Page 28 of The Way We Collide

“Of course.” I take the purple canvas bag she’s holding that has all the baby stuff in it.

Thomas gives me a nod as I pass him. “You remind me a lot of your daddy right now.”

“Really?”

“He loved his kids.” Our old friend’s lips part in a smile as he pats my shoulder. “He just didn’t always know what to do with them—but he learned.”

“Thanks, T.” I grumble as he chuckles, like my ignorance is so hilarious.

I had a really good dad, and if he learned, I can learn. Sometimes life throws you curveballs. Maybe I don’t play baseball, but I can do this.

I follow Raven out the back screen door. A flight of three steps leads down to a wide, pea-gravel path lined with small black lights.

My family’s home is on the bluffs, up the hill from the restaurant. Haddy has a pacifier in her mouth, and as we walk, she emits little humming noises.

Raven is pretty as ever walking beside me in the growing twilight. Her body hasn’t changed, and her eyes, her hair, her full lips, her breasts, all of it has me wondering if our arrangement might includebenefits.

She’s the only woman I’ve thought about for more than a few weeks. For a while, I wondered what might’ve happened if we lived closer. Would I have tried dating her? Would it have been a mistake?

I think about that morning when we said goodbye after our wild night.I’d risk it for you… Am I about to find out?

When we step inside the back door, she takes the diaper bag, digging through it and taking out a pale blue, crocheted stuffed animal with what looks like purple fans on each side of its head.

The minute Haddy sees it, she leans forward with a little squeal, reaching for it and hugging it tightly to her neck.

“I take it that’s someone important.”

“That’s Axel the Axolotl,” Raven explains. “My sister crocheted him for her. We never go anywhere without Axel.”

“Got it.”

“The good news is Amelia’s working on a backup Axel in case something happens to this one.”

“Smart,” I nod, and she takes our daughter from my arms.

“She just needs her dinner and a bath. Then she’ll probably go right to sleep.”

“I’ve got my room at the hotel if you’d like to stay with me.” As I’m saying the words, her expression changes.

“I don’t think that’s a good idea.” Her lips tighten, and she doesn’t meet my eyes. “I appreciate what you’re doing for Haddy and me, but I think we’d better keep things strictly platonic while we’re together.”

“Really?” I sense all my fantasies from our walk to the house going up in smoke.

“Really.” She nods quickly. “I can’t do your two-dates thing. It doesn’t work for me. I tend to get attached.”

“That’s okay,” I give her a grin. “But what if we want to blow off a little steam?”

“Nope.” Her tone is emphatic. “No dating. No sleepovers. We’re just friends, who happen to be parents.”

Her eyes flash, and I hold up my hands. “Understood. I respect your boundaries.”

“Thank you.” Her chin drops, and she almost seems apologetic. “I think it’s for the best. Blurring the lines will only make it harder to say goodbye when it’s time to go.”

The pinch in my chest tells me she’s right. Raven might be cool and smart and tempting, but I’ve never had a problem walking away from a woman.

Our time together will be like training camp. We’ll start the clock, and in six months, we’ll shake hands and walk away. No misunderstandings. No complications.

Football is my life. I love it, and I like being single. Three months isn’t going to change anything.

---