Current Day

I knew that asshole would be here trying to worm his way back in. Not happening, pal. You blew what you had with her, and the only person around here getting a second chance is me. I force my fingers to uncurl from the tight fist they’ve formed. On the drive here, I told myself not to let him get to me. But damn, Carl sitting at the head of the table, sporting that same smug look he had in college, makes me want to pummel him. Needing a distraction, I divert my attention toward Melanie.

“Mmm, is that pie good?” I ask.

“Yeah. Good.” Pumpkin filling coats her mouth as she gives me a toothy grin. She holds her spoon toward me. “Eat?”

Damn, kids are messy but so fucking cute. “That’s okay, sweetheart. You keep it.”

“Here, I’ll get you a slice.” Jocelyn pauses as she grabs a plate. “Unless you already had some with Nana?”

My chest may puff a little when Carl’s eyes narrow. He either doesn’t want her getting me pie, or he doesn’t like Nana’s name sliding off her tongue with familiarity. My bets on the latter. That’s right, asshole, we’ve gotten closer.

“No, I passed on dessert.” Probably because I ducked out of there before I got through the meal. It’s not as if I ditched Nana to come here. She practically threw me out. I’m not sure how she knew, but she told me to get my ass over here.

“Jax.” Tristan’s feet traipse across the floor toward me. When he reaches me, he raises his hand for a fist bump. “We surprised Mommy so she wouldn’t be alone.” He cocks his head. “Are you here to surprise her too?”

“You bet.” I bump his fist back, and his grin widens.

“Daddy, did you know Jax plays baseball like Zoe’s daddy?”

“Yeah.” His hand grips the fork so tightly his knuckles turn white. Hell, I don’t have to do anything to goad him. Tristan does enough damage for me. I shouldn’t love that as much as I do.

The pink tinge covering Jocelyn’s face as she sets the pie in front me snaps me back to the current situation. I won’t be a dick with her kids around. Trenna joins us, but she goes to stand beside her daddy. There aren’t any hi-ya, how ya doing, or any sort of acknowledgment, but at least she quit shooting daggers at me. I consider that a small victory. Score one for the markers.

“Hey, Trenna.”

Carl’s arm drapes around Trenna’s side, and he pulls her closer. Fair enough.

“Congratulations on winning the World Series. You had some great plays.” Carl’s words may be nice, but his tone is anything but sincere. More condescending than anything. “Shame you didn’t win MVP, but Gregory Marquill was more than deserving.”

My fork stills halfway through the slice of pie. There it is, dig number one.

“That he is.” I proceed to take a bite, seemingly unfazed. Truth is, his words are unsettling.

“It was the closest voting since they started.” Jocelyn works at cleaning Melanie’s mouth. “Gregory edged past by only two votes. You should demand a recount.”

I laugh. Jocelyn sticking up for me is the cutest thing ever. But I don’t need her to fight my battles.

“It’s not that big of a deal,” I lie. It’s kind of a big deal. I could almost taste that achievement.

“Still, it must’ve made you mad knowing you weren’t quite good enough.”

“Carl!”

“I sleep just fine.” I flick my hand in a dismissive wave. I don’t know what this asshole is going after, but he isn’t scoring points with anyone.

Jocelyn picks Melanie up and brings her into the front room so she can play.

“I don’t know what you’re hoping to gain by messing around with my wife, but I’ll always be around. This is my family.” His voice is barely audible, so I have to quit chewing to hear his measly threat.

The tapping of Jocelyn’s heels against the hardwood floors alerts me she’s close, so I don’t respond. Unlike him, I do have respect for Jocelyn.

“Your lifestyle must be hard with all the traveling. It’s not too family friendly. Not to mention all the women who throw themselves at you.”

I refuse to get into a pissing match with this douche. He may have monopolized Jocelyn’s time today, but I’ll be the one driving into her tonight while he jacks off to her memory. No disrespect to Jocelyn, but damn, this guy is such an ass.

“A lot of baseball players have families. They cope. As far as the girls go, sure, they’re around. It’s no secret I had my share, but”—I turn to meet Jocelyn’s gaze—“sometimes the right girl takes a while to find.”

Jocelyn bites back a grin as she goes over to the sink and wets a dishcloth. “Zach and Lacey don’t have any problems with him playing baseball. You know this.”

“I’m just say—”

“You’re being ridiculous. Where are you going with this anyway. It’s none of your concern. You don’t even like baseball, remember?”

Carl clamps his jaw shut, and a tic of his muscle appears. Being chastised by Jocelyn isn’t fun. I almost feel sorry for him.

“There’s some real sports on today. You a football fan?” Carl stands, stretches, and steps toward the living room.

Real sport. Pfft. Did I say I feel sorry for him? Hell, no. I’d like to place his pansy ass out in left field and let the summer heat smelt his ass like a piece of ore. See how real it gets for him.

I refrain from saying that, though. Instead, I flick my eyes to the kitchen sink. A small stack of dishes lines the counter. Jocelyn’s busy wiping down the high chair, and there lies his dirty dish on the table. He can’t even take his own plate to the sink. Seriously, how did she ever stay married to this selfish prick?

“Think I’ll stay behind and help with the dishes.”

“Suit yourself.” He shrugs and heads straight to the recliner, which I assume used to be his. As he makes himself at home, I raise an eyebrow at Jocelyn. It isn’t my place to tell her what to do, and I certainly won’t tell her when to make her kids leave, but it appears this dickhead thinks he still has rights to this house.

“Carl, I think the kids are getting tired.” Her mouth presses together as she waits for him to answer.

The muscle in the side of his face tics again. This happens quite often, I notice.

He lets out a long grunt and pushes to his feet.

“Come on, kids, let’s get going. Mom needs to clean up.”

As an awkwardness descends, I go make myself useful and start on the dishes. Personally, I’m surprised he agreed to leave without much of an argument. The kids’ voices squeal, drowning out Jocelyn and Carl’s final goodbyes. Trenna must say something surprising because I hear Jocelyn’s sudden gasp, followed by her saying something about not realizing he told the kids already. I have no idea what that’s about, but by the way she raises her voice, I can tell the words jarred her.

I’m scrubbing the last plate when Jocelyn grabs a towel and starts drying.

“Sorry you had to endure that.” Her annoyance drips with each word. I rinse the plate under the tap and pass it to her.

“I think he wants you back. I’m surprised he didn’t whip out his dick and piss on me.”

“Good Lord.” Her chortled laugh fights against the worry snaking through me. No doubt I want to stake a claim on her for myself, and I’m serious about me being the one to get a second chance, but not at the expense of her kids’ happiness. Shit. This is why Zach wanted me to make sure what I wanted. Kids do bring dating to a whole other level.

I drain the soapy water and rinse my hands. With a deep intake of air, I brace my arms on the counter and grip the edge of the sink.

“If there’s the slightest chance of you getting back with your ex—”

“Don’t.” She places her hand on my left biceps. Her soft touch, her warmth, awakens my body as every inch of me craves her. My gaze travels up the see-through chiffon covering her arm, across to her brown curls cascading down her shoulders, along to her neck’s soft, delicate skin tantalizing my taste buds, until I meet her stare. My breathing accelerates as heat floods the reddish-brown depths of her eyes.

“I don’t love him anymore.” Her reassurance fuels the desire igniting inside me. I push off the sink and turn to face her. Her fingertips slide to my forearm leaving a path of tingles along their wake.

“I don’t want to be the reason your kids miss out on happiness. If there’s a chance that you’ll get back together—”

“No, there’s no chance.” A soft, steady stream of air escapes her mouth. “It’d be easy to fall back into our family dynamic, but at what cost? My happiness?” Her eyes glisten as they bore into mine. “I don’t want my kids growing up witnessing a loveless marriage. That’s the worst thing I could teach them.”

“Love between two people doesn’t die. Not completely.” I should stop while I’m winning and take her right now. Spin her around and drive into her until the only thoughts clouding her mind is me. But that would be wrong, and as much as it kills me, I need to be a hundred percent sure I’m who she wants. Her heart isn’t the only one that’s fragile. Her stare bores into mine as her next words bring me to my knees.

“I know that. More than you know.”