Page 142 of In The Game

The second I shut and lock the front door, I walk back to the table and hold the paper confirming the paternity test results.

“You did a paternity test?”Did she doubt he was mine?

“I wanted to surprise you, so we could get your name on the birth certificate. Make it official.” She sounds so disheartened, like all the effort she went through was ruined. I kick myself for thinking she had doubts. I love that she went through the trouble to do something so thoughtful, she knows how bad I wanted that certificate.

I walk back to the front door, peering out the sidelight to see if the police have left. They have. We were told a truck would be by later to tow her vehicle away. I’ll feel better when every trace of Darlene is gone.

Raleigh steps next to me and pulls me away from the window.

“I can’t believe she came here. And seeing you go all papa bear for us back there,oh my God—”

My phone rings and my lawyers name flashes on the screen. I need to take it..

“Hey.”

“What the fuck is going on over there? Did you give a statement?”

“Yeah, I explained as best I could. Took them a minute to understand how it went down. It was all on camera.”

“Send me the footage so I can add it.”

He goes over some legal jargon, but eventually I have to cut him off and explain that I need to tend to Raleigh. As soon as I hit the end call button, I wrap her in my arms. Her shook body trembles.

“No one has ever protected Arthur and me like that.” Her chest heaves.

Parents are supposed to protect their children. The stories Raleigh has told me about the close calls she had as a kid with grown men, men three times her age, make my skin crawl. It enrages me. I will always put her and Arthur first. Even against the people that were supposed to protect her all along. I’ll be that person for her and our family.

I sink a hand into her hair. I still can’t believe she did a paternity test to get my name on the birth certificate.How fucking sweet is she?God, I love this woman. My mouth takes hers in a soft kiss.

“I don’t want to be like her,” she mumbles, hurt flickers behind her eyes, and I wish I could take it away. I saw the way she flinched when her mom compared Raleigh to her.

“You are so incredible. You’renothinglike her. You are kind, thoughtful, caring, empathetic, selfless. You are her polar opposite. You’re a fantastic mom and a loving partner and agoodperson.”

A fat swollen tear builds in the corner of her eye, and I brush it away. Her gaze meets mine, and it’s so full of love. Because that’s what Raleigh is, she’s love.

I rub circles on her back and hold her in my arms, letting her grieve for all the things she should have had. All the things I promise to give her.

FIFTY-FIVE

Barrett sits at the table while I work around the kitchen getting ready for dinner. We’re talking about our day, the simplicity of it makes me smile.

“I worked out with Banksy today. He’s all bent out of shape over being the best man in some wedding from a childhood friend. I’m sure he sees monogamy as an affront to everything he believes in. He’s such a whor—” Arthur bounds into the kitchen for dinner.“—rrible gift wrapper.”

“Who’s a horrible gift wrapper?” he asks.

“Camden Teller, you know, Banksy.”

“What number is Banksy again?” Arthur asks. Memorizing the players on the team has become very important to him. We keep talking about all the games he will go to this fall, he wants to be prepared.

“Forty-six.”

“Do you get to pick your numbers?” He grabs his spoon and rolls up his sleeves. He’s about to go ham on some Cinnamon Toast Crunch.

“Sometimes,” Barrett answers, taking the bowl of cereal from me. “Thanks, love.”

Arthur and I rock-paper-scissored for dinner, and Arthur won.Cereal it is.

“Lonan Burke, number fourteen, he picked his number.”

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