Page 26 of Stick Play

“Yeah, lovely. Why don’t you head home, and I’ll come have dinner with you tonight. I’ll grab us something. How about Italian from that little café you like?”

“I think this is my new favorite café. Gina packed me chicken pot pie to go. Besides I don’t want to take you away. Seems like you’re needed here.”

“You’re not taking me away from anything. I help out during the day while Gina is working and now she’s not working. I’m free to do whatever I want.”

He snorts out a laugh and pokes my forehead. “If you’re choosing to spend that free time with me, maybe you might want to check to see if you have a concussion. You did take a hard hit in your last game.”

“Dad, you know?—”

He waves his hand and cuts me off. “Yeah, yeah, I know. Head in the game, no complications.” He takes a step toward the door. “Although it might be a little too late for that.” Whistling like the damn cat who ate the canary, he walks out the door with a little more pep in his step.

As I watch him go, my heart pinches. Honestly, all the man wants is to see me happy, with a family and kids of my own. After his heart attack, I promised him I’d give him what he wanted. Those words were spoken in the heat of the moment, when I thought I might lose him. Now, after the stunt my ex pulled, and with my coach down my neck, I reneged on that promise. Who can blame me, and again, even if I wanted something more with Gina, she made it perfectly clear she wasn’t going down that path again.

Before I head upstairs, I follow my dad out. One, to make sure he makes it to his truck okay, and two, to make sure he actually goes to his truck and doesn’t go snooping around.

“You don’t think I can find my way to my truck?” he accuses.

“I don’t think that at all. I just forgot something in Gina’s car.”

He grumbles, knowing the truth and once he’s safe in the cab of his truck, I walk to Gina’s car, and fuss around in the back seat, pulling out some random toy. My father rolls his eyes at me as I head back to the café. I understand he likes his independence, and I knows he loves the relationship we have, and he realizes that I simply care about his well-being. He just likes to grump about it.

On the sidewalk, I run into Callie. Or rather she runs into me, literally. I slide my hand around her waist to keep her upright when she slips and nearly lands on her ass. “Whoa, are you okay?”

“I was hoping to run into you.”

“Looks like that happened.”

She laughs, and I note she’s still not wearing a coat. Does she realize she’s no longer in California? “My grandmother told me about a local Scottish pub, Kilting Around. Want to join me for a drink?”

“Oh, I can’t.” I glance over my shoulder as Dad pulls from the curb. “Having dinner with my dad tonight.”

She pouts. “Be careful, Ash…” her gaze goes to the café and I follow it, and spot movement in the upstairs window. Was that Gina? “…or you’re going to be old before your time and tied down playing bingo.” She laughs, turns, and gives a little shake to her ass as she heads back to her grandmother’s. “Another time then.”

Once she’s gone, I head inside the cafe and go upstairs. It’s quiet when I enter the apartment. I walk to the kitchen and find it empty. Whispered voices from down the hall reach my ears, and I tip toe, stopping outside Zoe’s bedroom door. I find Tate fast asleep in one bed, and Gina reading to the girls in the other, both of them desperately trying to keep their eyes open. I guess I really did wear them out on the hill. I stifle a yawn. I could probably use a nap too.

I’m about to step away when Gina’s eyes lift and meet mine, and as I take in the warm, cozy image before me, it triggers something deep inside, awakens something long ago buried. What the hell is going on with me?

It’s wrong of me to get involved with a single mom. Getting tied down with her when I’m supposed to be staying away from women? Out of the question. Let’s face it. Lessons learned have taught me women don’t stay, and if they do, it’s only until they get what they want from you.

Why then do I suddenly feel like playing bingo?

Maybe Dad was right. Maybe I did take a hard hit to the head last game.

9

Gina

It’s so odd. The place feels so incredibly lonely without Ash here, and he only stayed the one night. Well, that’s not good, considering emotions aren’t supposed to play any part in this friends with benefits scenario.

He didn’t have dinner with us, even though the kids begged him to stay and play games. He had to go visit with his father. I love the way they are together, even though Ash was mad that his dad came here to check me out. Does that mean Ash had been talking about me?

I shouldn’t care about that. I really shouldn’t. Yet, here I am a little amused by the idea of it. Ash might be big, rough and gruff at times, but I’m beginning to believe that underneath it all he’s a cinnamon roll, like his father. I really liked Grant and the pride and love in his eyes as he stared at his son did the craziest things to my heart and my head. That look was also returned by Ash, and it hurts my soul to know my daughter will never have that.

The popping of the dice game the kids are playing, followed by Tate’s laughter, pulls me back to reality, and for some reason, I don’t feel like sitting around the house tonight. Melanie didn’t go to the Caribbean, either. She and Brady are home with their baby. If she’s feeling as cooped up as me, maybe she’d like some company.

I push to my feet and search for my phone. I spot it on the kitchen counter and as I walk toward it, it rings. Brighton had checked on the kids earlier, so I have no idea who would be calling. I pick it up and my heart does a weird little happy dance when I see that it’s Ash. Jeez, I really wish I wasn’t so happy to hear from him.

I slide my finger across the screen, and try to sound casual. “Ash.”

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