I’ll give you a call sometime to invite you to Daddy’s yacht,” she says like I am a child needing her overenthusiastic help.
I mentally kick myself as I pull the phone from my pocket and hand it over to her. I don’t want to be rude now and tell her no. With a smile on her face she programs her number in, then grabs my arm and pulls me close holding my phone out to snap a picture.
“Smile,” she sings before snapping a couple of pictures. “Great, we look good together in this one,” she coos. “I’ll just text it to my phone and then I’ll have your number and a pic to remember you by.”
“If you all would excuse me I see some friends I want to say hi to,” I grab my phone and make an exit while I still can.
I cross the room to the group I had been watching but sometime during the phone incident the woman disappeared from the group. The man she had been hugging is still here as is the little girl. As I get closer I realize I know the guys, Teddy, Eric and Ellerie.
I know Eric the best of the group. I played with him for half a season before he was traded here. I know Teddy through a mutual friend back in LA and Ellerie is the reason the team wants me here. I have been in meetings with him over the last few weeks as the team made their pitch.
Ellerie is a great wide receiver and from what I can tell a really cool guy. We hit it off right away, there is just something familiar and welcoming about him. I haven’t been able to put my finger on it yet but I feel like I know him from somewhere. It dawns on me as I stop to join their group that Ellerie was the one with his arm around the woman. He is now standing with the little girl in his arms as she is talking to the guys in her little voice.
“It was great. He pulled a rabbit out of his hat and a quarter from behind my ear,” she gushes.
“Speaking of quarters the man has arrived,” Eric announces grabbing my hand for a shake and pulling me in for a hug. “Good to see you.”
“Good to be seen,” I nod back and take Teddy’s hand as he mimics Eric’s gesture.
“You want to tell us something Monroe?” Teddy says looking at the little girl in Ellerie’s arms and then at me. She is looking up at Ellerie still talking away with her back to me. “Oh man, I think I just stepped into a fun house.”
“Do you ever shut up,” Eric snorts and shakes his head. He then leans back to get a view of the little girl, tilting his head and lifting a brow, “But you have a point.”
“You two need help,” Ellerie chuckles. “Ellie, this is one of my new friends Brad,” Ellerie says to the little girl who turns her attention to me.
“Hi Brad,” she says with a beaming smile.
The kid is gorgeous. Her big blue eyes sparkle as her cheeks dimple. Her large curls bounce around her cute face and her mocha complexion has a glow, like she recently spent a lot of time outdoors. She takes my breath away. Eric and Teddy are right she does look like she could be my kid.
I look from her to Ellerie and it is clear he is her father. She has his bow shaped mouth his high cheek bones and a hint of his smile. There are other things that link them here and there. I pull it together and reach out my hand to her.
“So nice to meet you Ellie,” I say with my first genuine smile in I don’t know how long.
“It’s actually Brielle,” she says with a shy smile, “but you can call me Ellie if you like.”
“Brielle, that’s a beautiful name for a beautiful girl.”
Just like that she reaches out to me like I’m a magnet and leaps into my arms. I catch her as she sails into my arms, shocked by her sudden move. Ellerie shakes his head and laughs.
“Monroe, we’re going to be needing those child support checks,” Teddy gives a booming laugh.
“I don’t think Ellerie’s wife would appreciate that,” I retort.
“Actually, Ellie’s my niece,” Ellerie laughs.
I narrow my eyes at him then look down at the little girl in my arms smiling at me. A
K. Sterling
Jacquie Rogers
Rebecca Hamilton, Conner Kressley
Shiloh Walker
Elizabeth Moynihan
Mary Balogh
Tara Fox Hall
Jonathan Maberry
Jane Hunt
James Kakalios