The Curve Ball - Samantha Lind Page 0,58
how they want us for the family day picture. I was elated when Riley told me she’d participate today, not as Derek’s sister or Evie’s nanny, but as my girlfriend. It is still strange to refer to her like that. I feel a little old to be using a word that feels so childish, but alas, that is what she is. My girlfriend, and Evie’s live-in nanny.
“Great job!” the woman calls out a few moments later. They must have gotten the shots they needed right away as they let up and call over the next family that is ready for their picture.
“Justin!” another voice calls out, this time from someone within the press group that was invited to be down on the field with the players and their family members before the game. “Can we get a picture of you with your family?” the young reporter calls out. I vaguely recognize her from one of the online sports blogs. They tend to toe the line between trash and real. They love to really twist things around from the way they really happen, so I’m not super interested in giving her much, but a picture we can do, I guess. It isn’t like there aren’t going to be a thousand cell phone pictures floating around of me with Evie and Riley by the end of the game.
“Sure, a quick picture is fine,” I tell her as I shift Evie up higher in my arms. I drape my free arm around Riley’s shoulders and pull her into my side. She rests her hand against my chest, and I look down just as she looks up at me. I realize that we’ve got matching goofy smiles on our faces.
“Keep it clean,” Derek mumbles from a few feet away from us, and I can’t help but laugh at his grumbling.
“Of course,” I lobby back at him. “There are small children here, after all. Wouldn’t want to scar them,” I tell him, giving him shit just because I know I’m under his skin, and he’s still a little pissed about the whole dating his sister thing. After our beer on the patio a week ago, when he found out about us, things have been okay between the two of us. He didn’t punch me in the face, which, if I’m honest, I really expected him to do.
“Who’s with you?” the reporter calls out, bringing my attention back her way. Riley stiffens slightly in my arm, so I drop my eyes to hers.
“We still good?” I say, only loud enough for Riley and Evie to hear me. She nods her head slightly, never breaking eye contact with me. Knowing she’s still on board with us coming out, I look back up at the reporter. “This is my girlfriend, Riley, and this is my daughter, Evie,” I tell her. It feels weird to be introducing them to everyone, but it’s probably time I did so.
“How long have you been off the market? How old is the baby? Have you finalized the custody case?” the reporter calls out question after question, not allowing me to answer anything.
“Thank you for the questions, but our players are going to have a few minutes with their family before getting ready for the game. They’ll be available again after the game for further game-related questions,” Carmen, one of the team's PR people, responds for me.
She stepped in at the exact perfect time, effectively cutting off all the reporter’s prying questions. Even without quotes from me answering them, I’m sure she’ll weave up a story to post by the time the game is over tonight.
“Where are you sitting?” I ask Riley as we step away from the crowd.
“The family section. My tickets are right with Jillian and the girls' seats.”
“Okay, I’ll be looking for you,” I tell her, dropping a quick peck against her cheek.
“Keep your eyes on the ball, we don’t need any bad plays,” she teases.
“My eyes are always on the ball.” I smirk at her. “On a serious note, be careful who sits around you. I wouldn’t put it past that chick reporter to somehow get a seat close to the family section so she can eavesdrop on everyone, trying to find out anything she can weave into one of her stories.”
“I’ll be as diligent as I can be,” she assures me. I know she wouldn’t purposely talk or give out information, but it still worries me now that we’ve gone public with this. They're going to be trying to