Page 108 of Home Field Advantage
Her eyes find mine, and they lock there. A smile grows on her lips when she sees me already watching her—drinking her in.
“I’m going to grab us some drinks,” I say, clearing my throat. “Poppy, would you like something?”
She nods. “I’ll help.”
She follows me into the kitchen, keeping her distance, and I hate it.
“She’s okay?” she asks almost immediately.
“She is.”
Silence in the room stretches. I grab the pitcher of iced tea Imade earlier today and three cups from the cabinet. I fill them each and hand her one.
“I don’t know if this makes you feel any better, but I was scared shitless. I’ve never been scared like that in my life. Not after my accident. Not during intense games. Not ever.”
She averts her gaze to the floor because she knows the feeling.
“I don’t know how to handle this part of parenthood—the unexpected things that happen. I know about head injuries, but it’s different when it’s your kid. I’m really trying to be a good dad.”
Poppy moves forward, palm connecting with my forearm. “But you are.”
I offer her a soft, reassuring smile. “I’m starting to feel like one. One day at a time, I’m starting to feel more like a dad than a father.”
“It’s the same thing.”
I shake my head. “If there’s one thing I’ve learned through life, it’s that anyone can be a father. But it takes a lot more effort, time, and love to be a dad.”
“I don’t have experience being a parent, but from the many meetings I’ve had with them at the school, I think they all feel that way one time or another. There’s no rule book for parenting or what to do when things happen. It’s just something you have to learn along the way. You’re a really good dad, Dallas.” She removes her hand from my forearm and looks to the ground before nervously wringing her hands together. “And I’m not just saying that because I like you.”
I soak in every word she says because she means them.
Every. Single. One of them.
“You like me, huh?”
She rolls her eyes. “Out of everything I just said, that’s what you’re stuck on?”
“I’m stuck on every word out of your mouth always, honey.”
She blushes at my admission, and I smirk. “But in all seriousness.Thank you for everything. It means everything that you came here today to bring that stuff for Sage. I think she would say the same.”
“She means a lot to me.”
I close the space between us, wrapping my hand around the side of her neck, and she looks up at me. My eyes trail from her eyes to her lips and the way she opens her mouth to say something, but nothing comes out. But she doesn’t look away.
“This place is changing me, Poppy.” My admission shocks even me, but I can’t take it back. “Being here, it’s everything that I needed.”
I move closer to her, just a little, letting my lips hover as if waiting for permission to kiss her again and letting her have this control. I wonder if she can hear the thunder of my heart beating in my chest.
She reaches up on her toes and presses her lips to mine.
There’s no rush in this kiss, and it’s not explosive fireworks. It’s slow and tentative. Her fingertips graze my jaw before the tangle in my hair, and it feels like she’s anchoring herself to me. So I wrap my arms around her waist, kissing her like maybe my showing up is everything she’s needed too.
She pulls away, ending the kiss more quickly than I would have liked.
“We should bring Sage her drink,” she says, blushing and hiking a thumb over her shoulder.
“You’re probably right.”
