Page 21 of Crossed Up

He giggles, showing me his red fingers. “We made them special for Miss Lyla’s birthday next week, Daddy! Cherry cookies with chocolate chips! Did you know me and Lyly have the same birthday?!”

Lyla freezes halfway through pulling on the oven mitts, with a look of chagrin aimed our way. “Crew-bug, that was supposed to be our secret,” she murmurs, a blush lighting her cheeks. “You’re turning six! That’s a big deal! We don’t need to do anything for me."

My eyebrows nearly touch my hairline as this new information registers. “Your birthday is on the 15th, too?” I ask quietly.

She nods slightly before turning back to her task of pulling some delicious-smelling cookies out of the oven. Outwardly, I keep my expression blank, but in my head I’m doing a fist pump. I’m thrilled to get another small piece to the puzzle that is Lyla Taylor.

I don’t know if her birthday is another trigger for her like loud noises seem to be, so I decide to tread carefully. Ruffling Crew’s flour-dusted locks, I encourage him to go pick out jammies and bubbles so I can get him clean for what I hope will be an early night. I’m beyond exhausted. We won both of our games, but they were hard-fought, and we almost didn’t.

Copeland has been having trouble with his throwing arm, and it’s driving the rest of the team out of sync. Our guys were making rookie mistakes, missing simple pop-flies in the outfield, and being too slow to tag out a runner before they get on base, even if they already had the ball in their possession. We weren’t working as a cohesive unit, and Coach reamed our asses for it, too.

Because of the way we played, the press interviews we had today were actually just thinly-veiled interrogations about our roster and strategy for the season.

Turning to Lyla, I offer a gentle smile. “Would you mind hanging out with him a bit longer so I can run to the market? I was going to stop on my way home but got too excited about seeing my boy.”

The bright smile she had on her pretty face earlier slides back into place at my change of subject. “Of course! Why don’t I take care of his bath so you can go now and be back for bedtime?”

I thank her and grab my keys to make the quick trip to town. I have another birthday to plan.

9

AIDAN

The first thing I do when I get in my truck is open a new text to Wren, hoping she’ll let me pick her brain for the answers I know I probably won’t be able to get out of my nanny.

Me

Please tell me you know if Lyla likes her birthday

Future Mrs. Gray

I’m not sure, but thanks for reminding me it’s coming up! Why do you wanna know?

Me

… No reason.

Future Mrs. Gray

Aidan, you need to be careful.

Her comment digs at me for the rest of the drive, so I call her once I navigate the mostly empty parking lot and find an open space.

She answers on the first ring. “Before you get all huffy with me, I didn’t mean it like that. Out of all the men I know, you would be so good for her, please don’t doubt that. But from everything Ly told me, she left a really awful situation back in Maryland, which wasn’t exactly resolved. I don’t know exactly what it was, but what if y’all get involved, and her past comes back to bite her? You’re a public figure and a father, Aidan.”

Shit. I didn’t even consider that. I heave a deep sigh into the receiver, and it echoes on the other end of the line. “I think I like her, Wren.”

“I figured. Has she given you any indication that she feels something for you beyond friendship?” she asks.

Has she? Not really. “Honestly, I don’t think so. But I’m not sure I’d know even if she had because I’ve been so adamant that she’s off limits. I don’t even know why I feel like this. I just know how I feel when I see the way she looks at Crew.”

My words trail off because that’s not entirely true. “I also know how it makes me feel every time she talks to me like I matter. Not because I’m her boss or because I’m Crew’s dad. She talks to me like she cares about my well-being,” I murmur.

Wren lets out a quiet sigh that echoes through my car. I run my hands through my shaggy hair and make a mental note to get it cut before the season officially starts. “You feel all that even though she’s only been around for a few weeks?”

A self-deprecating chuckle escapes. “Fucking insane, isn’t it? Jesus, listen to me! ‘I like her because she acts like she cares.’ I’m her boss. Of course she’s nice to me!” Confusion thrums through me as conflicting thoughts run rampant in my brain. Am I so lonely that I see something that isn’t there?

“Aidan,” Wren scolds. “Breathe. If Lyla didn’t like you or you were making her uncomfortable, you would know. She has had nothing but glowing things to say about you and my little pumpkin butter. I know she loves her job, and I could easily see her loving y’all. I just want you to take it slow and be cautious for all three of your sakes.”

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