Page 17 of Rocking Player
Jeremy had seemed healthy this morning. Had he skipped the butter for a reason? I sucked in my breath and said, “Relax.”
She met my gaze and massaged my back like she was comforting me over her fears as she said, “Look, I have a great life, but one health crisis can destroy us in a second.”
This was her fear? At least my boy was fine. This worry was something I could handle. “I have insurance for Jeremy.”
She lifted one shoulder like she wanted to flirt as she had the first time we’d met but then said, “Maybe that DNA test you want is good for something then.”
DNA tests don’t get him on my insurance alone. More important was us.
I don’t know what exactly she’d done since that day we’d lost touch, but I touched her and knew she was mine, forever. For now, she twirled out of my arms and said, “We’ll get that as soon as we figure out how to set that up. For now, I’ll get breakfast started.”
I widened my stance but didn’t follow her sexy curves as I said, “Jeremy’s eaten. I wanted to ask your permission to bring him to school.”
“What?” Instantly she came back to me, but her gaze was unreadable.
They were both important to me. I nodded and repeated as I said, “I want to bring my son to school and see the place.”
“My sister works there.” Her foot tapped the ground like she needed to put the request in order.
“I’d love to meet her and your entire family.”
She nodded and said, “Okay. Olivia is my youngest sister, so starting with her might be okay. We can go together.”
Perfect. School started in the morning and training wasn’t till late this afternoon. We had time to talk, and we needed to do that. We went down the stairs together. “Give me a minute to eat and we’ll head out, in my car.”
“Pour me a coffee?” I asked.
“Sure.” She took out two glasses.
Jeremy’s laugh was on his face, but he turned toward the window as he finished his plate.
I took a seat beside him and tossed a waffle on my plate and one for Georgie. I buttered mine up and waited for her. As she sat at the table with us, my phone rang. I saw my agent’s number and stood. Georgie had been an analyst, so she understood numbers mattered, and we’d talk about my own transition soon.
For privacy, I went onto the screened porch and noticed that some of her neighbors jogged the street. They slowed and stared at me, so I waved but didn’t go inside as Phil asked, “What’s going on?”
The neighbors moved and I took a seat on her swing. “Good. Some things might be changing for me.”
“Okay.” He needed to understand about Jeremy and Georgie now, but he continued, “The season is winding down and we’re looking at a few offers to weigh. We need to sit down when you get back to Tulsa as money is just one of the benefits to discuss.”
“Yeah, we do have to talk.”
Georgie had a fear of health care and her analysis of her son’s future was what she’d voiced. I could handle Jeremy’s insurance now, and if she married me, she’d also be on my plan. The thought hit me as the best deal I could broker. We satisfy our lust and ensure my reputation stays clean for the contract negotiations. I let the thought grow in my head and said, “Include health care in the list of items discussed.”
“Are you worried about something?” Phil asked.
I laughed. I was at the top of my game and had enough money in the bank to never worry again if something did, but I shook my head and glanced behind me.
Health was all she’d said she’d feared. It was a starting point for negotiations. Georgie and Jeremy seemed like a dream package as I said, “About my health, no.”
“Don’t scare me like this, Michael.”
Right. I picked at my hair and twirled the small piece as I whispered the truth, “I… I have a son I just found out about. I want to ensure he has health insurance.”
“Children’s health. Got it. That’s usually standard with union contracts anyhow.” He said it like it was a relief. “And, a good family life might be good for your image. People still whisper about the hooker who released a book. You are talking about the boy in the Pirates gear and the woman you kissed yesterday?”
I turned and watched as Georgie sipped her coffee and her cheeks brightened as I said, “Yes. I want to marry her, if she’ll have me.”
“I’ll assure the owners the game interruption was a bleep, and you’re asking her to marry you. It will assuage some of the press asking questions.”
