Page 56 of The Comeback

She chuckles. “That’s what I said when I got pregnant with my first. Joe, my husband, and I had only been together for a couple of months and got pregnant. It was the second one that was a struggle.” She shakes her head. “We worked like devils to make our son Michael. I think we put too much crazy into it. He’s more hyper than this one. There was a sex swing and standing on my head.” She rests her hand on her belly and shakes her head as Lila runs in a circle in the middle of the room. “This one, we opted for as boring of sex as we could handle.”

I laugh at her expression. “I like your sense of humor.”

“Thank you.” She folds her arms over her chest. “I own a tattoo shop with my brothers. Have you heard of Sinfully Twisted Ink?”

“I know who you are. My brother Knox has gotten work done there.”

“That’s us. I don’t tattoo much anymore. My brother, Rob, is the staple of the place, as well as some other staff we’ve hired over the years. I’m in and out with the kids and my artwork.”

“It’s a pleasure to meet you.” I brace my hands on my hips. “We have beginner tap dance on Wednesdays at 4:00 p.m. I think Lila would love that. And we also have gymnastics on Wednesdays at 5:00 p.m.”

“That would be perfect. She’s also in soccer on Saturday. That would give us three days a week where she can burn off some extra zip so I can get to bed before ten o’clock.”

“Perfect. Let me get the paperwork, and we can get started.”

After I return with the application, we chat about football, tattoos, and the mutual acquaintances we share. It still surprises me how small town the Midwest is, even in the city. My dad was on a team in Chicago before we moved here, and there was nothing small town about the area. Here–everywhere I stop, I meet someone who knows someone else. It’s a perfect place to settle down and raise a family.

Grrrr…. Here I go again. Stop trying to get pregnant.

Chapter Twenty-Nine

Weston

The early morning drizzle trickles down my forehead and drops off the tip of my nose.

When I woke up this morning with Charlotte draped over me, coming to football practice was the last thing on my mind. It was perfect sleeping weather. All I could think about was pulling the covers over our heads and exploring her curves. Sadly, the alarm clock belted out over the thunder, and I got up instead.

I swipe my hand through my hair, slicking it back.

“Nice day for playing in the rain.” Devin slaps my back.

“If you say so,” I grumble. Running in less than perfect conditions has my nerves on edge. The last thing I want is to blow out my knee or rip my Achilles again.

“Did you put on your longer cleats?” Devin jogs in place.

“Yes.”

He frowns and stops in mid-step. “It’s going to be fine.”

“In my head, I know that. But my subconscious is saying something else. The game I was injured in had rained that morning, and the field was a rutted-up mess by the fourth quarter.”

“The grounds crew is impeccable here, and you were on a field used for both baseball and football.”

As the rain turns from a drizzle to a mist that barely blurs the vision, I chuckle. “Thank you for the pep talk. Apparently, I needed it.”

“No problem. That’s what I’m here for. We’re one big happy family if you haven’t figured it out by now. This feels more like my high school team than anywhere else I’ve been.”

“You’re right. It doesn’t feel like a group of guys collecting a paycheck. The comradery is more like a brotherhood who’s decided to win together.”

Gunner jogs up to us and braces his hands on his hips. “Hey, guys. Did you hear that Duane Mitchell flew in last night? He’s here at the stadium with Coach Slater.”

Duane Mitchell? My heart sinks into my gut, and I can’t catch my breath. Duane Mitchell is another running back. A cheaper version of me but without the injury.

Within seconds, my adrenaline sweeps through my veins, and weakness threatens to fold my knees in half and drag me onto my ass. Passing out is not going to endear me to the coach. Clearly, nothing is.

“Shit.” Gunner’s face falls. “I figured Coach Slater had told you. I didn’t mean to drop it on you like that. Seriously. Don’t worry about it. You’re doing fantastic. Better than you were before your injury.”

“Yeah.” I swipe a hand over my face.

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