Page 14 of Second Down Darling

I chuckle. “Not recently, but I’m sure Nana would tell you I had a few accidents in my day. So did youruncles.”

His head jerks back like I just revealed a national secret. “Weally?” He meansreally, but we haven’t nailed the R soundyet.

“I promise. We just gotta take one day at a time. Tomorrow will be better.” I hug my little stinker, wishing I could be home more. It’s late. After eight. I still have to give him a bath and get him to bed before I hit the books. He should probably already be asleep, but I’d rather spend some time with him every day and let him snooze late in themornings.

Louisa grabs her purse. “He ate chicken nuggets and some applesauce. Did you already eat dinner, or do you want me to make you a sandwich before Ileave?”

For a second, I hear another voice asking me if I want a sandwich. It makes something in me ache. I don’t know why I’m not over Charlie ghosting me. It’s fucked up, but I miss her more thanDakota.

Once I realized what my ex had been doing behind my back, she was dead to me. Charlotte, though… It’s weird as hell not having her in my life anymore. And as much as I thanked her for taking care of Asher, I’m seeing now that I didn’t appreciate how she took care of me too. Always feeding me. Always helping me if I needed a study buddy. Always knowing how to cheer me up after Dakota reamed me out for something stupid. Just being an amazingfriend.

Did I run Charlie off? Did I do something to hurt her? Was Dakota lying about why her sister left? When I’m not pissed about her leaving, I’m still tormented. It keeps me up at night. Is Charlotte okay? Does she have friends? Is she still in school? Her family doesn’t give a shit about her, and it makes me wonder who’s looking out for hernow.

Realizing I never responded, I muster a smile. “Thanks, Miss Louisa. I brought some dinner home from the cafeteria.” I love this sweet woman. She’s been such a blessing in our chaoticlives.

I have to admit the athletic amenities at Lone Star are top notch. There’s a late-night athletic dining hall that caters to jocks. They have mountains of takeout boxes ready to go at all hours. If I missed the cafeteria hours at NTU, I was shit out ofluck.

Ash sneaks a few of my fries as he watches me gobble down my meal. I was running late and grabbed whatever was closest. Typically I wouldn’t be tossing back a cheeseburger during the season, but considering it’s my second week of classes, right before another big game, and I’m stressed as fuck, I figure I’m doingokay.

After I wrangle the kid into the tub, I sit on the toilet seat as he plays with his toys. He’s wearing a mask my brother got him, and he periodically dips his whole body under water so he can pretend he’ssnorkeling.

“Ash, let’s take that off so we can wash your face,buddy.”

He tosses it over his head, and it goes crashing into the corner where it knocks over the shampoo and body wash. Jesus. How the hell did my mom deal with four ofus?

After I scrub down my hellion, he holds out his arms while I wrap him in atowel.

“Use thehairdriver!”

Hairdriver?I chuckle. My kid always entertains me. “You want me to blow-dry yourhair?”

“Yeah!” He shakes his head like a wild dog coming out of therain.

By the time he’s dry and I’ve wrangled him into some pajamas, I’m ready to pass out, but I still have homework. I’ll need to make some coffee if I want to get more donetonight.

I tuck Asher into his big-boy bed, his birthday present from my mom. “Listen, bud, I know we haven’t spent a lot of time together since we moved here, but I have a treat for you thisweekend.”

His eyes light up. “Atweet?”

“How would you like to go to the park on Sunday? There’s a playground we haven’t gone to yet, and there are supposed to be dogs we can pet. I have to take photos for something, but that will probably only take a few minutes. Then we canplay.”

Coach Santos asked us to help his daughter with a fundraiser, and I’m so indebted to the man, I’ll do anything he needs meto.

“Dogs?” Asher leaps out of bed and starts jumping up and down. “I wuvdogs!”

He’s been asking me for a pet since he learned what they were. It sucks we can’t have one, but I have my hands full as it is. My first order of business when I get drafted is getting my son apuppy.

Ash howls with glee as he flings himself onme.

I hug him, smiling but exhausted. I never should’ve brought this up at bedtime because now he’s hyper—lesson learned—but it makes me happy to see my kid so excited even though it’s gonna take him longer to go tosleep.

Definitely gonna need that coffeenow.

5

JAKE

Ashand I cruise down the street with the windows rolled down and classic rock blaring from the stereo. Charming, Texas, is one of those small towns that belongs on apostcard.

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