Page 36 of Mad Love

“It feels wrong that we’re carrying on like this with what you’re going through,” Rhodes says.

“No, it’s not wrong,” I say. “I haven’t laughed that hard in a long time. My sister loved that song, and she was a huge fan of all of you, so I only wish she could’ve seen that for herself.” I smile at them, my eyes reaching Weston last.

His cheeks are flushed which makes his blue eyes stand out even more. His hair is messy, and he looks sexier than I’ve ever seen him, which is saying a lot because he looks hotall the time. But now his expression is tentative, like he’s concerned that I don’t really mean what I’m saying, and I feel bad that we’ve had such a sad, tumultuous beginning. If we’d met any other way, I bet we would’ve been friends. Maybe we’ll get there, I don’t know.

“We were just gonna order pizza,” Weston says. “What’s your favorite?”

“I like Hawaiian.”

“Yes,” Rhodes says, coming over to bump my fist. “We’re keeping you. I can’t ever get anyone on board with Hawaiian.”

“Because it’s wrong,” Bowie says.

Rhodes lifts his eyebrows. “If loving it is wrong, I don’t wanna be right.”

When I laugh, he bumps my fist again.

“So, did Weston tell you anything about us?” Penn asks.

“A little,” I hedge.

“We’ve been occupied with other things,” Weston grumbles.

“These two kept trying to horn in on The Single Dad Players,” Rhodes says, smirking. “Now there’s just one left. What are you gonna do about it, Penn?”

“I need to hang out with Jeremiah, Samson, and Free more,” Penn mutters. “They don’t give me this shit.” He winks at me.

“We hang out with them plenty,” Rhodes scoffs. “Don’t forget Reed. That boy knows how to have a good time, on or off the field. But when you need some nurturin’, you come to The Single Dad Players.”

“The Single Dad Players,” I repeat, glancing at Weston and smirking. “Like football players or playboy players?”

“Whatever works for you.” Rhodes gives me a sexy grin.

He is so hot and sotrouble.

“Back off, Archer.” Weston rolls his eyes. “They named it that long before I was inducted,” he says to me.

I lift a shoulder. “Seems like you fit right in, whichever meaning intended.”

“Damn,” Bowie says, laughing. “She’s got your number, Shaw.”

Weston’s eyes narrow on me. “I’ve turned over a new leaf, Chapman. Tell her, boys.”

“Now that I think about it, he has been hanging around me and Bowie more when we go out, rather than those two,” Henley says, nodding at Rhodes and Penn.

Weston looks at me like that’s proof that he’s on the straight and narrow.

I lift an eyebrow at him but don’t say anything. It doesn’t matter what I think anyway.

“Nah. Don’t let Penn make you think this is something it’s not,” Rhodes says. “These guys saved my life. I didn’t know the first thing about being a dad when I got drafted to the Mustangs. When we realized we were the single dads on the team, we started meeting to talk about the trials and tribulations of fatherhood, and the rest is history.” He pounds Henley’s fist and then Bowie’s…and then lifts his eyebrows and pounds Weston’s.

“Here, catch,” Bowie says and tosses Rhodes a blue notebook. “Your turn.”

Rhodes grins and nods. “All right. It’s time to wax philosophical, folks.”

Penn groans. “These papas think their little club is all that.” He smirks and shakes his head. “Just because I can wrap it up well doesn’t mean I should be left out.”

“No, you did not just say that,” Rhodes yells, laughing, and then he looks at the baby, apologizing for being so loud. “For the record, I wrapped it up very well. I just didn’t know Carrie was swapping out my box of condoms for ones from the early 2000s…and not taking the pill like she said she was.”

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