Page 95 of I Got You

I stay where I’m at, resting next to him as he opens the book and starts reading. This man. I already know he’s one of the good ones. I’ve known it for a while. I just hope he knows it. How much he deserves to be happy and how sometimes all the bad stuff can bring you to where you’re supposed to be. I just can’t help but want him to want to be with me.

Chapter 34

SHANE

“No cussing, no hitting on women, no acting like total idiots. Do we understand each other?”

“What about that bozo? The assistant coach. Can we pull him aside and kick his ass for good measure?” Mark asks from the passenger seat.

“No, there’ll be no fighting. This is a high school game, and you will act like mature adults. Now, put your hats on and sunglasses. We don’t need to draw a crowd.”

“Yes, Dad.” Sean pulls his stocking cap down over his short blond hair. “Why didn’t we get Matthews jerseys? We’re family, after all. If this kid is as good as you say he is, I want one.”

“You just wait and see. He does this flip throw-in thing. It’s freaking insane.”

Mark pats my shoulder. “Look at you being the proud papa. Who would’ve ever guessed it?”

I glare at him as we pull into the school parking lot for the last game of the season to meet up with Maggie and the kids. I just picked up these two shitheads from the airport and came directly here. Maggie insisted we could skip the game, but there was no way. I want to make sure Hank’s assistant coach doesn’t pull anything. He’s steered clear since the first game, and Hank said he hasn’t approached him again. More than anything, I want to see the kid play and be here to support him.

We climb out of my truck and make our way to the bleachers, already filled with families. I spot my group of blue as Maggie and Liv smile and wave.

Since our early Thanksgiving, things have been busy. I had an away game on Thanksgiving Day, and now I’m back in time for Mark and Sean to show up. I’ve not been too busy to think about Maggie…a lot. Probably way more than I should.

When she told me about her mom, the only thing I could think was how I wanted to make it better. I wanted to take away all her pain and hurt and carry it for her. I understand how that kind of trauma never goes away. It’s something you just learn to live with. You carry it with you, living and breathing in the background of everything you do.

I feel even worse not showing up for her at Carmen’s wedding, now fully understanding everything she was going through that day. Having her share that with me meant a lot. It felt like a step in her trusting me with more than the stuff on the surface, the day-to-day stuff. She shared something I know was difficult and not something she’s told many people. I don’t take that lightly.

It makes me want to trust her in return, but where would I even begin. Opening the door to my past brings the possibility of her looking at me or treating me differently. I don’t want to be pitied. I don’t want to be fixed or mended, and I don’t want a single thing to change how Maggie looks at me or how she is with me. I couldn’t stand it, so the past is where it will stay.

We climb through the crowd as people watch the three of us with interest. Maggie stands and moves over to make room. “Hey, guys. I’m glad you made it.”

Mark pushes me out of the way to grab her and hug her tight, holding on extra long, knowing it’ll irritate me. “Are you ready to dump this big dummy and run away with me?”

“Mark,” I growl. “Sit your butt down and get off my wife.”

Maggie laughs as we sit, the boys and Cole in the row below us.

Sean reaches across to shake her hand. “Please ignore him. He has no manners. It’s nice to finally meet you.”

“Oh, I have excellent manners.” Mark grins next to me, and if we weren’t here, I’d smack his pretty face.

They introduce themselves to Cole and bump fists with the boys as I lean closer to Maggie. “It’s still not too late for me to drop them off at a hotel.”

“Not a chance, Grizz.” She smiles. “Hey, I got a text from Danny. He’s catching a flight tonight and will be here in the morning, so I need to be at the studio after lunch. Can you guys hang out with the kids for a while?”

Great. Danny. I knew this was coming, but that doesn’t mean I want Maggie to spend time with him. At least I have Mark and Sean to distract me from wondering what is happening and counting the minutes until she comes home. It’s not that I don’t trust Maggie. I do. I don’t trust him. I don’t want him messing with her head or any part of her.

As if she can read my thoughts, she bumps my shoulder. “It’ll be fine. Ok?”

I nod.

“Shaney.” Liv climbs over Maggie to sit on my leg, and I hear Mark snort at my nickname. She eyes the two guys, leaning back into me. “Are they your friends?”

“Yes. They’re kind of like my brothers.”

She studies them for a long time, probably assessing their need for love. When she’s done, she turns toward them. “I’m Alivia. I have lots of brothers, too. Hank is going to kick some serious butt today.”

They laugh, and before long, she’s sitting between them, talking their ears off and interrogating them on everything from their relationship status to their favorite Disney princess. Fifteen minutes into the game, Hank scores, and we’re all on our feet yelling. Mark and Sean high-five as some of the parents turn as if they're taking offense to our cheering.

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