Total pages in book: 87
Estimated words: 83612 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 418(@200wpm)___ 334(@250wpm)___ 279(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 83612 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 418(@200wpm)___ 334(@250wpm)___ 279(@300wpm)
Bellamy was a pre-teen when Candice and I divorced, so I got to raise her through her baby stage. So many things about Coral, her daughter, remind me of her when she was that age.
As I drop the freshly laundered blankets off in Coral’s room, my phone rings. I jog downstairs, taking them two at a time to get my phone. I really should have bought a smaller house, but I’m hoping Reid and Bellamy will have more grandkids to fill all these rooms. Besides, I would have bought a damn castle if it meant living closer and being an active part of their lives.
“Hello?”
“Dad?” Bellamy asks. “Are you okay?”
I chuckle. “Hey, sweetheart. I’m fine. I was upstairs, so I ran down the steps to grab my phone.”
“You could have called me back.” She laughs.
“I’ll always answer when you call,” I tell her. I don’t explain further, as she understands what I’m trying to tell her. There will never be a moment in my life when I don’t drop everything for her.
“I love you, Dad,” she says, and I can hear the smile in her voice.
I clear my throat. “I love you, too, Bella,” I say, my voice giving away the emotions her words cause.
“So, not to get all sappy on you and then ask for a favor, but I kind of have a favor to ask.” She chuckles.
“Ask away, sweetheart. You know if it’s within my power, I’ll do it.”
“I know you will. The past is behind us, Dad. Only happy moving forward. So, about that favor. As you know, we’re all going out to dinner tonight for Knox and Corie’s anniversary. We’ve all found sitters, but Amanda…” Her voice trails off.
“Mia will be great company for Coral,” I answer, and she exhales heavily.
“Are you sure? I know a two-year-old and an almost nine-month-old is a lot.”
“Meh, they’ll help keep each other entertained.”
“Thank you. I owe you one,” she says, and I can hear the relief in her voice. “I’m setting her up with a guy from Riggins Enterprises. She needs to start putting herself back out there.”
“It’s not even been a year yet,” I remind her.
When my divorce from her mother was final, it was a long damn time before I started dating again, even casually, but it became too much of a chore. Those women wanted William Warner, the head coach of the Nashville Rampage. Not the man. They wanted me as a status symbol, and it got old fast. I had a few casual hookups where we met up when the mood hit us, but even those have long since passed. It’s been far longer than I’m willing to admit since I’ve been inside a woman.
I don’t need to be thinking about this while talking to my daughter.
“I know, but he was so cruel to her. It’s been over between them for a long time. I just want her to find happiness like I have. I want that for you, too, you know. I’ll talk to the girls and see if we can find you any prospects.”
I laugh. “Sweetheart, I have you and Coral, and even that son-in-law of mine you’re so fond of. I’m good, I promise you.”
Sure, I’d love to find someone to spend my life with, but that ship has long since sailed. I’m a grandfather now, and that’s where I’m trying to focus all my time. I’ve never had a good work-life balance, and the last couple of years, since Bellamy’s been back in my life, I’ve been trying my hardest not to let my job consume me.
At first, it was me striving to be more for my family. Then, after the divorce, my job was all I had. I have more to live for than football, and I’m damn well going to make sure I embrace that every single day.
“Thank you for doing this, Dad. I really appreciate it.”
“Anytime, sweetheart.”
“I’m calling Amanda now. I still have to talk her into this, but I wanted to make sure I covered all my bases before I tried.”
“Good plan. Let me know. You all still dropping off Coral around five?”
“Yes, we’re meeting everyone at six. Hopefully, Amanda and Mia will be with us.”
“Are you letting my granddaughter spend the night?”
“Do you want her to?”
“Of course, I do. How am I supposed to spoil her rotten before giving her back to you?” I huff out a laugh.
My daughter chuckles. “Fine. I’ll pack some extra clothes and things.”
“I have everything she needs here,” I remind her.
“Yeah. Thank you, Dad. I really appreciate this.”
The tension leaves her voice, and it makes my chest tighten in that familiar way. I’ll do whatever it takes to keep her in my life.
“You enjoy a night out with your husband,” I tell her. “You both deserve it.”
Reid Montgomery, my son-in-law. I usually pretend to be annoyed with him, mostly out of habit. A father’s allowed to mess with the man who took his little girl from him. But the truth is, whenever I see the way he looks at my daughter, and now at my granddaughter, I don’t have an ounce of anger in me. Not a scrap. That kind of love is unmistakable. It’s steady. It’s patient. It’s the kind you build a life on. Reid loves them. Both of them. And he’s a good man. If there was anyone my daughter could have fallen in love with, I’m glad it was him.