Page 60 of One and Only

“Uh, I was a little busy getting married. What are you talking about?”

“The charity thing, where the wives and girlfriends come play against their significant other.”

My eyebrows popped up because I did actually know what she was talking about. I’d seen it the year before, just after Parker transferred to Portland. It looked fun and raised huge amounts of money for some of the players’ foundations.

“Thatthing,” I said under my breath. “It’s tomorrow?”

She nodded.

I gave Cameron a pleading look. “How do you feel about me playing hooky?”

“Don’t you need to check with your husband about this first? Things are going about as I expected when I heard about this whole marriage thing.”

I smiled, so very politely. “Imagine what finger I’m holding up right now, Cameron.”

He snorted, turning back to the light fixture issue. “We can put it the way you want it,” he said. “And yes, you can play hooky.”

“Excellent. Now … I have to get some more stuff for Olive’s room.”

Her eyes brightened. “Ooh, can I help?”

I slung an arm over her shoulder as we left the house. “Yup. No budget on the project, which is always more fun. I finished painting the room earlier.”

She sighed. “So you really didn’t spend the weekend in bed? That’s so disappointing.”

“Cheer up, Poppy. There was hot coffee for me when I came downstairs, and he bought me a box of apple pie oatmeal so I didn’t have to eat his healthy shit.”

“Is that supposed to make me feel better?” she asked.

“I don’t really know.”

“Can I come to your place and help you set up Olive’s room? I really want to see his place.” She gave me a pleading look. “Heismy new brother-in-law. And that makes her my step-niece, right?”

Hysterical laughter got lodged somewhere at the base of my throat, and I somehow managed a nod as I attempted to swallow it down.

“Uh-huh,” I hedged. “I’m not sure when I’m doing all that, but we’ll figure out a time for you to come over, I promise.”

“She was so cute,” Poppy gushed. “And if he doesn’t have any family, then I am a shoo-in for the favorite aunt.”

My stomach went a little cold, and my heart churned restlessly.

Act first, think later didn’t seem quite as funny as it had when I sat down in that Italian restaurant for all my stupid dates.

At every new turn, I was getting tangible, weighty reminders of what we were doing andthe possible fallout. I couldn’t fight the tremble of nerves at the thought that this would all blow up in my face someday.

And who’d get caught in the crossfire as a result.

Chapter13

Beckett

“Coleman’s wife is already done with him.” The sound of a clucking tongue hit my ears, and I exhaled quietly.

“I asked for her phone number,” someone else said. I ignored them, stretching out my legs, making sure I was warmed up for the game. “He told me she wasbusy.”

She said the word like it was dripping with acid, and I looked up at Reyes and his wife, both of whom laughed at the expression on my face.

“Greer has a job, Melinda,” I said patiently. “Just because we’re married now doesn’t mean she can drop everything to be here for every single event.”

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