Page 75 of Coach Sully
I scoff. Yeah, you could say that.
“But neither was the way I met Raleigh. I’m just glad you found somebody you click with.”
I nod, looking down at my beer. “We definitely click… I really appreciate you extending the invitation for us to tag along onyour holiday. It’s been really nice not having to fake it. Not to turn into a total sap, but it’s the best gift you could have given me. So, thanks.”
He nods. “You love her?”
“Yeah.”
“Okay, so now do you fucking understand why I was such a mess that season?!”
I laugh. “I’m sorry, I get it.”
Barrett raises his eyebrows and holds his bottle out for me to clink. “Have you told her?”
“Nah.” I shake my head. “I don’t want to freak her out, but I know she’s as serious as I am… we just have to get through the next couple months. It sucks, but I’ll wait as long as I have to. I’m sure you understand that better than anyone.” He waited five years for Raleigh, a few months should be nothing. I want her to move in with me. If I have to wait until we’re outside of work to see her, I don’t want to waste a second of our time off the clock.
Barrett nods. “Yeah, but damn, life is good now. We might try for a third.”
I shake my head and laugh. “Hey… personal question for you. When Raleigh was breastfeeding… did you ever…”
He grins wide. “Fuck yeah.”
I laugh. “Wait, seriously?”
“Absolutely.” He lifts his shoulders. “I dunno why it’s so hot, but it is.”
He and I have far too much in common. “I knew we were best friends for a reason.”
He nods out the window, toward the bow of the boat. “Ready for that?”
Following his line of sight, Kendra cradles Darby in her arms, and it sucks the air out of my lungs as I’m filled with visions of our future together. Family barbecues, our kids playing side by side, family vacations, celebrating birthdays and milestones.Hell, maybe they’ll go to school together. Darby’s tiny feet are braced on Kendra’s thighs, where she uses them as a springboard to bounce.
“Yeah. I’m ready.” I don’t know everything there is to know about being a dad, but I’m definitely ready to find out. “Do you mind if I…?”
“Go for it… Hey, send Ral in here, would ya?”
“Gonna try for baby number three?”
He bounces his eyebrows at me and smiles before he takes a sip from the bottleneck. “Maybe.”
That’s what I thought. I grin and shake my head. “Fuckin’ perv.”
When I get to the bow of the boat, I squeeze next to Kendra and slide my hand up her back to massage her neck. It’s chilly out here, everyone has a weighted blanket they’re wrapped up in. Darby must have tired herself out, because she’s resting peacefully against Kendra’s chest. Well, as much as she can while wearing the smallest life jacket I’ve ever seen. She hasn’t fallen asleep, but it won’t be long, based on the lazy blinks she’s doing.
Arthur is updating his grandma on the latest and greatest drama from the elementary school playground. Some kid gave another kid stickers but didn’t give them to a different kid… or something equally heinous. Raleigh and Kendra are discussing smart sleepers, which I’ve learned are basically robotic cribs. Parenting has changed a lot from the days when I used to babysit cousins. When their conversation dies down, I lean over to face Raleigh.
“Barrett mentioned he wanted to talk to you about something.” I gesture behind us to the boat’s cabin.
She rolls her eyes with a smile. “I can take her back if you’re getting tired?” she asks Kendra. “That girl doesn’t skip leg day.”
“Nah, she’s doing great. I think she’s about to fall asleep.”
“Perfect! I’m not going to get in the middle of that.” Raleigh hands me her blanket and hops up to make her way over to the bridge.
Kendra turns to me. “Hey, could you fix the blanket to cover her back?” She leans forward to give me access, and I tuck it over Darby’s shoulders.
“There we go,” she says to the baby, then turns to me. “Thank you. I think the temp has dropped a little.”