Page 67 of Fair Ball

She growls, like a cute little bear cub. “Woke up one day and didn’t want them anymore?”

I poke my head through my shirt. “Basically.”

“You are such a liar, Austin Ashwood.”

Ignoring that, I ask, “Do you want more kids?”

She nods with certainty. “If the opportunity arose, and if I was at a good place in my life, yes. The first one’s pretty cool, but I’d need a stable partner and support.”

“So you don’t want any right now, correct?” When she nods, I step into my pants. “You on birth control?”

“No.”

“Then I’m going to run down to the pharmacy to get Plan B. To cover all our bases.”

Although I’m not sure why a little girl with red hair suddenly flashes in my mind.

“That’s very responsible of you.” She steps off the bed, halting my progress because she is a siren. Naked and warm and all too tempting, but if I don’t leave now, I won’t.

I bend to press a chaste kiss to her mouth. “You are a good mom, Millie, and I hope you get everything you want in this life.”

Her eyes search mine, as if she might find the solution to all of her problems. As if I am it. A stable partner. A support system. She wraps her fingers around my biceps, keeping me in place. Long enough to tie a string to my heart before she says, “You’ve given me so much already.”

No. It’s nothing compared to what I wish I could give her. What I want to give her.

But then she knocks the wind out of me when she lets go. “I wish you’d be honest with me. Trust me enough to tell me your secrets.”

It hurts more than I’d care to admit, and I leave her with a kiss to her temple. “I’ll be back in five. Take a shower, if you want. Just don’t get dressed. We’ve got a few more hours to kill before you have to get Noah, right?”

She nods, biting back a smile, and I might not be able to give her everything, but I can give her something.

In the living room, I grab my keys as the bird screeches, “Hey, dickhead!”

“Shut up, Harold!” I slam the door closed in a rush to get there so I can return to Millie, her echoing laughter from the bedroom ringing in my ears.

CHAPTER 19

AUSTIN

After I finally extricated myself from Millie and reluctantly let her go so she could pick up Noah from school, I spent the rest of the day practically grinning from ear to ear. I even had a whole conversation with Harold that didn’t involve any cursing, and we bonded over bites of a banana.

Now, I’m eating another banana for breakfast in Milwaukee. It’s our second game here, and I’m pitching tonight. Normally, I’d be up early, getting some movement into and stress out of my body, but I slept late and took my time changing, waiting until I received my daily text from Millie.

Yesterday morning—the first text post-sex—she said, Is it weird for me to still call you boss? I couldn’t sleep last night thinking about it.

I replied. It’s really no big deal. You’re overthinking all of this.

Her response was a few eye roll emojis and You have met me, right??

I messaged back, Yeah, and I don’t want you changing a goddamn thing.

When my phone buzzed this morning, it was with the usual text of Hey, boss! On my way to your place to hang with Harold. Do you need me to do anything for you while you’re away?

There were so many things I wanted, starting with Tell me you think of me as much as I think of you and that you can still feel me inside you like I can still taste you on my tongue. But I refrained from typing any of that and instead sent, A photo. Proof that you’re real.

I haven’t heard from her since, so after I finish off my banana, I text her.

That was a joke, Mills. I can feel you panicking across three states.