Page 80 of Despite It All
“You wanna know why?” I kneel in front of her and she nods her head eagerly. “It’s because your dad is old.”
“Okay! That’s it!” Jett scoops me up then wraps his arms around me, pulling me to his chest.
I turn my head to look up at him and his deep blue eyes have this mischievous glint in them. “Stevie, want to see me race Mommy?”
“No!”
“Yes!” Stevie shouts louder.
Jett turns us to face first base. “Come on, Wy. You heard her, she wants to see her parents race.”
“No way. I’m not—”
“Well, if this isn’t a sight to see.” Another new voice comes from behind us.
Jett turns us back around. I can’t help but love that he doesn’t mind showing affection while we’re here.
“Hey,” Jett greets an older man walking up to us. I’m not entirely sure if he is a player or coach, possibly. He doesn’t have on the pants so my gut is saying coach.
Jett steps to the side of me and holds out a hand for Stevie to come over to him. “Stevie, this is one of my coaches, Blake Andrews.”
Blake squats down in front of Stevie and smiles. “Hi, Stevie. I’ve heard so much about you from your dad. I know he’s so happy you’re here.”
Stevie glances up at Jett with such adoration. “I’m happy I’m here too, but I miss Poppy.”
“Oh, who’s Poppy?” he asks her.
“Poppy is my doggy. I told her we were going to work with daddy like he did when I was a baby but we’d be back.”
Ow. I think Jett and I both feel the pain from that one. Blake glances at the both of us and chuckles. “Well, I know one thing for sure, you've got a pretty cool dad. And I’m betting your mom is pretty cool too.”
Stevie nods her head and bounces. “Mommy is super cool.”
No one look at me. It’s my allergies.
Blake stands back up and holds out his hand for me. “You hear that, want me to put it in writing?” he jokes.
“I’d frame it for sure.” I laugh. “I’m Wyla.”
“Nice to meet ya, Wyla. I’m Blake, the pitching coach here.” He looks at Jett. “And I’m here to officially tell Jett he’s been cleared to start playing this week. Slowly, that is.”
Pit meet stomach.
Jett wraps an arm around my waist, and I swear it’s a silent, don't worry.“Sounds great. Wy, why don’t you and Stevie hang out in one of the dugouts.”
“Yeah, come on, Stevie.” I hold out a hand for her. “Wanna watch your dad practice?”
“Yes!” Stevie takes my hand and we start to walk to the dugout but Stevie looks over her shoulder and hollers, “Run fast this time, Daddy.”
“You got it, Little Bee.”
After having very mixed emotions of watching Jett practice. I didn’t realize I could feel so worried, impressed, and turned on all at the same time.
Gah, Jett’s so fucking hot in those baseball pants. Then getting to watch him throw… I have never been more into sportsthan I am now.
Stevie is equally captivated but in the sense that she now thinks her dad is the best baseball player in the world. She talked nonstop about it on the drive over to his place.
When we pull into the parking lot of his apartment complex, Stevie’s stunned.
