Page 9 of Forever Player

“My family’s farm is in Sugar Meadow. It’s about an hour drive from here,” she explains. “I’ve been living there with my mom and three brothers.”

“Three, huh.” Shit, that’s a lot of angry testosterone to be dealing with.

“Four, actually, but my other brother lives in New Haven,” she explains.

“So, Maylee’s been growing up on the farm?” I say instead of worrying about her angry brothers. “Sounds like a busy house.”

“It is.” She rolls her eyes, but it seems playful. “I keep thinking of you as some asshole player. A different you is not registering in my head.”

I bite my lip. “Is that the impression I gave you that night? I thought we had fun.”

“Did we have fun?” she asks, twisting her lips.

“Shut up, I can still hear you two,” Jacob scoffs, walking a few feet ahead.

Willow winces.

“That’s the snark I remember,” I tell her.

“I’m not snarky, Brett. I just. . .”

“What is it?” I ask.

“I want the best for my daughter. If we can co-parent. If she knows she can rely on you. . .”

“Willow.” I pause, turn, and look her in the eyes so she can read my truth. “I promise you; I’ll always be there for Maylee.”

She nods and blinks and we continue to walk, but we stay silent as we make our way to Jacob’s truck.

“You take the front seat,” Willow offers.

“I’m good in the back,” I assure.

“Take the front seat, Brett. The back is much smaller,” she insists, and it isn’t a question.

I sit up front with Jacob Heaton. When he starts the engine, I turn to him. “We got off on the wrong foot. I’d like to start over. You’re my daughter’s uncle. I’m her father, it’s important to get along.” I extend my hand for him to shake.

He looks at my hand like I have some disease but then his attitude melts away and he shakes my hand. “I’ve got you pinned in my mind as the devil. It’s going to take me a minute to make sure that isn’t the case.”

“Jacob, geez,” Willow hisses from the back seat.

“That’s okay,” I assure. “Glad to see he’s been around watching out for you. But now I am here, Willow, and you are the mother of my child. I plan on being here for you too. Whatever you need.”

Jacob gives me a side glance and a look that tells me he’s impressed but skeptical.

“Thanks, Brett. I’m glad you’re on board for this partnership.”

Willow talks matter-of-factly and my mind takes me back to the night we met.

Her dad died and we drank too much. We danced. . .

“I’ve got to go to the restroom,” Willow said.

“I’ll come with you,” I said to her because there can be sketchy people and all kinds of things could happen in these bathrooms.

“Are you crazy? There’s no way,” she replied.

“I didn’t mean for sex,” I clarified. “You’re drunk. I’ll watch out for you. There can be douchebags in a place like this.”

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