One Look: A grumpy, single dad small town romance(56)

Lark swatted the air in playful dismissal. “Ah, it’ll be fine. We can always make her run laps.”

I’d grown to love playful banter with Lark, and she could always find the silver lining in situations that would normally piss me off. Penny was stuffing energy bars into my dad’s pocket when I gestured toward them.

Lark chewed her lip. “I hope it’s okay. The nurse said he was having a great day.”

I leaned in to bump my shoulder against hers. “More than okay. Thanks for showing up.”

“I like seeing you in your element. All your brooding charm is starting to make sense.”

“Brooding charm?”

She laughed. “Yeah. Always in charge. Always in control. It makes the times I see a crack in your grumpy facade that much more fun.”

I crossed my arms. “I’m not grumpy.”

“You kind of are, Daddy.” Penny looked up at me with serious eyes.

I deepened the furrow in my brow and growled at her. Pickle screamed a peal of laughter and took off running before I chased after her and scooped her up in my arms. I bounced her high in the air and didn’t give a single fuck who was watching or that I was supposed to be the man in charge.

None of that mattered.

What mattered was that I had had a great day with the players, my kid was happy, and Lark and my dad were around to share it with me.

For the first time in what felt like forever, everything seemed to be clicking into place.





24





LARK





Cold water splashed on my fingers as I set the wet cup down, sweating from the summer heat. I pasted on a smile and tried to swallow down the sudden wave of nausea. I stood awkwardly a foot or two away from Wyatt, Penny, and Red, who were at the entrance to the stadium.

Penny’s hand was tucked into Wyatt’s, but as an electric-blue sports car pulled up to the circular drive, she looked up at him with a huge grin. Wyatt looked back at me. I’m sure he was wondering why I was being weird and standing away from the group, but as a woman stepped out from behind the driver’s side, I swallowed hard again.

Wyatt’s ex.

Penny’s mother.

She was stunning, a mature and gorgeous version of Penny herself.

I shouldn’t have been surprised that handsome, charming Wyatt would have exes that had dazzling smiles and were built like Wonder Woman.

I tugged at the hem of my cutoff shorts and the discarded Midwest Michigan University T-shirt I’d stolen from Wyatt’s laundry basket and cropped into a cute top.

“Mom!” Penny stepped forward to embrace her mother, and the woman’s arms wound around Penny’s back.

“Hey, Penny. I’ve missed you!” She smiled at Wyatt. “Thanks for making this happen.”

“’Course.” His voice was softer as he looked at the woman and Penny. “Glad you could make the trip.”

The woman looked at Red, who didn’t say hello or seem to recognize her. “Hi, Mr. Sullivan. It’s good to see you again.”

My heart ached for them, as it was clear as day Red didn’t recognize her.

“I’m Bethany. Penny’s mom? I visited you a few times with Wyatt. Remember? Of course you do!”

“Yeah. Yes. Of course.” Red shifted his weight, and I worried that he’d get frustrated and agitated, as MJ had warned often happened when he was pushed to remember fuzzier details.

Thankfully, or maybe unfortunately, the woman’s eyes landed on me. “Oh. Hi. I’m Penny’s mom, Bethany.”

I stepped forward and offered my hand and a wobbly smile. “Lark. I’m, um . . .”

I looked to Wyatt for help.

Am I the nanny? Personal assistant? Fuck buddy?

It was Penny who provided the details as the awkward silence filled the air. “She’s our neighbor and my very best friend! She also works for Daddy.”

Penny’s delighted eyes met mine, and I winked at her as Wyatt nearly choked next to me.

He cleared his throat. “Lark’s been a lifesaver this summer, what with me juggling the new job, the team. She’s the only reason a few of my players will be eligible in the fall. Penny likes hanging out with her too.” He ruffled her hair.

Bethany’s smile was nothing but genuine, and I relaxed a little. “I still can’t believe you moved back to the middle of nowhere.”

Red grumbled at her tiny jab. Her words weren’t malicious, but it was obvious she was a city girl, through and through.

Bethany stood, holding on to Penny and looking at Wyatt. The weird, jealous feelings I hated to admit to having started to bubble up, so I took the opportunity to bail.

“Hey, Red, how does a walk sound?”

Relieved gratitude flickered over Wyatt’s face, and my throat went thick. Bethany was pleasant. Nice, even. I knew I wasn’t the first woman Wyatt had ever been with, but the fact that he never talked about Penny’s mom made me burn with curiosity.

Red and his fractured mind felt safe. He didn’t recall much, if anything, about Bethany, and that meant I couldn’t torture myself with peppering him with questions in search of answers.

I smiled at Penny as I looped my arm through Red’s. “Have a great time, Pen.”

Penny surged forward and wrapped her arms around my middle. “See you Sunday night. Love you.”