Page 103 of Headed for Home

I avoid glancing at them in the rearview mirror. “No promises.”

A thick exhale does little to dislodge the lump in my throat. It’s a miracle we arrive without me shedding a single drop. Theinstant I shift into park, the twins are racing for the field. My approach is much slower as I try to regain composure.

I lose the battle when the scene comes into view. Charlie and Kenzie are hanging off Drake’s arms, trying to reach his neck where their names require a retrace. He lifts them like sacks of flour while talking to none other than Shawn. The two men laugh as if they’ve already bonded as besties. I can’t fully appreciate that right now, which needles me. It’s just too much and I release a muffled sob.

Drake’s concentration follows the noise to find me standing there. I’m momentarily distracted by his backward hat and coaching gear. That is until the humor twinkling in his baby blues fades. A storm rolls over his expression while he gently puts Kenzie and Charlie on their feet. My hurried steps carry me straight into his embrace. Safety and comfort hug me tight as I give myself permission to fall apart.

He rubs a palm along my broken spirit as I dampen his shirt. “What happened?”

“It’s… nothing,” I blubber.

“I call bullshit, beauty,” he mumbles into my ear. “Tell me.”

But my throat is raw and coated in shards of glass. I roll my head back and forth on his chest. There’s a pressure sitting on my stomach that spreads until I can’t move. I clench my eyes shut, begging the emotion to recede. The opposite happens as more tears stream down my cheeks.

“There was a bad man talkin’ to Mommy,” Kenzie reveals. “He was suuuuper mean and didn’t listen to our words. Oh! I think he knows you, Pinkie Pie. You’re Mommy’s boyfriend. Are you rich? That’s what he said. We left but Mommy was still mad. And then we almost made her cry ‘cause we don’t like moo-boo anymore, but she can use it for today.”

Drake becomes rigid against me, his body taut and armored. “Give me a name.”

I gulp and draw in a deep breath, but the emotional turbulence rattles me again. “Al-Al-Alan.”

He pries me off him, forcing my gaze to meet his. “Alan?”

My nod releases a fresh trickle of tears. “From Sutherland.”

His thumbs swipe away the droplets before lowering to my shoulders. There’s thunder in his eyes, preparing to strike a specific target. Drake doesn’t look away from me when he says, “Hey, Shawn?”

The children’s father is beside us in a second, or maybe he was already there. “Yeah, man?”

“Can you coach this game for me? Somebody made a big mistake, and I need to fix it.”

“No,” I blurt.

“Yes,” Drake argues. “He made you cry. That deserves a swift punishment.”

A moan nearly spills from my lips, which is ridiculous. But Drake in protective mode is next-level sexy. The appeal makes me squirm. I can’t appreciate that in this moment either. That doesn’t mean I want him to hurt Alan. Well, maybe a little. But now isn’t the time for violence.

I grip onto his wrists. “Don’t leave. He’s not worth it.”

“Beauty,” he sighs. “You’re not happy and it’s his fault. Today was meant to be great, but he ruined it. There’s not a chance he’s getting away with that.”

My gaze slides to Shawn for a moment before returning to Drake. “I’m sad I missed the beginning of this bromance.”

“Do you want us to reenact our meet-cute?” Shawn’s smile suggests he’s willing if I’m interested.

Meanwhile, Drake looks ready to snap a certain sales consultant in half. “I’m not in the mood.”

“That’s a first,” I mumble.

His exhale is rough, fluttering my hair like a breeze. “This is just something I have to do. It won’t take long. I’ll be back before the game is over.”

My frown is stooped low to deny his request. “It’s fine.”

“You know I’m not accepting that as a proper response.”

An ache blooms at my temples. “I don’t know why I’m so bothered. They can’t hurt me.”

“Tell me what happened.” Drake motions for me to spill the beans.

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