Page 32 of Stick Play

“Right.” I go to my dresser, tug it open and find a T-shirt for her.

“Thanks.” She holds the clothes in her hands, and glances toward the door. “We should probably go check on the kids. It’s quiet. When it gets too quiet, I get worried.”

I laugh at that. “This house is well insulated. I made sure of it because I need to sleep during the day sometimes. You can’t hear much from up here. They’re probably still in the games room having fun.”

We walk into the hall, and I open the bedroom door, showing her where she’ll be sleeping. It’s pretty much the same as my room. A bed and dresser. Kids are in there,” I tell her with a nod.

As we walk by Dad’s room, she peeks in and he’s on his side, facing away from us. I quietly pull his door closed, but not all the way.

“Looks like he’s resting nicely now,” she whispers.

We head downstairs to the games room, and the kids are having a blast with the pool table, and my old pinball machine.

“Hey guys, looks like we’re going to have a sleepover,” Gina says.

Camryn beams with happiness. “I know, Zoe told us.”

Gina cocks her brow. “You’re all okay with that?”

“Yes, I love it here,” Camryn says and Tate nods in agreement.

“I have some clothes for you guys. We’re going to cut the legs off these pants and make shorts. Doesn’t that sound fun? I also have some of Ash’s old jerseys for you to wear.”

That gains Zoe’s attention and she comes running over. I hand her the jersey and she pulls it on. It’s huge on her and I start to roll up the sleeves.

Her eyes light up as she glances up at me. “I love my new jersey. Camryn and Tate get to wear their dad’s number and now I get to wear yours, Ash.”

The excitement in her voice makes me laugh. “You can have it. You can take it home.”

“Mommy, Mommy, I get to keep Ash’s jersey.” She throws her arms around my waist. “Thank you, Ash. I’m never going to take it off.” Once again, I see that worried look on Gina’s face, but she turns from me and walks to my pinball machine. She runs her hands over it.

“I love this, Ash.” She looks back at me, and the haunted look is gone from her face. “Where did you get it?”

“Dad got it when I was a kid. He was doing some electrical work for an old arcade and they were tossing the old machine out. Dad asked if he could have it, and when they agreed, he brought it home and fixed it for me.” He’s such a good dad and maybe I’m being an asshole, thinking he’s trying to matchmake here. “I can beat you at it later, if you like?”

She laughs. “You think you can beat me.”

“I don’t know. Did you have a misguided childhood?”

Her smile is a mixture of warmth and pain. Nothing about our upbringings were traditional, that’s for sure and I really hate that she thinks she’s an asshole magnet. Gina just hasn’t found the right guy for her, that’s all.

“No, I was a saint, Ash. Just like you.” She grins. “Oh, I guess now I can ask your dad all about your childhood.”

I laugh. “Maybe don’t do that.”

She grins and focuses in on the kids. “Okay, kiddos. You have fifteen more minutes in here, and then you’re going to wash up, help me cut up these clothes and I’ll put on a movie before bed.”

As I watch her put the clothes on the sofa, I can’t help but grin. In the span of an hour, my house went from one person sleeping here, to six. I’m used to the quiet and solitude, but I can’t really say as I hate any of this.

And that’s probably not a good thing, for numerous reasons.

11

Gina

With three kids sitting between us, I glance over their heads at Ash. He’s as enthralled with the movie as the little ones and it brings a smile to my face. I’ve watched this show numerous times, but without kids of his own, I’m guessing it’s his first time.

As if feeling my eyes on him, he turns my way and a small smile touches his mouth. He puts his hand on the back of the sofa, where mine is and lightly—secretly—runs the rough pad of his thumb over my hand. Warm shivers go through me, and as I take a fast breath, I look away.

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