Page 64 of Fall Wherever They May

Katherine playfully knocks her shoulder with Aspen’s. “What?” She chuckles with mischief in her eyes. “I’m just being honest. I miss having a baby to spoil.”

Aspen rolls her eyes and snorts a laugh.

We walk down the stairs toward the locker room, where we’re to wait outside for the kids. The double doors burst open, and a group of rambunctious preteen boys spill out. Tuck and Elija are among them, and they race to us, playfully shoving each other out of the way to gain the lead. Tuck looks up, and his face completely lights up.

“Mamaw, you’re back! Are you staying this time?” He runs to her embracing her in a big hug.

Laughter and raised voices echo around us as Tuck’s teammates roughhouse and chase each other around the stands. Parents mill around talking to one another as they collect their kids.

Katherine hugs him tight. “I sure am, kiddo. You know what? I have the best idea! Maybe your mom could ride backwith Cal. Think we could convince her to let us borrow her car so just the two of us can celebrate your win with some ice cream?” She winks at him.

I’m all for this plan. We had three away games last week, and I just got back last night from another one. That, combined with River moving into her own place and not being around to watch Tuck so Aspen can sneak over, has given us no alone time these past couple of weeks. Though I did sneak over late last night because I was dying to see her, I didn’t stay long. Katherine is trying to use discretion around Tuck, but his eyes zero in on my fingers intertwined with his mom’s, and the corners of his mouth tug into a grin. Fuck! I wasn’t thinking, and clearly, she wasn’t either. I don’t know why she hasn’t told him we’re together yet.

“Is my mom your girlfriend?” He sings songs mockingly. Aspen quickly tries to pull her hand from mine, but it’s already too late, and I’m not letting her go. It’s apparent that he already knows or at least suspects.

I shrug. “I don’t know, Tuck. I think that’s up to your mom.”

The ball is in her court; it’s not my place to tell him we are together.

She clears her throat, and her face turns a pretty shade of pink. “Umm . . . maybe we should have this discussion at home?”

“You’re holding hands, and your face is as red as a tomato.” Tuck shifts his heavy equipment bag further up his shoulder. I release Aspen’s hand and take it from him. “So . . . are you?” He asks again.

Aspen glances at her mom with skepticism. “Are you sure you’re okay to drive in this big city without getting lost?” She asks, attempting to change the subject.

Tuck cuts in. “And I did walk in on you two kissing in the kitchen in the middle of the night.”

Aspen's eyes pop wide, and her head snaps back to Tuck. “Y—you what?”

“You two were kissing by the fridge. It was gross.” He dramatically shivers his body, then shoves his finger down his throat, making a gagging noise.

“You were supposed to be in bed.” Aspen nibbles on her bottom lip; it’s a tell that she’s uncomfortable with this conversation.

Tuck lifts his left shoulder in a shrug. “Yeah? So were you.” He chuckles. “I needed to use the bathroom and went to the kitchen for a drink, but after seeing you two, I wasn’t sure I could keep anything down. So, I just went back to bed.”

Carter’s laughter rings out, amusement glittering in his eyes.

Aspen rubs the palms of her hands down her face in embarrassment. “Okay, Tucker. That’s enough.”

I laugh as I pull her to me. “Come here.”

Aspen groans, gripping the front of my shirt in both fists; she briefly buries her face in my chest.

When she turns her head toward her mom, I release her. “Okay, so back to you taking Tucker . . . will you be okay—”

“Aspen Ryan Taylor, what do you think GPS is for?” She waves her hand around in the air. “Now you two go on. Shoo. I want to spend some quality time with my grandson.”

A frown tugs at my brows as I study Katherine. I’m surprised and confused. Ryan? As in Ryan West? Aspen was named after her father? That’s something I never saw coming. There is no way Katherine would have named her daughter after a man who abandoned her, or that she herself wasn’t fond of. I keep that filed in the back of my mind. It’s definitely a conversation worth having at another time.

Aspen hugs Katherine. “Thanks, Mom.”

Her mom whispers something in her ear.

Aspen blushes again. She reaches into her purse, pulls out her keys, and places them in her mom’s waiting hands.

Carter saunters over, wrapping me in a hug. The hug isn’t a side hug or a handshake man hug. It’s a full-on hug. “I’m so proud of you, bro,” he says as he pulls back, slapping me on the shoulder.

We say our goodbyes, and I place my hand at the small of Aspen’s back, guiding her to my truck. Reaching into my jeans pocket, I grab my keys, spinning them around my finger as we walk through the parking lot. The cold air hits my face as Aspen quickly wraps her coat tighter around her.

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