Page 21 of Beautiful Crazy
Sutton takes off for the yard, and I can’t help the grin that spreads on my face as I look back at Gemma.
“Thank you,” she murmurs. “But really, if you have stuff to do, he’ll understand.”
“I don’t, and it’ll be a lot of fun to play catch with them.”
A look I can’t quite decipher passes through her eyes before she nods, a smile creeping onto her lips. “Okay.”
Ten
Gemma
Grace takes Everett’s spot beside me as we gaze out into the yard where the boys are getting their mitts situated on their hands as Everett leans down and swipes the ball off the grass, tossing it in the air a couple of times and catching it. My heart is clear in my throat, but I don’t know why. Why does something as simple as somebody wanting to play catch with my son make me so damn emotional?
And more than a little hot and bothered.
“Well, this is unexpected,” Grace murmurs as we continue to watch them.
“Which part?”
“Everything.” She breathes out a laugh. “But mostly finding Mr. Hot Teacher here with you when we got here.”
“Trust me, it was unexpected for me too.” Turning my head, I meet my sister’s gaze. “When my phone notified me that somebody was on my porch earlier, I assumed you guyshad forgotten something. Imagine my surprise when I see Everett through the Ring camera.”
What was even more surprising, but I don’t mention, is the little pep talk he gave himself before he knocked on the door. I watched him through the camera as he stood there for a moment, almost knocking, but not quite doing it. I don’t know why, but it was endearing, and really freaking cute.
“Girl, he’s into you.” My sister grins like she’s got it all figured out. I shake my head, breathing out a laugh.
“He’s just being neighborly. Probably felt bad for me that my dishwasher wasn’t working. Took pity on me.”
Although, remembering his little porch pep talk, I can’t help but wonder if maybe I’m purposely being obtuse.
Face scrunched up, Grace says, “Right. I’m so sure that’s all it is.”
Looking out into the yard again, I watch as Everett throws the ball toward Sutton. He catches it, his head snapping toward us as a grin splits his face. “Mom, did you see that? I caught it!”
“I did see, baby. Good job!” I give him a wide smile and a thumbs-up before he returns his focus on Everett as he tosses the ball back to him. “What is it about seeing a man with your child that is just so damn attractive?” I say quietly enough that only Grace can hear me. “Fuck, it’s like catnip.”
“You think he works out?” she asks.
If he were to look over here, he’d find us both gawking at him like a bunch of cats in heat, yet I can’t bring myself to look away.
“I don’t know, but look at those arms.”
“Gem, you gotta bang him.” Grace looks over at me as I laugh. “I’m serious. A man that hot needs to be experienced. And then you gotta tell me all about it because lord knows my shop’s been closed for entirely too long now. I’ll live vicariously through you.”
Rubbing a hand over the back of my neck, I drag my gaze back to the man occupying my yard, finding myself actually considering it. I can’t deny the mental picture in my head is tempting. “I don’t know, if he keeps doing shit like fixing my appliances and playing with my kid, I may be incapable of keeping my hands to myself.” I laugh, wishing I was kidding.
“Hell yeah,” Grace cheers. “That’s what I’m talking about!”
The three of them play for well over an hour, and never once does Everett look put out or annoyed to be playing with them. In fact, it’s quite the opposite. Smiling from ear to ear, he tosses the ball dozens of times, teaching the boys little tricks, cheering them on every single time they make a catch, and always pausing what he’s doing to watch Blakely show him how she can do a cartwheel for the thirtieth time.
After a while, Grace and I head inside to make everybody some lunch, which is a good call because about ten minutes later, all three kids come barreling in the house, grumbling about how starving they are. Everett follows, and my breath catches in my throat when my gaze lands on him. His cheeks are flushed from being out in the sun, sweat drenching his white t-shirt, and when his eyes meet mine, the biggest smile stretches on his face.
“Gonna sleep great tonight,” he breathes out, lifting the hem of his shirt to wipe the sweat off his brow, revealingquite the toned torso. I’m standing in the kitchen, a knife covered in peanut butter and jelly, with my jaw on the floor and drool nearly spilling out of my mouth. I can’t look away.
Good god, the man is sexy.
Grace nudges me with her elbow as she leans in and says, “Tell me again how the frennies with bennies is off the table.”