Page 46 of Playmaker

“I hear that’s ended.”

“Maybe he’ll like a new start here.”

* * *

Callie

I stoodin front of the door to Faith Deveraux and Seb Hunter’s apartment and wondered what the hell I was doing.

Cooper had called to tell me he couldn’t make our…not really a date, but kind of. He needed to babysit his goddaughter, so I’d have to pick up the meal tab another time. And I could have left it at that.

I hadn’t babysat since I’d been in foster care, and I remembered it being a chore. But after the uncomfortable time Cooper had at the driving range, and since I owed him a meal…I’d offered to help babysit and bring food.

I’d still been surprised when Cooper accepted the offer. So here I was, with pizza, including a cheese one for the kid, beer and juice boxes. I hoped that was good. I’d considered finding a toy to bring as well, but I had no idea what this girl would have or want. And that was almost as if I was bribing her to like me. Which was ridiculous. It didn’t matter. I was just helping out a friend who was helping me.

I must have taken too long to knock, second-guessing what I was doing, because the door opened and I was not ready for this.

Cooper was a good-looking guy. I mean, he was on those billboards everywhere, so objectively, yes, he was very attractive. Seeing him in the doorway, with those blue eyes and blond hair and that ridiculously fit body, wearing a sparkly pink tiara and a purple tutu? That did something extra, chipping away at shields I had inside and putting a ridiculous smile on my face. Especially when he didn’t apologize for it or show any signs of embarrassment.

A blonde head, also in a tiara, appeared around his knees. Narrow blue eyes peered at me suspiciously.

“Come on in. Hailey, this is my friend Callie. The pizza smells good. Step back, Hailey monster.” The little girl stayed tightly behind Cooper’s legs as he moved back so I could enter.

“I have plain cheese, for um, the monster.”

Cooper laughed and bent down to pick up the girl, who I could see now was also wearing a purple tutu. Oh god, was I going to have to dress up as well?

As Cooper carried the girl to the kitchen, I looked around with interest. The condo was a little bigger than mine, but not too much fancier. The kitchen was large enough to have an island, instead of just a counter between the kitchen and living room.

The walls were mostly neutral, with color added in pillows and throws. Everything was chosen for comfort, not show. I could feel my body relaxing as I got farther into the space.

“This is nice,” I said as I set down the boxes of pizza and bag of drinks.

Cooper sat Hailey on the counter. The girl was still watching me warily. I tried to smile at her, but I wasn’t good with kids. And this one? Was not impressed.

“Hailey likes pizza.”

Hailey shook her head.

“What are you up to, Hailey? You always eat pizza.”

She crossed her arms. “Not dis.”

I stared at the boxes. They were generic pizza boxes, showing a cartoon Italian holding a pepperoni pizza in his upraised hand. How could she hate the pizza without having seen it? Or did they only eat fancy organic pizza shit in different boxes?

“That’s not polite. Callie brought you cheese pizza, special.”

The little diva shook her head hard enough to jostle the tiara.

“Well, there’s pizza to eat, and chicken and broccoli. Which do you want?”

Hailey’s lower lip jutted out impossibly far and she shook her head again. This was why I’d given up on babysitting. How the hell was I going to help Cooper?

Cooper stared at the girl who was staring back at him just as hard.

“Okay.” He picked her up and set her on her feet. By the frown on the small face, this was not a move she approved of. “Callie and I are going to eat now. You can go play.” Cooper turned and reached for plates in a cupboard. “Hope you don’t mind, but I’ll have to augment the pizza with some boring protein and veg.” He gave me a grin. “Training.”

I mentally slapped myself. I hadn’t considered that. “I’m sorry, I didn’t think.”

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