Page 60 of The Way We Collide

Nope.

How come?

Jack

He never asked.

I huff a laugh at his reply, feeling like one of the guys again.

Thanks.

Jack

You okay? It’s a big change going from single guy to dad.

It’s true. I’ve never made my feelings a secret, but I couldn’t run away from Haddy. It’s not who I am. Not to mention all three of my brothers would’ve kicked my ass if I tried, and don’t even get me started on Dylan.

Haddy’s the best. She’s cute and smart and curious and funny. I want her to like me, and I want to be part of her life.

Jack

But?

I don’t know how to answer him. I still want my legacy. I still love the game. I still want to play until I’m too old to run. What’s it going to take to make that stop?

It’s a lot.

Jack

And Raven?

It’s complicated.

He doesn’t reply, but I can hear my big brother’s low chuckle from two thousand miles away. If I were in Newhope, he’d see it all over my face. I’m trying to follow her rules, but everything about this situation is messing with my head.

Raven is the smart, beautiful woman of my dreams, and she’s here in my house with my perfect baby girl. She’s also a fucking goddess with her shiny hair and sexy curves and quick smile and those damn red toenails.

I want to spend every minute with her.

Every minute I’m not on the field, of course.

I love that she has dreams and goals, too. I love that she’s not looking for me to make her life complete. She doesn’t want to be a WAG and nothing more. It’s the main reason I’m doing all I can to help her.

I’ve heard too many stories about women giving up their dreams for their husbands’ jobs or because they had babies. A few times I wondered if my own mom did that, as much as she loved us.

It’s not fair, and I would never ask Raven to do that.

At the same time, doing all I can to help her gets us closer to saying goodbye, and I don’t want that either.

What would it be like if she decided to stay here full-time with Haddy? What would it be like to wake up every morning with them in my house, singing songs about Baltimore and making blueberry pancakes?

I’m smiling like a dope, and Tyler busts me on it.

“What’s the deal with you and Baby Mama? You tapping that or is it a just friends type of sitch?”

His question pisses me off. “Why you asking?”

“Because a woman that fine should not be a free agent.”

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