Scored(66)

The storm door opens and my momma steps out, looking as pretty as she always does. She’s one of those types who never ages. Finley looks exactly like her while I favor my biological dad’s side. He told me I was the spitting image of his mother, but I turned down his invitation to meet her.

“Paige Amelia Owens, you are a sight for sore eyes, sugar.” She envelopes me in a hug that I have to return. No matter how I feel about her, I’ve always been content in the knowledge that she loves me and did the best she could by us. “I’m so glad you were able to get away a day early so we can have girl time tonight. Brad’s traveling.”

“You didn’t go with him?” My momma never misses a game. The baseball stadium is her church.

She waves a hand and takes my suitcase. “I can see his games anytime I want, but you… you’re like a triple score in the bottom of the ninth.”

“Thank you?”

“It’s good, precious, don’t worry.” She chuckles as we step inside. The smell of cookies and vanilla fill the air. I hope it’s not a candle and is actual cookies. “Still not sure how the sports gene missed you completely.”

“I ducked.”

Momma laughs and sets my suitcase in the foyer. “What can I fix you to drink and eat?”

It’s useless to try to convince her I’m not hungry when I come to visit, and it makes her feel good to be able to do something for me. “Iced tea and cookies?”

“Baked some snickerdoodles just for my girl.”

I follow her to the kitchen and sit down at the bar while she whirls around, producing the perfect tea and delicious cookies—just like always. I scarf two down before I stop to thank her.

“You’re welcome. Now tell me why you’re really here.”

“Excuse me?” I ask around a bite.

She sighs. “Paige, I have known you your entire life. The only time you come around anymore is when you feel like you have to or there’s something wrong. Since you came early, I’m going with the second reason.”

A dull flush climbs my throat. “I don’t—”

“Don’t lie and don’t apologize. I haven’t always made you kids, especially you girls, feel welcome.” She lights a slim cigarette, moves to the sink, and raises the window. “Do you mind?”

“It’s your house.”

She eyes the cigarette, then me, and puts it out. “I only lit it because I’m nervous.”

“I only came here because I’m nervous, scared, and mad at you for making me want to be your opposite.”

Her dark eyes widen. “That’s certainly honest.”

I wince. “Sorry.”

“Don’t be sorry, baby. Never be sorry for the truth.” She moves, coming to sit beside me. “I have a lot to answer for, and a lot I don’t have to apologize for.”

“It’s not about that. I know you did the best you could, and I always felt loved. Just… I met a man.”

Momma smiles softly. “Ah.”

“It’s not like I’ve never dated seriously before.”

“No, it’s not, but those guys were jerks.”

I nod. “Dallas isn’t a jerk. He’s cocky and larger than life and has an awful reputation with women, but in a good way, if that makes sense.”

“The good ones usually do.”

There is no way I’ll ask her to clarify the meaning of that statement. “He stopped doing things to have that reputation.”

“Not all of them, I hope, for your sake. A happy sex life is a healthy sexy life.”

Of course she went there. “I’m blissful.”

“That makes me so happy for you.” She pats my thigh. “You make sure he keeps you safe and respects your—”

“He’s perfect in every way.”

Her brows rise. “Wow. Can’t wait to meet him.”

“That’s the problem—you might not meet him because I told him I needed space.”

Her chin drops. “You broke up with him?”

“What’s with everyone saying that?” I shake my head. “No, I did not break up with him.”

“Sounds like it to me.”

“Would you just listen and comment at the end, please?”

She mimes zipping her lips, locking them at the corner, and throwing away the key.

“I pushed him away because I can’t handle the what-if’s or the fact he’s exactly like the men you fall in love with.”

“Dallas is a baseball player? I haven’t heard of him… is he new?”

“He plays in the NFL.” I wave my hands in the air, flapping them like bird wings. “It doesn’t matter what he does…. well, it does, but I don’t care. It’s just I’m in love with him and I’m scared.” I smack one of my flapping hands against my mouth. “Oh, God.”

“That’s wonderful. You’ve never been in love before… not like this.” She sits back a little. “You don’t have to be me, Paige, and I certainly don’t expect you to follow in my footsteps. I chose a different path from most, and it rewarded me with the three of you.” She plays with my hair. “The thing is, sweetheart, none of us have to follow the path of another. We’re all supposed to make our own way in this world. And if your world has a football player in the middle of it, I say tackle the heck out of that guy.”