Page 34 of Rebound

All she does is text back with a thumbs-up. Once that’s done, I go to my room and get the suitcase and tote bag that I packed this morning.

“Is that it?” he asks. He opens my closet and points at all the clothes hanging in there.

“I have to come back tomorrow to tell my mom and June Bug. I’ll get my stuff over time. You’re on probation,” I warn. He takes the tote bag from me and slings it over his shoulder. After he takes my suitcase, I put my shoes back on and we walk out the door.

Chapter 21

Seth

While Layla plays with Jasmine in her room, I slip out and pull my phone from my back pocket. We’ve been home for a few hours. After leaving her house, I picked up Jasmine early from Vickie’s. I haven’t had time to give Layla another tour. Once we got Jasmine home, we went to dinner and took a walk in the park. Dinner was nice, and while at the park, we ran into Charlie Chastain, my teammate’s brother.

I wave when I spot him sitting on a bench. He stands and approaches us, stroking Jasmine’s hair while she’s attached to my chest.

“Hey, Wakowski,” he says while he grins at me and Layla. “Hi, Layla.” He looks past me and extends a hand. I turn to find a pretty woman holding two ice cream cones.

“Violet, this is Seth Wakowski. He’s one of Colt’s teammates. Seth, this is Violet.” Violet gives Charlie his cone and shakes my hand.

“This is my daughter, Jasmine,” I say pointing at her. “And this is Layla. She’s my—”

“Say it, and I’ll punch you in the nose,” Layla threatens before she shakes Violet’s hand. I grin at her, and after saying goodbye to Charlie and Violet, we continue our walk. After taking a few steps, Layla surprises me by kissing my cheek.

Now, we’re home and Jasmine’s been bathed, and it’s almost time for her to go to bed. Which means it’s almost time for me to take my wife to bed.

I look at the platinum wedding band on my left ring finger. I picked it out myself, and I think it looks good. I picked the five-carat solitaire and matching diamond band for Layla. I loved how her eyes bugged out when she saw it. I caught her holding it up in the light on the drive back here.

After closing the door to one of the guest bathrooms, I turn on the faucet in the sink to ensure she does not overhear what I’m going to say. I press the contact name on my phone and wait. I know he’s out of the country with his wife, but I need him right now.

“Do you know it’s after three o’clock in the morning, Wakowski?” my former coach says.

“Did I wake you?” He doesn’t sound sleepy, and even if he did, I can’t find it in my heart to feel bad. I do hope I didn’t wake Jeannie since she’s pregnant with twins right now.

“Yeah, you woke me. What’s up? Is my goddaughter okay?” He lets out a yawn. Then a few seconds later, I hear a door close. I bet he got out of bed so as not to wake his wife.

“She’s fine. I’m not calling about that.”

“Then what? What could you possibly be calling me for then? Especially since I’ll be back in New York in two days.”

“Well, this can’t wait. Listen, I need some pointers on making love to a woman.” I hear him start to cough on the other end. I know what he’s thinking. I’ve been through so many women, but I never felt a connection to any of them. The sex was mechanical and detached. Sometimes, they would bend over the bed, and I’d do them doggy style. That was my preferred way. No eye contact. No kissing and no emotion. Afterward, they’d leave, or I’d let them have the bed, and I’d sleep on the couch.

“What the hell are you doing, Seth? We talked about you having random women around Jasmine.”

“Coach, come on. That’s not what I’m doing. Do you trust me?”

“No,” he says with a snort. “I don’t fucking trust you.”

“Look, you’ll be pleasantly surprised. Just trust me this once. I’ve never made love to anyone before.”

He sighs, and I imagine him running a hand through his hair.

“Don’t you have anyone else you can call about this?” he asks.

“You know that I don’t. Just tell me what I should do.”

“For fuck’s sake. Okay, look. Take it slow. Kiss her. Touch her. Be tender. Tell her that she’s beautiful. Don’t just screw her like a jackrabbit. If it feels right, you’ll know. Remember that it’s not just about you. Please her first. And use protection or I’m going to kick your sorry ass if you get another woman pregnant.” I roll my eyes at him. He was the one person who was there for me when Jasmine was a possibility. He listened and only judged me a little bit. He made me believe that I could be a good parent.

“Okay. Kiss. Touch and go slow. Make sure she comes. Got it.”

“And wrap it the fuck up,” he says. “Say it.”

---