Page 87 of What About Us
The door slides open and then closed behind me, before I feel Finn’s hand on my back. “You ok?” she asks softly, her voice full of concern.
I nod and blow out a breath, dropping my arms and looking at her over my shoulder. Her arms come around my waist from behind and she presses into me, squeezing gently, her cheek on my back.
“When is she coming?”
“She’s supposed to let me know,” I reply, folding my hands over hers on my abs.
“You think she’ll show?” she asks.
I turn so we’re facing one another, still wrapped up together. She tips her head back to look at me and her braid brushes the back of my hand on her low back.
“I don’t know.”
She eyes me for a couple of seconds. “What did she say about me?”
I shake my head and press a kiss to her forehead. It’s intimate, and it’s us. I’m so grateful for this woman. “Doesn’t matter.”
She nods. “Come on. Lunch is ready.”
Chapter 30
Finnley
The park is packedwhen we arrive for the Timber Titans softball game. Hudson started this rec team back in high school and after he left, Hutch and some of the locals kept it going. Now it’s just a bunch of local, middle-aged guys who get together and play for fun against teams from neighboring towns. There are no trophies or playoff games, and winning is all for bragging rights.
Paige and I are dressed in our matching Timber Titans T-shirts, as we walk alongside Hudson. When we get to the bleacher area, Hudson breaks off and heads for the dugout, while Paige and I head to find a seat. It’s mostly wives, girlfriends, and kids of the players, but there are a few other locals who never miss a game.
I spot Norah and Natalie, Hudson’s twin sisters, and Josie sitting together. They’re all in the same shirts as me and Paige. Josie is best friends with the youngest Hayes sibling, Hayley, and Josie’s husband, Jasper, plays on the team, as well.
“Where’s Hales?” I ask, sitting next to the twins, with Paige situated between us.
“LA,” Nat reminds me.
“Oh, that’s right. Huddy mentioned that,” I say.
Hayley teaches twelfth grade phys ed at Timber Forge High, and this year, she’s the assistant coach of the girls soccer club. Every year, the club raises money to go see a professional soccer game in a different state. This year, they’re in California, since Hudson was able to get them tickets to a Brooklyn United FC game there. Hudson met their right winger, Noah Cameron, a few years back, and he arranged to get the entire team box seats to their game in Los Angeles this week.
“No Wrenley either?” Norah asks, leaning around Nat to boop Paige’s nose.
I shake my head. “I was going to pick her up, but Hank got home right before I left, and I guess you can imagine the rest,” I say with a chuckle.
“They came into the café the other day and I had to wait five minutes for them to untangle their mouths long enough to order,” Nat pipes up.
Norah rolls her eyes and Nat mimics gagging with her finger down her throat. “It’s bad enough I have to watch mybrotherkissing her and copping a feel all day on the ranch. I don’t need to imagine the rest of what they do when they’re alone.”
I chuckle and nod. Norah does the bookkeeping for the Hayes ranch. Her office is above the barn, with windows overlooking the stables and garden, where Wren spends a lot of time when Hank is at the ranch. I can only imagine the things that Norah has seen. Hank’s always been pretty private, but he and Wren don’t seem to have a problem with PDA.
Paige cocks her head, looking up at me. “Why does Uncle Hank like to feel the cops?”
Norah grimaces, dropping her eyes to Paige.
“He’s just silly like that,” I laugh and we all exchange knowing looks. Having Paige around all the adults is new. We’ve never really had to watch our language or sexual innuendos.
“Look, there’s Daddy!” Paige exclaims, all thought off copping a feel forgotten.
“Yep, there he is,” I say and take in every inch of him on the pitcher’s mound. He lifts his shirt to wipe his brow, exposing all those glorious abs.
Hudson’s never been a hat guy, but when he plays softball, he is. I let out a long sigh when he flips the bill backward, then licks his fingers, and spins the ball in his palm before slamming it into his mitt a few times. I hear a snicker come from one of the twins. I shoot a glance their way, but they’re both watching the team take the field when my eyes land on them.
