but he didn’t mind the cuddle. “You make me think you hate your name.”
He shrugged. “It’s okay.”
“Want another one?”
“Can’t do that.”
“I’m your…” I swallowed. “I named you the first time. I can name you again if I want. Change it every week if you give me any lip.”
“Really?”
“Sure. I can call you Rachel or Diana. How about Mildred?” I hummed. “Maybe something fun—how’s Peanut Butter Reed sound?”
“I don’t wanna be a sandwich.” That woke him up. He turned to squint at me, confused. “You’re sleeping here?”
“Yeah.”
“But this is my bed.”
I poked him. “You sleep in my bed all the time, little man. Payback’s a bit—pain.”
“You’re weird.”
I grinned, kissing his head. “And you’re perfect…even if you get morning breath before midnight.”
He turned to breathe in my face. “Is it b-a-d?”
The little shit. “What’s Mom been feeding you? Garlic soup?”
“Stinky shoes.”
“Moldy pasta?”
“Skunk tails!”
“Some of her cooking tastes like that.”
Sebastian laughed. “But yours is the worst. At least Mom doesn’t catch on fire making sketti.”
I tickled him. “You’re right. Maybe I should take you to your favorite restaurant tomorrow?”
He got excited. “McDonalds?”
“You’re a cheaper date than Elle.” I tugged him closer. “Can I tell you a secret, little man?”
“Yeah?”
“I love ya.”
He groaned.
“What?” I tickled him again. “That’s supposed to be a compliment.”
“I know you love me. That’s not a secret. I thought it was something good.”
“It is something good. Don’t you love me too?”
“Yeah. I love you, Lachlan.”
He’d never know what a blessing it was to hear that until he had a boy of his own. Someone to watch over. Someone he’d work every day to impress, help, and protect.
I had a family to take care of and a wife who deserved more than an apology.
In an instant, I knew exactly what I had to do, how I could fix everything with Elle, save our careers, and end the Rivets’ cheating once and for all.
But first I had to swallow my pride and ask for help.
23
Lachlan
It was the first time I came to a team meeting without any pastries or hauling any equipment.
But this meeting wasn’t at the field, and I called only the men I trusted—Jack and Cole.
…And their wives.
Piper didn’t count. She was my agent—and severely regretting her decision to take me on.
And Leah was as much a part of the team as Jack. Without her PR agency and constant charity work, after-school programs, and coordinated YouTube channel with Elle, the less respectable men on the Rivets would have been chased from the league years ago…including her husband.
I invited both families to my house—as neutral a location as I could manage at six o’clock in the morning. I had to meet them before practice, but texting them at midnight the night before hadn’t made me very popular.
Piper was the first to scold me. “Do you know how hard it is to find a sitter before the sun rises?” She pointed to a particularly unfortunate banana stain on her white blouse. “Toddler tantrum. Before the sun rises, my baby is more of a beast than Cole.”
“Hey!” Cole frowned.
“Sorry.”
Jack wasn’t a morning person either. Leah rubbed his shoulders and offered coffee for the group. She was smiling, chipper, and Piper couldn’t believe it.
“How are you so awake?” she asked.
“My secret.” Leah winked. “Sam cried all night. I didn’t go to sleep. This is still my second wind. More coffee?”
“Please.”
Jack grumbled, his voice thick with sleep or agitation. Probably both. “All right, rookie. What the hell is this about?”
I checked my phone. Elle texted me that she was on her way, but I had no idea if she was angry or upset. It was just as likely she’d flake out on me—and I’d deserve it.
“It’s something big,” I said. “It won’t be easy to hear.”
Jack frowned. “Last time you got this serious, you almost broke my nose.”
“This is more of a gut-punch.”
Piper groaned. “Please don’t punch anyone. It’s hard enough controlling Cole.”
“That’s two insults, beautiful.” He eyed her. “Give me a third, and you’ll be apologizing with your—”
She smacked his shoulder. Somehow, Piper made The Beast smile.
The knock echoed through the house. It was far less enthusiastic than Elle’s usual shave-and-a-haircut. But she was here.
And she didn’t understand why the others had also come.
I pulled her inside, but she stiffened, her voice low. “I thought you wanted to talk.”
“I do. We will. But first we have to do something we should have tackled a while ago.”
“Unless you’re talking about a wedding shower…” Her words wavered. “Please don’t get them involved.”
“They’re already involved. We all