Page 114 of Chasing Love: The Owens
I give her one more quick kiss, and we leave the truck, me rounding the back to grab my bag.
“So, are those, like, speciality items?” Delaney asks.
I glance over my shoulder to see Briar wearing an “Emmett’s girl” T-shirt.
“You want a ‘Bennett’s girl’ shirt?” I swear my chest puffs out on its own.
She shrugs and flutters her eyelashes a little. “I mean, I’d wear it, I suppose.”
“Then I’ll talk to Jude and get you one.”
She leans up on her toes and kisses my cheek.
I hold out my hand, and she slides hers in it. God, this feels so good.
Leia runs up to us, tucking her hand in Delaney’s free one. She’s still hesitant with my family since they’re so big and overwhelming. She can take all the time she needs. I’ll never rush her into accepting them as her own.
“Check out this new Willowbrook couple,” Sadie says, holding Daisy to her chest. “It looks good on both of you.”
Gillain sidles up to her sister-in-law, with a smile so big you’d think she was as happy as us. Not a chance in hell she is.
“Finally, Owens gets some.” Walker Matthews comes from around the fence line by the other team’s dugout. “Delaney, heard you were back.”
My back goes up. If he thinks he’s going to say anything shitty to Delaney, we’re going to have a problem.
“You should come visit Wild Bull Ranch sometime,” Walker says.
“Why are you even here?” Briar asks him. “We’re not playing your team.”
“We have the next game, and since it’s winding down to championship time, I figured I’d see if you guys have improved.” Walker looks out at the parking lot. “Looks like you might be down a player.”
We all turn to see Romy walking up on crutches and her ankle wrapped. My mom is wearing her Plain Daisy Ranch team shirt.
“What happened?” Delaney asks.
Wren runs up to Romy, asking her a million questions.
Mom raises her hands. “I’ve been waiting for my chance to show you kids how the game is played.”
“What’s going on?” Jude comes out of the dugout. “Why is Aunt Darla wearing Romy’s shirt?”
“I could’ve gotten Nash to be our tenth,” Poppy says.
“I’m sure you’d like that.” Scarlett eyes her, and Poppy ignores the look.
“Oh, Jude, get that look off your face. I’m a good player, just ask Brad,” my mom says. She thumbs behind her, and my dad emerges, having parked the truck.
“Sorry, guys, we flipped a coin.” My dad shrugs.
Mom narrows her eyes at him.
Everyone laughs, and I turn to Leia next to Delaney. It’s a lot of noise and chaos, and Delaney told me the other night that Leia’s just not used to it after growing up as an only child with very few extended family members. She says that Leia enjoys them all, but back in California, there were a lot of times it was just the two of them. I hate thinking they didn’t have the support of any family out there, and from what I’ve gathered, most of Delaney’s friends ditched her after Sean’s arrest.
Delaney bends and scoops Leia up in her arms. “Good luck.”
I kiss her briefly on the lips. Something we started last week and neither of the girls have said anything. “Don’t expect a home run or anything,” I murmur.
I hold out my hand to Leia, and she smacks it with a smile.
