Page 60 of Rebound

The only high school picture I have is from my yearbook. I had a summer job and scraped enough money to pay the senior dues that year. There was no one at any of my games and no one to cheer for me when I graduated. There was no celebration and no going away to college party. I was the first person in my family to ever go to college and no one cared. My father only cared because I was leaving him behind.

I shake my head. I don’t want to think about that right now. Or ever again. Whenever I do, I consider abandoning my father the way he abandoned me.

“Can we eat now?” I ask. “Chastains, just stay. There’s plenty.” They shrug and grab chairs. I serve the kids, Coach serves his wife, and everyone else serves themselves.

While everyone is seated at the table, I eat standing up by the kitchen island. Layla joins me, and I pull the stool out for her. She smiles and sits. I notice Coach watching me, and Iremember the conversation we had the day they summoned us over to grill us about our impromptu marriage. I tilt my head toward Layla, and nod. He shakes his head at me and turns back to his food.

“Save this date, everyone,” Jeannie says. “We’re throwing Seth and Layla a wedding reception. I’ll let you know where.”

“Let’s do a bridal shower too,” Vickie says. “I’ll plan that.”

Layla stands and practically bounces from excitement.

“Let’s have it at The Pierre so we can see our old colleagues,” Jeannie suggests. “Let’s figure out a date, and I’ll reserve a room.”

I should have known they would do this. They are the same people who threw me a baby shower after I had Jasmine. When she came to live with me full-time, they helped me with a nursery, took me shopping, and promised to be there for me whenever I needed. And they have been.

I never had close friends before them. I kept everyone at a distance in high school. I was only in college for a year, and I was so busy with basketball and classes, I didn’t form any lasting friendships. Even when I joined the league, I still kept everyone at a distance. I busied myself with women, and in between playing and sleeping around, I had my father to look after. He’s been more work than Jasmine.

As if he can sense my thoughts, my phone starts to ring with his tone. I pull it out of my pocket and silence it.

“Are you guys sure?” I ask. “You’ve done so much for me already.”

“We’re sure,” they say at once.

“My wife wants everyone to be as happy in their marriage as she is in ours. Let her do this,” Colt says.

Chapter 35

Layla

I don’t remember the last time I took a beach vacation. Oh, yes I do. It was never. I’ve never been to California, and if by some miracle I had, I would not be staying in the presidential suite at the Malibu Four Seasons. A suite that is bigger than the house I grew up in and far more luxurious.

“Yook,” Jasmine says about the umpteenth handful of sand she has in her hands. The wind blows, and some of it hits my face, but I manage to close my eyes before any gets in. Jasmine giggles like it’s the funniest thing on earth.

I watch as she takes her little bucket, fills it with water, and dumps it on the sand. She then jumps on it and looks down at her feet in amazement. I stand and jump with her, and we both giggle. She raises both hands to me, and I pick her up. I know what she wants. As fearless as this girl is, she’s intimidated by the ocean.

“You’re a smart girl, do you know that?” I coo in her ear. She looks up and gives me the same look as her father. Then she nods as if she understands what I’m saying. “Never go into the ocean alone.”

With her in my arms, I walk until the water reaches my knees then I lower her into it. She laughs and kicks her feet under the water.

“More,” she says when I lift her out. So, I give her more. I hold her in my arms as we enjoy the waves crashing on and around us. She’s fearless as long as I hold her. The waves become stronger, so we walk back to land before a huge wave can get to us, and I plop her down on the towel underneath our umbrella.

Her little face has turned a nice shade of brown, and I apply more sunscreen. The entire time, she grins at me, and I wonder how anyone could not love this little girl. Once I’m done, she drops herself on her back and rolls in the sand, coating her little pink bathing suit.

I put my sunglasses on and watch her, knowing full well she’s going to take a long nap after being out in the sun for all this time.

It was quite the battle to get Jasmine to leave the beach a few hours ago. Once I did and got her inside the clawfoot tub in one of the three bathrooms in the presidential suite, she could barely keep her eyes open while I bathed her. By the time I pulled her out of the tub and drained it, there was a thick layer of sand at the bottom. She managed to stay awake long enough to eat her lunch, and she was asleep before I put her down in the crib the hotel provided.

Now, hours later, she’s dressed and happily playing in the corner. My phone buzzes and I check it.

Seth: 5 minute ETA

That’s all it says, and I answer with a thumbs up. I don’t know why I do this, but I run to the master bedroom, look in the long mirror, and tug at the yellow sundress until it sits on my bodyjust right. Then I wipe the shine from my nose and forehead and freshen my lipstick.

He finds me in the kitchen mixing a fresh batch of pineapple margaritas. My heart skips a beat when I see him. He’s in nothing but a pair of shorts that reach his knees and a plain white polo shirt, but it’s the way it sits on his body. I never noticed that, despite how lean he is, how broad his shoulders are, or how nice his clothes always fit him. Jasmine darts across the room on wobbly legs to get to her father. He picks her up and swings her up in the air.

“Weeee,” she yells. “Gan,” she commands, and he does it again and again. I laugh along with them. He finally stops, puts her on his shoulder, and walks to me.

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