Page 102 of Her Football Star Ex

But even as I tried to tell myself those things, the old familiar feeling of hope found its way into my heart.

40

Emerson

“Haveyou figured out what you’re going to do with Evelyn once the season starts up again?” I asked Vincent. We were sitting on a bench at the playground behind his apartment complex. Jaxon was having a blast running around on the grass with another boy his age and Vincent was feeding Evelyn peach yogurt melts as she sat in her stroller.

“I don’t know.” He sighed, setting a few more yogurt melts on the stroller tray. “But I should probably figure something out soon since training camp will be here before I know it.”

“Yeah?” I asked.

He nodded. “I mean, my mom and Arianna have been helping me out here and there so I can still do a few workouts a week with Cole, but I know we can’t keep it up in the long run. They both work full time and have their own lives to worry about.”

“Have you considered getting a nanny?” I suggested, knowing a couple of the Dragons players had them.

“It’s probably the best option I have,” he said. “I’ve just been putting it off because I know once I start the interviewing process, the word will get out that I had a baby I didn’t know about and the media will go nuts over that.” He looked at me, a tired expression in his eyes. “I’m just not looking forward to all that. Dealing with everything on my own has already been hard enough, you know?”

I did know. I’d definitely wanted to live in my own little cocoon when all the crap hit the fan with us.

“I’m sure you’ll figure something out,” I said. And then before I could stop myself, I said, “And if worse comes to worst, I can always help out, too.”

He pulled his head back, surprised. “You would watch Evelyn?”

“Sure.” I shrugged. “I mean, she’s not so bad when she’s got a clean diaper and a full belly, right?”

“But I couldn’t ask you to do that.” He shook his head. “You shouldn’t feel obligated to help me after everything.”

“I know,” I said, even though the me from two weeks and a year ago would have definitely agreed with him. “But I do like babies, and since I don’t hate you or anything, I really wouldn’t mind. It might even be fun to have a baby around.”

He blinked his eyes and swallowed, like I’d surprised him again. Then he slowly said, “You don’t hate me?” He gave me a guarded but hopeful look…like he had truly thought I could hate him.

“No.” I met his wary gaze and gave him a cautious smile. “I don’t hate you, Vincent.”

“I honestly wouldn’t blame you if you did.” He held my gaze for the longest moment before swallowing and saying, “But thank you. I promise I’m going to do my best to deserve your forgiveness this time.”

We watched Evelyn and Jaxon for a few minutes, each lost in our thoughts. And though a lot had happened between us, I couldn’t help but feel like days such as today were exactly how I had always dreamed my weekends would be like from the time I was a little girl.

I liked the slow, lazy day. I enjoyed seeing Jaxon have such a great time in the seasonably warmer weather.

And yes, I even liked sharing the day with Vincent and Evelyn, too.

Having many more days like this would be one-hundred percent okay in my book.

“How was it holding Evelyn last night, anyway?” Vincent asked, breaking into my train of thought after Jaxon ran past us again. “Was it hard after everything?” He raised his eyebrow, watching me.

I pulled the sleeves of my jacket over my hands and shrugged. “It actually wasn’t as hard as I thought it would be.”

“It wasn’t?”

I rubbed my hand along my forearm. “No,” I said. “I mean, I really wanted to hate her because of everything she reminded me of. But then I just couldn’t.” I sighed and met his brown-eyed gaze. “She’s beautiful, Vincent.”

He nodded slowly, looking down at his little girl who was now banging her hands on the stroller tray, wanting more of her snack. “She is.” He smiled and poured a few more yogurt melts for her. Then he turned back to me. “Even more so when I’ve had a good night’s sleep.”

I smiled, putting my hand on his shoulder. “I know you’re probably worried that you’re screwing everything up, but you’re doing a lot better than you think.”

“I hope so. Because all I can think about is how good I am at messing everything up these days.”

“I think we all have days like that,” I said. “But the good news is that as long as we’re still breathing, we get another chance.”

---