Page 143 of In The Game

He nods. I’d love to know what he’s thinking about.

“Did you pickyournumber?”

Barrett shakes his head. “I had thirty-three in training camp, and I thought it was lucky, so I kept it.”

“And it is lucky because now we have three people in our family. One, two, three.” He points to each of us.

“That’s right, we do. Maybe that’s why it was lucky.”

“Do you think they are going to miss you when you free-tirement?”

“When Iretire? Yeah, I think so. We will all miss playing together. Goodbyes can be hard.” I rest my hand on his thigh under the table. Barrett told me he wished he could play his last season with Sully by his side, and I know the upcoming season will be an adjustment for him.

* * *

After dinner, we hang out by the beach to soak up some of the late summer sun.

I didn’t want to get my blouse dirty, so before leaving the house, I grabbed the first crumpled up shirt I could find, trying to get down here before Arthur jumped in the lake. When I look down, I realize I’m wearing one of Barrett’s.

I SHAVED MY BALLS FOR THIS?

Classy, Bear. Real nice…

The man himself comes up behind me and wraps his arms around from behind, and I lean into him. “Pretty girl, pretty sunset.”

“Hmm.” I smile.

“So we’re doing it tonight, right, Dad? You’re gonna ask Mom—”

“Mini Bear!” I spin around in time to see Barrett’s eyes turn to saucers, and he gives him a look. “Why don’t we feed the ducks, buddy?”

“Sure! What are we going to give them?”

He’s looking around him as if he’s hoping a bag of oatmeal will appear out of thin air. “I dunno, whatever’s on the ground. Rocks or something.”

“You can’t feed ducks rocks!”

I raise my eyebrows at Barrett. “You’re seriously suggesting Little Mister World Wildlife Federation feed rocks to the local waterfowl?”

“If you’re not going to ask her, then why did we buy the ring?! I want to show it to her!”

“Holy shit, bud! I’m changing your nickname from Mini Bear to Bean Spiller.”

He got a ring?Oh my god, is that why he had me get my nails done. He told me it was because he wanted tosee those pretty nails wrapped around his cock.

No! He can’t do it now!He better not ask me to marry him while I’m wearing a shirt that says BALLS in bright red letters.

“Well, first can we—”

“Yup! Yup! Yup, we can do it now.”

He laughs, and I fall in love all over again with the smile he’s giving Arthur. I don’t care about the shirt anymore. If he’s about to ask, this is exactly how I want it to go down.

Barrett stops walking and spins in a circle, staring at the ground. “Um… Yeah…” He comes back to me and holds my hand. “Yeah. Okay.”

“Let’s hear it.”

He drops down to one knee, and Arthur mimics his movements, imitating Barrett’s form. Side by side, posed the same, they’ve never looked more like father and son. The same half smile on both their faces, showcasing the same dimple. They are so alike, and my heart somersaults.

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