Page 8 of Game Changer

“I don’t wanna be a young woman, Miss Molly. I wanna be a girl bossesses,” Lily says and looks at her Lindsey. “I can, right, Mommy?”

“You can be whatever you want to be, little flower.” Lindsey smiles down at her, her tone thick and emotionally charged, just like Mom’s.

“You two are absolutely adorable.” Mom smiles.

“Miss Molly, you adorable, too, you and Sydney.”

Mom holds her hand to her chest. “There’s nothing like a mother’s love for her daughter—nothing.”

Lindsey blinks rapidly, as if fighting tears. And me? I fight the urge to hold my hand to my stomach. Instead, I busy them and pack up the cupcakes.

“We’re closed the next few days. We better make sure you don’t run out. Would you like some for your dad, too?”

“It’s Mommy and Lily time. Daddy’s in bed early ’cause he has to be strong, and he gots to go to work tomorrow.” She inhales a breath and continues, “But it won’t be so hard now ’cuz Uncle Hart gets unvenched.”

“Benched,” Lindsey quietly and sweetly corrects her.

“Yep, that,” Lily agrees then continues, “He and our Knights are gonna win big, Daddy said. Yes, he did. He said it just like he said we’re a family, and we are, right, Mommy?”

I don’t miss the slight blanch, but Lindsey agrees, “That’s right.”

“Even if we don’t live in the same house, ’cause I’m a lucky girl with two pretty rooms; one at Mommy’s and one at Daddy and Uncle Hart’s house.” She looks around and spots Liam. “Hey, who are you?”

“Lily, manners,” Lindsey whispers softly as she looks in Liam’s direction. “Sorry about that.”

He runs his hand through his thick, dark blonde hair. “No need to be sor?—”

“Are you Knight?”

“Lily.” Lindsey laughs uncomfortably.

“Mommy, look at him—he’s a giant, too.”

Lindsey closes her eyes and shakes her head.

Liam laughs. “I’m not a Knight.”

“How come? You don’t love football? It’s the greatest game in the world, Mr. Liam, don’t you know that?”

“I love football, played in high school, but was more interested in becoming a veterinarian.”

“What’s a vetera … vetra … narian?”

Lindsey answers softly, “Mr. Liam is a doctor for?—”

“Is he the one you and Daddy go to when I stay with Uncle Hart?” Lily cuts her off.

When Lindsey agreed to move to Blue Valley and away from her controlling family and now ex-fiancé to try to fix their relationship, Beau moved out of his bachelor pad in the village and into Hudson Hart’s massive house on Skaneateles Lake. He now rents a stunning luxury lodge overlooking Owasco Lake for Lindsey and Lily. He doesn’t live with them because he doesn’t want to pressure Lindsey to become a couple, although it is hishope. They are working with a couple’s counselor. How do I know this? That man’s truth serum is sugar, and Sugar Rush has become his regular stop. At least two or three afternoons a week, he sits at the counter and eats a cupcake, or three. It doesn’t matter if it’s me, Mom, or one of my cousins, who are also my best friends, working; he stays for about an hour. He is the self-proclaimed taste tester of all the new recipes I’m playing with, trying to make healthier treats that taste just as sweet.

Lindsey’s face catches fire. “A veterinarian is a doctor for animals, not for Mommys and Daddys.”

“Like Bossy, my new puppy?” she asks.

He nods as he smiles at Lily. “How’s Bossy doing?”

Lily cringes with her whole face then says, “Bossy has big, huge poops.”

Mom and I laugh, and Lindsey closes her eyes and shakes her head.

---