Page 95 of Room 4 Rent

Another term for a double play. Or when a team wins both games in a doubleheader.

SYDNEY

Cason traps me against the kitchen island, his mouth at my ear. He’s trying to kiss me, but Olaf is attacking his feet. “Why is everyone in this house so obsessed with me?”

He’s teasing, but in reality, we totally are. I laugh and hear Sadie in the family room with Tatum. “I’m not!”

Cason frowns and looks back at me. “She’s not part of this house.”

“Bullshit I’m not.”

And then comes the “Bullshit!” from Tatum. Naturally.

Cason shakes his head. “It’s better than her running around saying cock. That was weird.”

“True.” I search his beautiful blue eyes, loving the spark in them when he talks about Tatum. “The worst part was it felt like a normal word after a while.”

“Why is this Christmas tree still up?” I overhear Sadie ask Tatum. “Are we just keeping it up until Christmas?”

Tatum ignores her completely, chasing Olaf around the room. “Here titty-titty!” Lunging between Cason’s legs to get the kitten, she holds him up. “I loves you.”

“She’s talking to me,” Cason notes, winking at me but widening his stance to keep from tripping over her and the cat.

Staring up at him, she holds out her hand. “Where’s my belly jellies?”

Cason pulls a bag from his pocket. “As you wish, Loretta.”

They have a system. He’s herFrozenbuddy—I think he has a secret crush on Elsa—and he’s her snack bitch.

When Tatum runs back into the family room, Cason says, “I got a meeting with the Angels tomorrow.”

My stomach drops, but not necessarily in a bad way. This is what he’s worked so hard for all his life, and for me not to be excited for him because I’m being selfish isn’t fair to him. “That’s huge!” And sucks for me and the kid. “My dad signed with the Angels right out of high school.”

His eyes widen. “Did he play in the majors?”

“No. Sadly he was in a horrible car accident before he could. That’s why he turned to coaching.”

“That sucks.” He shrugs one shoulder, keeping his eyes on mine. “I’m not going to get my hopes up. It’s just a meeting.”

I think back to what his dad told me during the game last week—the one where Cason pitched a no-hitter. Luke told me they called Cason the natural when he was younger. Baseball never took much effort for him. And it didn’t. Which is why it’s more than a meeting. Any club would be stupid not to take on his talent. “But it could be more,” I hedge.

“I don’t want to get ahead of myself. I’ve been…” His eyes find mine. “…disappointed before.”

With the way he’s staring at me, I think I know what he’s talking about. Us. Or whatever we are. “Cason, I really like you, and I know you want more from this… and I might even be falling in love with your stupid, charming ass.” His lips quirk into a smile. “But, I do have a daughter to think about, and falling for you might not be right for her. Or you.”

“She loves me,” he adds, a certain amount of annoyance held in each word. “And I know you love me. There’s nomightabout it.”

My cheeks bloom with heat, knowing he’s right. I do. I just haven’t brought myself to say the words to him.

“Listen.” He holds my face in his hands. “I’m well aware of the fact that this won’t be easy. When I’m drafted, you, Tatum, there’s so many unknowns, but we’ll do what we can and make it work.”

He’s absolutely right. That’s exactly what we were doing now. He graduates in two days, the draft following soon after.

And me? I can buy my own coffee now. So there’s that. Though I’m still working out of the garage, my business is going crazy. Financially, I recovered from where I was three months ago.

Emotionally, I have no idea how to describe where I am now. Scared. Nervous. Happy. All part of my daily spectrum of emotions.

My biggest fear? Tatum. She knows Cason is a part of my life, she’s seen us kiss, lays in bed with us in the mornings, yet we still haven’t told her that in a month, he will be leaving. I’m not sure how to have that conversation with her. Taking away her boy? Um, I don’t want to be the one to do that.

---