Page 13 of Playboy

With a chuckle, he drapes an arm over my shoulders and leads me toward the door. “Missed you, Han. And Oliver hasn’t shut up about your offer to take him to a Revs game when you get back.”

I grin as we head out into the tunnel that leads to where the team’s bus is parked. “Tell him he can have as many hot dogs as he wants.”

Noah frowns. “Let’s not do that. The kid has a weak stomach.”

“Noted. I wish you didn’t have to go back tonight. You sure Liam can’t watch Oliver for a couple of days so you can hang with me for the weekend?”

“Nah, I miss the little guy too much as it is. He’s been at Jen’s all week. I’ve got three days until our next game, and I’m going to enjoy every moment of them with him.”

“You’re a good dad.”

“And you’re wearing Daniel Hall’s jersey.” Noah pinches the fabric at my shoulder and tugs lightly.

“I’d forgotten that I have another player to cheer for now. I always wear Hall because it’d be weird to pick one Langfield over another.”

“What about War?”

“Nah, he’s too broody for my liking. Besides, he was your best friend in college. That would have been weird.”

Noah hums. “True. But it’s not a little strange to show up wearing that when you’re staying the weekend with him and a bunch of couples?” He raises his brows like he’s insinuating a situation that’s far beyond the realm of possibilities.

I roll my eyes. “Camden will be there too. Pretty sure they’re sharing a room.”

Noah waggles his brows as if to saythe more, the merrier.

I smack his arm. “Noah, I’m not like that.”

“I’ve read your books.”

My heart lurches. “You read my books?” Outside the girls, I don’t think anyone in my life has ever read my books.

“Of course. Every time you release a new one, I buy like ten of ’em and give them out to my teammates’ wives. I’m still dying to know who the younger sister of those crazy brothers ends up with. Are we ever getting her book?”

Truly shocked that he actually knows the plots of my books and is interested in them, I find myself at a loss for words. But rather than show any kind of vulnerability, I straighten my shoulders and force a cocky smirk. “An author never spills her secrets.”

As we stop on the sidewalk, he pulls me in for a hug and drops a kiss to my forehead. The gesture is oddly comforting. “Proud of you, Han.”

“Thanks,” I force out past the lump in my throat.

“Where’s your crew?”

“I sent them ahead. I’ve got an Uber coming.”

Noah grins. “So like I was saying before, you and all those couples?—”

“And the manwhores. Don’t forget the manwhores.”

With a shake of his head, he grins. It’s good to see him smiling. “I don’t get that impression from Hall. I haven’t seen him do anything but practice. Kid seems dedicated, that’s for damn sure.”

“Yes, well, that’s what he is. A kid. And like I tell him every time he hits on me, I’m not looking to be anyone’s mommy.”

Noah’s laughter fills the night air. “For the record, I think you’d make a good one.” With a wink, he backs up, then turns and heads for the team bus.

I fold my arms across my chest and mentally bat his words away. That is the last thing I want to think about tonight. I’ve got twenty-four uninterrupted hours of fun ahead of me before the team gets to Arizona and I’m back to babysitting a bunch of baseball players.

“Oh, and Han,” Noah calls from the bus’s doorway.

“Yeah?”

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