Page 93 of Cross Check Daddies
She nods.
Tanner’s tossing a towel over his shoulder, smirking like he knows I’m about to cave. “I’m sold.”
Brooke grins. “Besides, you haven’t met Ivy yet.”
“Looking forward to it,” Tanner says, and something about the calm way he says it makes me pause.
So we head back. I drop her off at her building, watch her jog up the stairs barefoot, then we hurry back home to get changed. When we meet at the boardwalk café, she’s already got Jackson in tow, Ivy beside her in a sundress and oversized sunglasses.
“You must be the infamous Ivy,” I say, extending a hand.
She shakes it firmly. “And you must be Cam. First love, hard to miss.”
There’s an edge of sass to her tone, but she’s smiling. Jackson runs up to me and practically leaps into my arms like he’s done it a thousand times. “Hi, Cam!”
“Hey, buddy,” I say, ruffling his curls. “You ready for waffles the size of your head?”
“Yes!”
We all sit. Ivy and Tanner hit it off immediately, trading dry humor and stories about Brooke’s old college misadventures. Brooke settles beside me, Jackson between us, stealing strawberries from her plate when he thinks she’s not looking.
It’s easy. Warm. One of those rare mornings where nothing hurts, and everything feels like it’s clicking into place.
Then he walks in.
I see the jersey first—Philadelphia Cubs colors. He’s tall, clean-shaven, built like he still wants people to think he’s twenty-six. I know who he is before I even register his face. Aaron. Her ex.
He spots us immediately.
“Hey,” he says, loud and casual as he crosses the room, the words wrapped in fake charm. “Look at this little team.”
Jackson’s face lights up. “Dad!”
He jumps up, and Aaron scoops him into a hug, lifting him briefly before setting him down. Aaron’s eyes settle on me, then flick to Tanner, then back to Brooke. “Wow. We all traded up for the Icemen, huh?”
He’s joking. But not really.
Brooke forces a tight smile. “What are you doing in Miami?”
Aaron shrugs. “Game this weekend. Cubs versus the Icemen. You didn’t hear?”
“I’ve been busy.”
He looks at her, then glances at me. “You know, no matter how many jerseys you pull on, he’s still a Cubs kid. Actually, I don’t like him hanging out with my opps. Do you mind if I take him for now? I will bring him later.”
I glance at Brooke, who’s frozen for a split second before saying, “He’smykid. You can see him after the game if you want. Not today.”
Aaron ignores that, turning to Jackson. “Wanna come with me now? I’ve got a whole afternoon planned.”
Jackson’s face scrunches, caught between confusion and discomfort. I watch him glance between his mom and the man who calls himself his father but hasn’t earned it in years.
“No,” Brooke says again, firmer this time. “Not today.”
Aaron raises an eyebrow. “Why not?”
“She said no,” I cut in, keeping my tone even.
He scoffs. “Oh, so you speak for her now?”
