this?” she asks quietly, her eyes bouncing from my face to the present, her excitement building.

“It’s not much, but your mom told me that you like music, when I saw this I thought you might like it,” I say, somehow nervous about what a five-year-old thinks about the present I got her.

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