Carter

We all stared at Dustin after Reagan left. He glanced from each of us and finally stopped on me. “How am I stupid?”

“If you weren’t on the Wolves, I’d hit you myself,” Tom stated.

He threw his hands up in the air. “Why?”

Herb opened his mouth to reply when Tom placed his hand on Herb’s arm and then shook his head. Herb nodded. “You’re right. He needs to learn on his own.”

“And if he doesn’t, we kick his ass. Just not too much. He’ll have to play still.”

Chuckling, I placed my box on the bed and straightened. “Where are you going?” Dustin was moving toward the door.

“Obviously I need to figure out what I did. I’m going to ask the women.”

Herb laughed.

Tom snorted.

I shook my head at him. He wasn’t gone long when I said, “Maybe I should check on him.”

“Could be wise.” Herb nodded. “He is entering a kitchen full of women, and they have weapons close by.”

Shit.

I rushed out of the room but stopped when I spotted Dustin at the end of the hall. I could also hear Herb and Tom following me. I stepped behind Dustin and whispered, “What are you doing?”

“They’re talking,” he hissed.

“So?”

“Listen,” he ordered.

Leaning in—Herb and Tom close to our backs—we heard Elaine say, “The only advice I can give you both, without knowing fully what’s going on, is that men can screw up a lot. Sometimes it’s good to just forgive their stupidity. Other times it’s better to make them pay while they grovel for forgiveness.”

Brooke replied, “Another thing to do would be to go out tonight, get tanked and sleep with a random to get over everything.”

“Ah, maybe. I mean, you’re not attached to anyone, but be sure he’s not a criminal and will use protection,” Elaine said, her voice steady.

Then Reagan said, “While sleeping with someone could be nice—” I didn’t hear the rest, my ears started ringing at thoughts of Reagan sleeping with some random. It didn’t sit right in my chest or gut.

Hands grabbed my arms. I tried to struggle free, to run into that damn kitchen and order Reagan that she wouldn’t be joining Brooke and most definitely wouldn’t be sleeping with anyone but me.

“Christ, it’s like working with a train. Calm down, son,” Herb ordered, backing me down the hall with Tom’s help. “Hey,” he snapped in my face. My eyes fixed on his. “Sorry for snapping, son, but you can’t go in there half-cocked and ready to take charge. I know my girl, and her back will come up. There’ll be a fight because she doesn’t like anyone telling her what to do.”

Hell, I’d just lost it in front of her dad.

He must have read the panic on my face because he laughed. “Elaine’s good at reading people and even Tom mentioned you liking my daughter.” He sniffed and patted me on the shoulder. “Even though you’re a brilliant football player, who’s a god on the field, you won’t win me over until you’ve won my daughter. She’s our world, and if you hurt her in any way, I’m going to have to make you pay. I won’t enjoy doing it, but I will for Reagan.”

“And I’d help him,” Tom added. “But are you sure you don’t want a psychological evaluation first?”

“Hey,” Herb barked. “That’s my daughter.”

Tom raised his brows and waited.

Herb rolled his eyes. “She takes after her mom. She’s unique, but has the biggest heart out of anyone I know.”

“I know,” I said. It was why I wanted to be in her life. She was smart, loving, playful, funny… just amazing.

Loud voices caught our attention. I started back down the hall once again with Herb and Tom at my back. We stepped into the living room.

“Quiet,” Reagan yelled. The room fell silent. She put her hands on her hips and gave a stern look to the newcomers. “I thought I told you no one was to come over.”

“Sorry, Miss, but we were in the neighborhood, and we were like, ‘Hey, Miss Wild lives just there. I bet she’d like a visit from her favorite students.’” I recognized Bradly at the front of three other kids from one of Reagan’s English classes.

Reagan groaned, her head dropping back, eyes to the ceiling. Walking to her side, I noticed the guys spotting me.

“Hey, Mr. Anthony.” Bradly smiled.

“Hi, Mr. Anthony,” Wesley said with a wave.

“S’up, Mr. Anthony.” Michael gave me a chin lift.

“Carter, I didn’t—”

I placed my hand on her lower back, and she stopped talking. I’d never noticed if she’d done it before or not, but it sure could come in handy for the future. If she ever got pissed at me, all I had to do was touch her, and she’d stop ranting.

“It’s okay,” I reassured her. “Glad you guys popped in. We could use some help.”

“Really?” Wesley asked, excitement in his voice.

“Sure.” I nodded. “You can help me and Dustin unload the truck while the others unpack stuff inside, yeah?”

“Dustin?” Michael muttered.

I nodded, just as I heard the bathroom door open. “Whoa, I wouldn’t go in there for a while.”

“Holy—”

“Bradly,” Reagan snapped.

“Ah, holy cubical, that’s Dustin Grant.”

“Hey,” Dustin said.

“I think I’m gonna pee myself,” Wesley mumbled.

“Wesley—” Reagan started, but I ran my hand up her back.

“It’s all right.”

She turned to me. “Are you sure?”

“Yeah.” I nodded.

“Okay,” she whispered.

Winking, I left her there and walked past the guys. “Come on, let’s get me moved in.”

By lunch, we had all boxes out of my truck and in the house. Herb and Tom thought it’d be a good idea to grill some meat out back, and I was surprised at the size of the outside space. There was a back patio where the ladies sat and watched, and Dustin and I were down one end of the lawn while we tossed the ball to the other end with Reagan’s students.

Dustin was standing next to me when he said, “What do you think of Brooke?”

After tossing the ball to Wesley, I said, “She’s nice. Funny.”

“Yeah,” he agreed.

“Dust, don’t fuck around with her.”

“I won’t. I think I hurt her feelings earlier.”

I gave him a dumbfounded look. “You think?”

“Yep. She hasn’t spoken to me since. She’s good with Benjie.” He threw the ball, and it landed in Wesley’s arms, but not before smashing into his face. Blood poured out of his nose.

“Wesley!” Reagan cried. She was up and out of her chair running for him. “Let me see,” she ordered as he tried to fight her off. But she cupped both cheeks and lifted his head.

Damn. It was a scene I could see her doing with our kids.

Our kids?

I was already jumping into having kids with her when she didn’t even know I wanted her.

Jesus.

“You okay?” I asked Wesley, stopping at their side.

“Yeah,” he mumbled, and when he did, blood splattered around his mouth.

Reagan paled and swayed.

“Ree?” I questioned.

“I-I’m good,” she whispered.

“Sorry about that, kid,” Dustin said.

“No worries,” he replied, and more blood splattered down onto his tee.

Reagan again swayed.

I closed in to her back and took her hands in mine, a giddy little thrill spreading throughout me at touching her. I pried her hands off Wesley’s face and tucked her into me. Jesus, she felt so right in my arms. “Dustin will get Wesley cleaned up. Let’s get you sitting down.”

All she managed was a nod. With my arm around her shoulders, I walked her back up to the patio, turned her and sat her between Brooke and Elaine.

“She’s never been good with blood,” Elaine explained.

I smiled. “It’s okay. She doesn’t need to see it then.”

“Lunch is ready,” Herb called. Bradly and Michael came running. Elaine stood and gestured me into the seat next to Reagan. Since I wanted to make sure she was okay, I took it. Reagan stayed quiet for a while as we all sat around and talked while eating. I tried to get her to have a burger, but she refused, breathing deeply through her nose.

We cleaned up after lunch, and I made sure there was a plate for when Reagan was feeling better later. I didn’t want to get back to unpacking and leave her, but I also wanted it all done so there wouldn’t be anything to do after everyone left and Reagan and I had our first night together. People filtered back inside, but I stayed put until they’d all left, wanting to make sure Reagan was fine.

“Are you going to be okay?” I asked.

She nodded.

“Ree, I need a verbal answer,” I said. My lips twitched when her eyes widened after I used her nickname her close friends and family did.

“I will.”

“Promise?”

“Yes. Sorry about that, but, um, blood and my stomach don’t mix. Is Wesley okay now?”

“If you count the two hamburgers, four chicken sticks, and one hot dog he ate as okay, then yes.”

She giggled. “I think he’ll be fine.”

“Besides, it’ll give him something for him to brag about at school.”

She grinned. “That’s true.” Then her grin faded. “Carter, I’m not sure….” I tensed, but she didn’t notice as she stared off into the backyard, biting her bottom lip. Then she sucked in a deep breath and turned to me. “Um, having you move in is fine, but… I worry for your sake.”

“Why?”

“I don’t have a filter. I always say random crazy things. My family and friends are just as loco as I am. I’m sure people will come over more often knowing you’re living here. You won’t get to relax. You’ll be living in a funny farm instead of what you probably need, peace and quiet after training and games.”

Wanting, no, needing to touch her, I reached out to take her hand in mine. Hers shook a little. “Reagan, none of anything you just said bothers me. In fact, I look forward to it all. I know I’ll also enjoy getting to know you. But I don’t want you to feel pressured to have me here. If it stresses you out, then I can stop everything and leave.”

She shook her head. “No. I, um, I don’t mind. I just wanted you to be sure.”

“I am.”

She nodded, her gaze ran over my face, and I was sure they lingered on my lips before she brought them up to my eyes. “Okay then, and, ah, I’m looking forward to getting to know you as well, Carter.”

“Good.” She seemed to relax a bit more, which I was glad about. “I better get back in there.” She nodded. I gave her hand a squeeze and stood, walking back inside, but of course I looked back to see if she was watching and caught her gaze on my butt. Smiling to myself, I pretended I didn’t see her and went through the door.