The Curve Ball - Samantha Lind Page 0,45
day,” Jillian says, trying to remind her daughter of that fact.
“See, Penny, Daddy wouldn’t forget about you,” I tell her, trying to cheer her up.
Evie starts to fuss, so we all head inside to find a snack. I sit Evie in her highchair and put a few puffs on the tray in front of her. She’s just recently started eating a few things. She loves her some mashed avocado and will gnaw on practically any fruit I put in these little mesh feeder things that I found that make things safer for her to try and eat now that she’s old enough to eat solid food.
“Do you mind keeping an eye on her while I go change quick?” I ask Jillian once everyone is settled in with a snack.
“Of course,” she tells me, waving me off. I quickly head to my room and slip into a tank top and shorts. I was already fully dried off, so the process is quick.
“Did you want to stay for dinner?” I ask Jillian as I enter the kitchen. The girls are just finishing the cut-up apples I gave them.
“You don’t mind?”
“Of course not. I was just going to order some takeout tonight anyway.”
“Then, yes. All I’d be able to muster was a drive-through on the way home, so that saves me a trip outside of the neighborhood.”
“What is baby boy in the mood for?”
“Oh man, what isn’t he in the mood for?” she jokes. “Some carbs sound delicious right about now, maybe pizza?”
“We can do that,” I tell her, picking up my phone and placing an order for delivery. “Done. Order will be here in about forty-five minutes.”
“You’re a godsend and the best sister-in-law a girl could ask for.”
“You’re not so bad yourself,” I tell her as we move out into the living room. I bring a bottle for Evie with me and prop her up in my arms as she takes hold of it. She’s been able to hold it herself now for a few weeks and is insistent on doing so. The girls playing with toys keeps distracting her, so I eventually take it from her and plop her down in the jumperoo so she can play safely.
“So, anything happening between you and JJ yet?” she asks. I knew the questions were going to come again at some point.
“Nope, not that the tension between us isn’t there. We’ve had a few close calls, that one hot-ass kiss early on. But we both try and keep our distance when it's just the two of us here and Evie isn’t awake. It's for the best,” I tell her, not sure who I’m trying to convince of that.
“I still don’t see what the problem is. You’re both consenting adults, and obviously, the attraction goes both ways. Why continue to fight it?” she asks.
“So, say we act on this attraction. What happens after that? Things would get weird, and I’m his employee. If things went bad, what would he do about Evie? It’s not like he can just hire any person off the street to come to take care of her. Not many people would be willing to just move in. Not to mention, how much that would kill me to no longer be in her life, here taking care of her every day.”
“But what if it’s meant to be? What if you guys try it out and see where things go? Maybe he’s ready to settle down. I haven’t heard Derek complaining that he’s going out all the time, anymore. I think that Evie has really changed him in these past few months.”
“She definitely has, and you’re right. He hasn’t gone out partying since she arrived. He’s hardly even gone out for a beer with the guys after a game. I think he might when they’re on the road, since it isn’t like he can come home and see her, but I don’t know for sure.”
“He doesn’t. Nothing more than dinner with the guys,” Jillian tells me. “That’s what I’m saying. Derek was telling me all about how much he’s changed. How much he’s noticed this about JJ. How he’s always talking about Evie, and much to Derek's dismay, JJ talks about you.”
“Ugh. Why does life have to be so complicated?” I groan, tossing my head back on the couch.
“Welcome to adulthood.” Jillian laughs next to me. “Look at how crazy my life has been in just the last year. I divorced your brother because of his antics, and now we’re re-married with a