Page 48 of Cross-Checked

“He has a girlfriend.”

“Hmm. What a waste for him. A guy with a kid is a total chick magnet.”

Is that so? Because that hasn’t been my experience. Only one woman in my life has ever seemed at all comfortable with my kid. Of course, it’s the one woman I can’t have.

And. Don’t. Want!I practically scream the reminder in my head, but it’s useless. I’m not delusional enough to believe myself. I do want her. Whether she wants me is an entirely different question.

Sunshine

Any chance you’re free right now?

When the text comes through, I’m half asleep on the bed in my hotel room after a particularly heavy pasta dinner with the team put me into a carb coma. The recap of another hockey game is playing on my TV, but the volume is so low that I can’t even hear what the sportscasters are saying. Doesn’t matter, I’m not watching for their commentary. I just want to see what the competition is doing.

McCabe

Depends.

Her reply comes back almost immediately.

Sunshine

On what?

McCabe

On why you’re asking.

I’m not sure why I like to be difficult when it comes to her. I could have just said “yes,” but where’s the fun in that?

Sunshine

I happen to be on FaceTime with Nicholas, and Abby is trying to walk.

I fly off the bed, grabbing a shirt off the chair as I frantically type out my reply.

McCabe

What’s your room number?

Sunshine

Oh, nowwwww you decide to be direct? No leaving me hanging without responding for hours...

Shit. I scroll up on the screen and see that she’s right. I got distracted with my teammates on the plane and I never actually sent a response to her earlier message.

McCabe

Room number.

Now, AJ.

I’m not missing my daughter’s first steps because you’re pissy I didn’t respond to your text.

I’m going to assume she’s just teasing me, because I don’t think she’s actually the type of person who would make me miss a milestone like this out of spite.

Sunshine

407

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