Page 113 of False Start

She unbuckled herself from my legs, and I strode onto the porch.

“Is that what you’ve been up to during the off-season?” I nodded down to the baby and grinned at Lena.

“Mostly,” Lena laughed. “Trent, meet Kalani.”

I squatted down beside Kalani, studying her jet-black mop of hair and scrunched-up face. I held out a finger, and she gripped it tightly. “Damn, Lena, she’s a brute.”

“She’s got her father’s strength, that’s for sure.”

“Good thing she got her looks from her mom.” I smiled down at the baby. “This kid is going to be dangerous.”

“She’s not dangerous.” Mila stamped her foot and glared at me. “She’s a baby, and she’s perfect.”

I shared a grin with Lena before I held up my hands and stood. “Fair enough. Excuse me for teasing baby Kalani.”

Mila ran her tiny fingers through Kalani’s hair, cooing to her softly before brushing a kiss over her forehead.

“The guys are in the basement playing video games, I think,” Lena said.

I nodded. “Thanks, Lena.”

After some trial and error, I found the entrance to the basement, following the rumble of conversation and tinny, rapid-fire shots. Noa and Rob sat shoulder-to-shoulder on the couch, each with a controller in their hands.

“This looks cozy,” I said, collapsing on a nearby recliner.

“You want a drink?” Rob asked, eyes on the TV. He kicked at the six-pack of beer sitting atop the coffee table.

“Nah. I’m good.”

“Let us finish this round, and we’ll add you in,” Noa said. The giant Hawaiian center squinted at the screen. “You meet my kid?”

“She’s cute. Nearly broke my finger, though,” I said.

He grinned, his white teeth gleaming. “She’s a tough little thing. Keeps us up all night screaming. Lena finally broke down and let us hire a night nurse, and ever since, parenthood has been amazing.”

A twinge of jealousy pitted my stomach. Not for the kid, but for the relationship. Lena and Noa were a pair, a united duo. I hadn’t wanted it before, but I wanted it now.

“But tell me about your car thing. I only saw the pictures,” Noa said, changing the subject.

Rob scoffed. “Please don’t get him started about that fucking car race again. He went on a race, fell for some girl, got a trophy. What else is there to say?”

“You fell for a girl? The one from the race?” Noa raised an eyebrow, ripping his eyes from the screen. I nodded. “Really?”

“Yeah, and she blew me off.” I winced, anticipating Rob’s response.

His laugh filled the basement. “That’s hilarious. She blewyouoff? Is that a first for you, Vogt?”

Probably, though I wouldn’t admit it to Rob, of all people.

Noa glared at his best friend before setting down the controller. “What exactly happened?”

I raked a hand through my hair and sank into the chair. “We were friends and then we slept together, but it was a one-off thing that became a rally thing that slipped into normal life.”

“So dating?” Noa said with a bemused smile.

“Not dating.” I blew out a breath. “Not officially, anyway. It all just sort of happened.”

“He took her to the team barbecue. You missed them, but Cas told me she jack-rabbited out of there when someone asked if they were dating,” Rob added smugly.

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