Page 62 of Crazy Love

I turn to my mom, hoping she’ll understand. “Mom, remember that guy I told you I met in the Bahamas?” My voice is soft and vulnerable. “It was Penn.”

Her eyes widen slightly, and she glances at my dad before looking back at me. “You told me he made you laugh,” she murmurs. “And that something magical happened in those hours together…”

“We care about each other,” I say.

“But is that love, Addy?” Concern laces her words. “Why move so fast? Marriage is a big deal. You hardly know one another.”

Before I can answer, Penn speaks up. His voice sounds steadier now, but there’s something raw beneath it. “I fell hard for her the night we met. I haven’t gone out with another person since then.”

I whip my head toward him, blinking in shock. I had no idea.

He turns back to my dad, and his jaw is tight, but his eyes are open and honest. “I love and respect your daughter, and I promise I won’t let her down. I’ll take care of her and do all I can to make her happy.”

My mom swallows hard, emotions flickering across her face.

“I’m not sure you’re capable of any of that,” Dad says.

“I’m definitely on a learning curve, but I’m quick.” Penn smiles at me. “It feels like we’re learning as we go, but I believe we’ve got what it takes.”

“I don’t love that you’re practicing on my daughter,” Dad grumbles.

“Dad,” I sigh.

“You can straighten me out if I mess up,” Penn says earnestly. “Haven’t I listened to you out on the field? I’ll listen now too.”

My dad stares at him. I can see his shoulders relaxing slightly. It’s small, but I see him softening the tiniest bit.

“Okay,” he says finally. “I’ll be watching.” His lips twitch like he might be joking, but we all know he’s not.

“We love each other,” I add, feeling more hopeful now. “And we love Sam, the little boy Penn has mentored for years. He’s quickly gotten into my heart too, and you’ll love him.” I look between them, searching for something—anything that tells me they hear me. “Give Penn a chance, please. You taught me to make smart choices. Trust that I’ve done the same here. Be happy for us. Please.”

The silence that follows is suffocating. My dad’s gaze is still sharp, still skeptical. But my mom…she’s warming up to the idea. I see it in the way her lips press together, and her eyes shine just a little.

“We’re having a party tonight, where we’ll tell our friends and the team,” I say.

“They don’t know yet?” Dad asks.

I shake my head. “No, we wanted to let you know before that.”

My dad takes that in and it disarms him somewhat.

“We’d love to have you there,” Penn adds.

“You’re not pregnant, right?” Dad asks.

“Dad! No,” I say, my cheeks flaming.

He scowls. “Well, that’s one plus. You can’t blame me for wondering, though.”

I sigh. “I guess you’re right. But I’m not. Please come tonight. It wouldn’t be the same without you there.”

CHAPTER NINETEEN

THANK GOODNESS THERE’S CRYSTAL

PENN

I’ve played in front of thousands of screaming fans, pressure so thick it’s crushing. But standing in front of my teammates, telling them I got married? Yeah, this might actually kill me. I’m most concerned about telling the Single Dad Players…the name I’ve mercilessly made fun of and that literally does not fit any of us any longer. They’re my best friends and I’ve avoided talking to them for the first time since we all got close because I knewI wouldn’t be able to hold it in, and I didn’t want anyone trying to talk me out of it. Or the risk that I’d tell them what’s really going on. I trust that they’d have my back and cover for us in any way when it comes to Sam—I just don’t want to put them in that position.

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