Page 110 of The Third Baseman

“Which one?

“The pretty one with the long hair talking to Mommy.”

I grinned. Marnie did look beautiful today. She’d been wearing her hair down all week, big fat waves tumbling down her back. When we were kids, I used to try and separate out the little gold strands bleached from the Californian sunshine. It was darker now, but I couldn’t wait for more to lighten during the summer. Her nose was crinkling up with laughter at whatever Emerson was telling her, and the apple of her cheeks had pinked.

I stopped staring when Gabriella prodded me. “Uncle Jupiter?”

“If I tell you, can you keep it a secret?”

She nodded with utmost seriousness.

“That’s my girlfriend. Her name is Marnie.”

Her eyes widened even further, like only a newly three-year old’s could. “Grey has a girlfriend.”

It wasn’t the response I expected. “Does he now?”

She nodded solemnly. “I saw him give her his Animal Crackers.” She chewed on her bottom lip and asked, “Do you love your girlfriend like daddy loves mommy?”

I brushed her hair back from her face, and straightened her unicorn headband. “I do.”

“What’s going on here?”

“Mommy!” she squealed, making my ears ring. I wouldn’t be surprised if my eardrums had actually burst. “Uncle Jupiter is telling me about his girlfriend, but I’m not allowed to tell you.”

Emerson threw her head back and laughed while I muttered ‘traitor’ under my breath. “You should know better than to confide in a three-year-old, especially this one. She’s the blabbermouth of the family.”

“Now you tell me.” I rolled my eyes and put Gabriella down so she could go and destroy someone else’s hearing. “Have fun reconnecting?”

Emerson pulled me into a hug. “Oh, Jupe, I did. I really did. It’s soy good to see her. You too; you seem calmer.”

I frowned. “What does that mean?”

But she just shrugged.

“I’m glad you’ve finally found her again, it’s been long enough. Though,” she pinned me with a look, “you haven’t told her why you broke up in the first place.”

I glanced over to where Marnie was now talking to Drew, which meant I likely needed to rescue her. “Emerson, it doesn’t matter. It’s the past, and we’re together now.”

“Just as long as it doesn’t come back to bite you on the ass…”

“Why would it?” I snapped, not wanting to continue this conversation, especially when she gave me another pointless shrug.

* * *

I went in search for Marnie and found her heading down toward the restroom, so I jogged after her.

“Hey,” I whispered, snaking my arms round her waist and pulled her against the wall. “Are you ready to go? I think I’m partied out, and I want to show you something before we get home,” I kissed her head, “and then we’re spending the rest of the afternoon naked.”

In a less than a flash her pupils widened, and her pulse ratcheted up.

“I’ll take that as a yes,” I chuckled.

“You do that.” She thumbed to the restroom, “Can I pee first though?”

“Yes. I’ll go and find my parents. Meet you in five?”

“Make it four,” she grinned.

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