Page 115 of Play Along

I’m sure to remind him of that fact as often as possible. Typically, in front of the team or when I’m feeling especially eager to mess with him.

“Aw, Grandpa is coming over?” Travis asks.

“I can’t wait to see Grandpa Monty,” I chime in.

“But we’ve got to get through bath time first,” my brother continues. “So we should start now, don’t you think?”

Max’s bright blue eyes scan Kennedy for her opinion and she gives an excited nod of approval, as if that’s the best idea she’s ever heard.

That doesn’t seem to be the response he was looking for, so instead, he shifts his attention to me.

“Oh, now you want to talk to me, huh? First you steal my girl and now you want my help to get out of bath time?” I laugh incredulously. “I don’t think so, little man. You’re on my sh... poop list.”

Max’s head falls back in a fit of giggles at the word. “Poop,” he repeats.

“Amazing.” Kai’s tone is all sarcasm. “Exactly the word I was hoping you’d add to your vocabulary. Your uncle is about to be on my poop list for that. Say good night to the boys, Bug.”

Max walks himself through the entire living room, tapping knuckles with all our teammates before Kai picks him up and slings him on his hip.

Max waves goodbye at me, then to Kennedy before bringing his chubby little hand to his mouth and blowing a sloppy kiss her way.

“Oh, come on!” I protest. “I’m right here, man!”

Kai shakes his head with a suppressed smile and Max’s laughter follows them all the way down the hall to his bedroom.

The room settles back into watching the game on TV.

“Jealous of a two-year-old,” Kennedy says quietly. “That’s a new look for you.”

“I’ve been jealous over you for years, Ken. Couldn’t care less how old the guy is.”

She bites back her laugh as I adjust, taking a seat on the floor next to her, back to the wall.

“Hi.”

“Hi.” Her smile is soft, her posture relaxed, vastly different from the type-A doctor I’m accustomed to seeing at work. She’s comfortable, which, with the team here, I didn’t expect.

The front door opens and Monty walks into the already crowded house, right over to his daughter before swinging an arm over her shoulders and placing a kiss on the top of her head.

“Grandpa is here,” Travis announces. “Do you need help getting your walker out of the car?”

Cody glances into the kitchen. “Oh hey, Grandpa Monty. I found a pack of little blue pills in the clubhouse. I’m assuming those are yours.”

“Shoot,” I begin. “I should’ve sent you to the grocery store instead of going myself. It’s senior discount Wednesday.”

With a slow blink, he turns to his daughter. “Is Max around?”

“He’s taking a bath.”

“Great.” He brings his attention back to us. “You three idiots can all shut the fuck up. Travis, when you’re done running sprints tomorrow, then we can talk about who needs a walker. Cody, if you need medication to get your dick up, just say that. Nothing to be ashamed of, but you don’t need to pretend to have found them when we all know those are on a subscription delivery to your apartment. And Isaiah, I’m going to restrain myself, so I don’t embarrass you in front of your wife. We all know you do that plenty on your own.” He sighs, looking down at his daughter. “I’m so looking forward to this year’s trade deadline.”

“Cranky old man,” I mutter loud enough for him to hear.

Monty flips me the bird from the kitchen.

“Kennedy,” one of our infielders begins. “I heard you’re interviewing with San Francisco next week. Married life with Rhodes has been that shitty you’re going to take the same job but all the way across the country to get away from him, huh?”

She hesitates at my side. To everyone else’s knowledge, this interview is simply a lateral move to a new city. No one else knows her qualifications or that this new position is for a lead doctor role.

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