Clearing his throat, he said, “Damn, you look good.”
Eating up his compliment, Margo spun in place, giving him a good show of her backside and said, “I would agree with you.”
Parker shook his head and laughed as he locked up the house. “Always the shy one, you are.”
Ignoring his teasing, she was headed for her car when he stopped her, “Do you think you’re driving?”
Margo looked around, “Uh, yeah. You have a car I don’t know about?”
Parker pulled out a garage door opener and clicked the button. Jake’s cars came into view as well as Lexi’s little red BMW convertible.
“You really think Jake’s going to let you drive his cars?”
“I know he is. Let’s take the Porsche,” Parker wiggled his eyebrows.
“I like you Parker, so I’m going to stop you from getting castrated by Jake when he gets home. Let’s be smart about this and take my car.”
“You’re not driving. I invited you out, I’m driving you.”
“Fine,” Margo tossed her keys at Parker. “Drive my car.”
Parker looked over at her little Smart Car that was parked by the curb and then looked at her as if she was crazy.
“I’m not driving that…shoe of a car.”
“Fine, then I guess we’re walking.”
Huffing out his frustration, Parker closed the garage and walked past Margo as he headed for her car. He opened the door and then looked back up at her with the cutest, most irritated look ever.
“I’m not going to fit in this damn thing. I have legs, Mo.”
“And what do you think these things are?” Margo asked, while showing off her legs.
Parker licked his lips and then bit his bottom lip as he looked at her with pure lust, making her lady parts scream for attention. It had been way too long since she’d had her fair share of male and the way Parker was looking at her awakened every erotic thought in her body.
“Those are perfect anchors.”
“Anchors?” Margo asked as she walked up next to Parker and pushed the seat back so he could sit down. When she stood back up, she caught him checking out her ass.
He shook his head and said, “Yeah, anchors for holding on to someone’s waist for dear life as you’re plowed into.”
Margo quirked her eyebrow and then playfully swatted Parker in the chest. “There’s something wrong with you.”
They both got in the car as Parker laughed. Margo told Parker where to head to for dinner and on their drive, they talked about Margo’s job. She worked at the local animal shelter as a funding coordinator, raising money for the shelter and putting on some of their biggest events. She first got the job when she was in her senior year of college and, once she graduated, she was hired on full time. Caring for and helping animals was a deep passion of hers, so she couldn’t imagine doing anything else.
They arrived at the restaurant and were escorted back to their table that overlooked the crashing waves. Margo took off her sandals, since their table rested on top of sand, one of the reasons she picked the place, because she loved burying her feet in the sand while watching the sunset.
After ordering some grown up drinks, they enjoyed the salsa and tortilla chips that were placed in front of them as the sun started to set against the crystal line of the ocean.
“So, do you like it out there? In Atlanta that is?”
Parker shrugged, “Yeah, it’s alright. I mean, do I wish I was in San Diego with all my friends, hell yeah, but I like Atlanta; the atmosphere of the city is great.”
“Are the boys on the team being nice to you, Kirbs?” Margo teased.
“Well, now that I’m no longer a rookie, yes, they’re being nice.”
“Is it true, the things they make the rookies do?”
Parker nodded as he shoved a chip in his mouth, not caring that he dripped salsa all over the table. He had always been a pig when it came to eating. “On our first away trip, they told me to dress pretty for an evening out. After our afternoon game, I got back to my room and found a beautiful floral dress, high heels, size 12, and a dainty pair of pearls waiting to grace my neck.”
Margo laughed as she envisioned Parker in such a get-up.
“The worst part was, they made me wear stockings and, not being a seasoned wearer of the blasted things, I snagged them a lot and gave them a lot of runs, making me look like a classless lady wandering the streets.”
“Oh, we can’t have that,” Margo laughed.
“I know, right?” Parker shoved another chip in his mouth and spoke as he chewed, “The guys didn’t get the importance of not having runs in my stockings, so they wouldn’t let me take them off. The embarrassment that rolled through me when people stared, I was mortified.”
Margo had to wipe the tears from her eyes as she continued to laugh. “I’m sure it was the stockings they were staring at, not the six foot, two baseball stud in lady’s garments.”
“Stud?” Parker asked, of course picking up on her slip of tongue.
“Get over yourself,” Margo said nonchalantly. “Please tell me you have a picture of this get-up.”
Smiling brightly, Parker reached into his pocket and pulled out his phone. He scrolled through his pictures for a second and then turned the screen to face Margo.
“They called me Darling Daphne.”
The minute Margo focused on the picture in front of her, she couldn’t help the outburst of laughter that escaped her lips, which turned the heads of diners around them. She covered her mouth to stifle her laugh as she pulled the phone from Parker’s hand to get a closer look.
“Oh my God, I’m dying.” She started to click around on his phone and he tried to pull it away, but she kept his phone out of reach.
“What are you doing?”
“Just sending myself this picture. It’s called my new wallpaper.”
“If you’re trying to embarrass me, it’s not going to work; you can’t see the runs in my stockings in that picture, so I’m good.”
“Yes, I can.”
An outrageous gasp escaped Parker’s lips as he snagged the phone from Margo and took a closer look. His face twisted as he said, “No, you can’t.” Margo just laughed as she held her chest. “You bitch,” he joked, “How dare you joke about such important things?”
Margo continued to chuckle to herself as they both ate their oversized burritos and sucked down a couple of margaritas. It was the night she’d always dreamed of…enjoying a night out with Parker, joking and checking each other out, but she never thought her dream would actually come true.
Once they finished their drinks and meals, Parker paid the bill and Margo went to slip her sandals back on. Parker was around her chair in no time and held out his hand to her. Unsure of what he was doing, she tentatively took his hand in hers, letting him entwine their fingers together.
“Come on, I’m not ready for this night to end yet.” He tugged her toward the beach where the restaurant had access and took her down to the shore, while grabbing one of the blankets the restaurant offered for their beach goers.
They walked a ways from the hustle and bustle of the diners until they were in a secluded area, overlooking the ocean and the moon that reflected in the waves.
Parker set the blanket on the sand and then sat down, pulling Margo with him. They sat next to each other, side by side, both hugging their knees as they watched the waves tumble in.
“Do you ever miss playing ball?” Parker asked.
Did she ever miss it? Hell yeah, she missed playing softball. She had played competitively since she was in fifth grade; softball was her life and after college, to just have it ripped away from her was hard. There were “leagues” to join but they were all for drunk idiots who thought catching the ball with their beer cups was better suited than an actual glove. She lived for the moments where a ball was hit at her with such strong force that she wasn’t sure the leather glove she had on her hand was going to be good enough. She relished the moment her bat
hit the ball, sending it into right center, letting her stretch a single out to a double, while sliding into the base head first. She missed the feel of the dirt, the camaraderie of the girls and the way her cleats felt sinking into the batter’s box. It was a time she wished she could revisit.
“More than you know,” she answered, as she played with a bracelet she was wearing.
“Ever thought about coaching?”
“That stuff is not for me. I’d be way too intense and, with my job, I work nights with all my events so it wouldn’t work out.”
“I can’t imagine what it would feel like to just stop playing. I don’t think I could handle such a loss in my life. Baseball is a necessity, like eating and breathing, without it I’m not sure I’d be able to function.”
Their love for a sport that required a great deal of talent and mental stability was a common connection between her, Parker and Lexi; it was what initially bonded them all together. When they were in college, they spent many days out on the field, just tossing the ball around, hitting balls to each other, or playing pepper.
“I know the feeling.”
Parker reached out and grabbed her hand, linking their fingers together. He looked at her and said, “I wish you could continue to play like I can.”
Margo just shrugged as she willed her hand not to turn all clammy and gross while Parker was still holding it.
“Are you happy, Margo?”
Margo was not in the mood to go all deep into conversation, but apparently Parker was, and given the fact that the man would never let anything go unsaid, she decided to dive right in.
“I am. I like my job and I have my friends and parents close when I need them.”
Parker nodded his head. “What about your love life?”
“That doesn’t seem like much of your business, now does it?” Margo said with a smile.
“Isn’t it, though?” Parker asked as he squeezed her hand.
Alright, shit just got real. She gulped and turned to look at him and she was about to answer him when he cut her off.
“I mean, you’re one of my best friends, at least I thought so, so of course it’s my business. I care about you, Margo; I want to make sure you’re happy in your life.”
Poof!
Just like that, the burning flame of passion Margo felt the minute she picked Parker up at Jake and Lexi’s house was extinguished. The dreaded mention of friends hit her again, bringing her back to the moment before she’d said goodbye to Parker in college, when he told her she was like a sister to him.
Pushing back the anger and disappointment she was feeling, Margo put on a brave face and said, “Oh, don’t worry about little old me. I can handle myself.”
Parker nodded and released her hand, leaving the bond she’d felt with him hanging in the air. The moment he let go of her hand, it was like they were stretched a mile apart. Their night that was going so well was put to rest; it was time to go home.
**Brady**
Hauling the bags of miniature clothing out of the back of his car, he took the steps to his house two at a time as excitement oozed out of him. He’d gone a little overboard when he’d stopped at a baby store, but he couldn’t help himself; he’d never been so excited about anything in his life before. Scratch that, marrying Jane was, by far, the most exciting thing in his life; his baby girl was second.
“Jane?” Brady called out as he took the stairs up to the second floor two at a time. He knew she was home, her car was in the garage and she didn’t tell him she was going anywhere. “Jane?” he called out again, still no answer.
The hairs on the back of his neck started to prickle as he set the bags down in the hallway and went to their bedroom. She wasn’t napping, which was a common occurrence these days. She wasn’t in the bathroom, which would have been nice…if she was in the shower, he would have joined her.
“Jane, babe, where are you?” Brady’s heart rate started to pick up as he searched the rooms in the house and didn’t find her. Frantically looking through the house, Brady checked one last room and the minute he opened the door, his breath caught in his chest.
Sitting in the rocking chair, in the baby’s room, Jane rocked back and forth with a stuffed animal in her arms while listening to music on her phone. A feeling of relief overwhelmed him as he watched his beautiful wife sing to the music on her phone and practice being a mom. The scene made his throat tighten as he watched his wife, the girl who was once so scared and tentative, see her dreams of having a family come true. If Brady could give her one thing, this was it, this was the one thing she wanted and there wasn’t enough pride in the world to fill Brady’s chest at being able to provide his wife what she wanted.
He stepped forward and startled her when she noticed movement in the room. Looking flush from embarrassment, she took her ear buds out and shyly smiled up at Brady.
“I, uh, was just testing out the chair.”
“And…”
“And, it will do,” she said with a smile.
“Good.” Brady was at her knees in no time, looking up at her with complete adoration. He could not get enough of this woman. He kissed her knee lightly and said, “I might have gone on a little shopping spree.”
“Brady…” Jane scowled questioningly. The last time he went on a shopping spree, he’d traded Jane’s car in for a white Porsche convertible.
“It’s not a car.”
“It better not be. I like my car, even though I didn’t need a new one.”
Brady kissed her hands and said, “Give me one second.” Brady went out to the hall, grabbed the bags full of clothes and brought them into the baby’s room. Jane’s eyes widened at the amount of clothing he was holding and then a tear slipped down her face.
Shit.
“Jane, are you alright?”
She waved a hand in front of her face and nodded her head, trying to fight off the tears. “Yes, it’s just…you went shopping for our baby girl.”
Confused, Brady asked, “Is that okay?”
She nodded as more tears ran down her cheeks. Pregnancy hormones.
“It’s so sweet! I never thought the starting first baseman for the Atlanta Braves was going to be such a softy.”
Brady dropped the bags and pulled Jane into his arms. He rubbed her belly and said, “When it comes to my two girls, I’m at their mercy. You two can bring me to my knees with the flash of a smile.”
“You haven’t even seen our baby’s smile.”
“If she’s anything like her mom, which I know she is, then she’ll be able to gut me with one look. I’m in for a world of trouble.” At that moment, the baby kicked right where Brady’s hand was, making them both laugh. “Damn,” he shook his head, “she already knows she’s in control.”
“Yes, she does. She’s a smart girl. Now, let me see what you got. We’re going to have a keep pile and a return pile.”
Brady felt his forehead crinkle as he looked at his wife in question. “What do you mean a return pile?”
“Brady, I can already see an outfit in one of the bags that’s meant for a boy. What did you do? Buy the whole store?”
“What? I didn’t buy a boy’s…”
Jane held up a light blue and green onesie that said, “Daddy’s little man” on it.
“How the hell did that get in there? Someone set me up.”
Jane gave him a look and then sat on the floor where she picked through the bags and oooed and ahhhed over all the miniature dresses, shirts and skirts Brady had picked out. It was a sight to see, his wife, the woman he was head over heels in love with, sorting through clothes for their little girl who he already loved unconditionally. The day their baby girl was born would rival the day Jane gave herself over to Brady in sickness and in health, and he was going to enjoy every second of it.
**Luke**
“I’m so fucked up right now,” Nash said, as he leaned against the sofa they were both sitting on while watching the Thursday night football game. “I don’t know if that weed w
as right man, do you feel like the room is spinning?”
“That’s what that shit does to you and no. I didn’t have any.”
“Well, your little stripper did and maybe a little too much because she’s passed out over there with one of her giant tits hanging out of her shirt.”
Luke peeked past Nash to see Rhonda, yes that was her name, passed out over a chair and, yes, in fact, one of her jugs was hanging out. Even in her passed out state, Luke couldn’t help but feel a little aroused. He was a tit man.
“She’s not going to feel good in the morning,” Luke said, as he leaned back in his chair and took a swig of his beer.
As he looked around the room, he felt sorry for himself. What a pathetic thing to feel. He was never one to pity himself, but fuck, look at where he was. He was crashing at his friend’s house, wasting his life away on beer and stuffing a stripper he found at the only decent strip club in Atlanta. He was not this guy; he wasn’t one to waste his life away, but he’d also changed. He changed the moment his unit’s plane went down on a mission, the moment he saw his buddies, his teammates, burn to death while screaming to him for help. He changed the minute he was captured and fucked up every which way by the enemy.
Flashes of being raped in the ass, drowned almost to death and used as everyone’s personal punching bag ran through his mind, causing his breathing to hitch and sweat to pool at his hairline. Blackness started to take over as he was transported to that time in his life, a time when he wasn’t a man, when he would let the men who held him captive do anything to him, any-fucking-thing, just so he could live one extra day…living on the hope that it would be the day he would go back home and return into Molly’s embrace.
That day did come, but instead of being welcomed with open arms, he was sucker-punched in the gut by not only seeing another man at Molly’s apartment, but by finding out he had a child? A fucking child! Winnie was her name. She did look just like him, it was unmistakable, but also unbearable. He couldn’t think about the fact that he had a little girl, he couldn’t think about Molly being pregnant, missing out on seeing her carry their child. The root of his anger, of his lashing out, stemmed from the fact that, when he was captured, life didn’t stand still and wait for him, no it moved the fuck along, making him miss out on everything and driving a wedge between him and the one thing that mattered the most to him, Molly.