Total pages in book: 96
Estimated words: 92167 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 461(@200wpm)___ 369(@250wpm)___ 307(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 92167 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 461(@200wpm)___ 369(@250wpm)___ 307(@300wpm)
But, right now, he had a game to coach.
The game was long but his kids rocked it. They won and as they took a team photo with everyone holding their trophies, he smiled. In the bleachers, he spied his best friends, his father, the guys he had missed far more than he’d ever admit, and Emma. His Freckles.
Heart lurching as he stared at her, he barely took his gaze from her. As the kids spilled from their position held for the photo, he noticed she was no longer in the bleachers. He didn’t worry. Greer was still around, which meant so was her beautiful mother.
In the dugout, he began stuffing gear into the bags. Normally, he would insist the children do this but they were enjoying a celebration. A small hand pushed a helmet into the bag by his left leg.
“Greer? Everything okay? Why aren’t you out with your friends?”
“Mama said I have to help clean up after every game.”
“I think your mama would be okay if you skipped this once.”
She dragged over two bats and placed them in the designated bag. “Do you not like her anymore? Is that why you’re not marrying her? Was it me?”
He winced as her words gutted him. He never wanted to make her feel that way. Linc dropped the helmet and reached for Greer, tugging her closer to him. Once she sat on the bench he crouched before her.
“Kid, this has nothing to do with you. Or anything your mom did. It’s all about me and the fact I made a mistake.”
“So you still like her.”
He nudged up her chin. “I love both of you, Greer. I was so proud watching you play today and I want to be at your mom’s side when you win, to lift you on my shoulders and let everyone know how full of pride I am. I want to be there when you lose to offer comfort.”
She blinked and he waited, knowing that she moved at her own speed with words.
“Why don’t you apologize? Mama says when we do something wrong we have to apologize.”
“She’s right. And so are you. I’m working on it.”
“Work faster. Mama is talking about moving and I don’t want to go.” She flattened her lips, a move so much like her mother, Linc smiled.
“Greer,” Emma called out. “We have to get going.”
He lifted his gaze to find Emma at the edge of the dugout. “I got this, kid. Go on.”
A soft brush on his arm had him glancing down to Greer. “I was excited to get to call you my dad.”
His heart nearly exploded. She got off the bench and gave a small smile. “Bye, Mr. Conner. We’ll see you at the party.”
She skipped off to where her mom no longer faced him. Regardless, he didn’t take his eyes off her as Greer slipped her hand into Emma’s and the two of them walked away.
Tully walked in as he finished picking up the rest of the gear.
“Not making the kids do this?” His friend swung one of the bags over his shoulder with ease.
“Last game. You know we didn’t have to, either.” He hefted the bat bag and they walked to his truck. “Although Greer stopped by to help out for a bit.”
“Did she now?”
“Yes. What’s the look for?”
“I was going to ask you the same thing.” Tully slammed the tailgate and Linc noticed that his cooler had been put in already.
He braced against the side panel and held Tully’s gaze. “She told me she’d been excited to call me Dad.”
“Shit,” he said.
“Until she said it, I never realized how much I want that. Christ, Tully. I’m a fucking idiot. I let the best thing in the world get away from me because I have trust issues and want to do it all myself.”
“What else did she say?”
“That I should apologize. That’s what Freckles tells her to do when she messes up.”
“From the mouths of babes.”
“Let’s go, man. I have a woman to win back.”
Tully pumped a hand in the air. “Finally!” He whistled and jumped into the truck, pounding on the roof. “Saddle up and let’s go get her.”
After making one last pass visually to ensure nothing had been left behind, he got behind the wheel and headed to Rock Falls and the community center where the end of season party was happening. He parked in the back, like always, and frowned when he didn’t see Emma’s car.
“She came with Dawson.” Tully hopped out and tossed him a hurry-up look over one shoulder.
“You always have my back.”
“Always will. And you can make it up to me by making me the first godfather. Not Mitchell.”
“How about I get the girl back, marry her, and have a child before you start demanding who is first.”
“I am.” Both his friends said that as one. He hadn’t even seen Mitchell come out. The three of them headed in together, laughing.