Player (A Secret Baby Sports Romance)(40)

“Now, look, there’s something-” Mom shakes her head. “Oh, never mind, it’s silly.” She grins at me, like she’s dying to spill whatever it is she’s about to say.

“Mom-”

“Oooh, okay! It’s silly, but, well-” She turns to Natalie. “I know you kids already went and got hitched, but I have always wanted to see my boy up there at a real proper alter with a girl like you, honey.”

I frown. “Mama, I don’t-”

“You want us to have a real wedding, Bernadette?”

My head jerks towards Nat as my mom nods.

“It’s silly isn’t it?”

Natalie shakes her head. “I think it’d be a lovely thing to do, actually. What do you think, honey?” she says, grinning at me.

I scratch my chin. “Hey, why not.”

“Oh honey that would just make my whole dang life!” Mom throws her arms around Natalie, and I arch my brows at her over my my mom’s shoulder.

“Well lordy, I went and forget your cornbread!”

“Oh, Bernadette, that’s really-”

“Nonsense, nonsense,” Mom waves her off. “Now, us girls will have to set aside some time to go shopping soon,” she says, eyeing me with a smile as she bustles back to the kitchen.

I lean into Natalie, whispering out of the corner of my mouth. “What the hell have you gotten us into?”

She elbows me again, giggling. “It’s going to be fun!”

“Yeah, a blast.”

“Oh, honey?” My mom’s voice drifts back from the kitchen.

“Yeah?” I say, reluctantly pulling my eyes away from Natalie.

“Set another place at the table, would you?”

I freeze, the smile instantly dropping from my face.

You’ve gotta be fucking kidding me.

“For who, Mom,” I say with a leaded voice.

I don’t even have to wait for her answer though, because I already know. I’ve been at this table, having this exact same dinner about a hundred times before, when I was growing up.

There’s the sound of a car pulling into the driveway, and I feel every muscle in my body tensing as my hands clench into fists on the table.

Mom pokes her head into the dining room. “Now, Austin, honey, don’t get mad.”

But I’m already mad. No, fuck that, I’m furious - furious that he managed to find her, and manipulate himself back into her life. And I know that look on her face, because I saw it a dozen fucking times growing up, usually a week or a month after she kicked him out.

“You’re fucking kidding me.”

“Language, Austin!” My mom shushes, her hand flying to the cross around her neck.

“What’s going on?” Nat whispers, leaning close to me.

“My dad’s here.”

“Oh,” she nods, furrowing her brow. “Oh well that’s nice.”

“No, it’s not,” I growl.

The front door slams open, and I’m right back to being a kid all over again.

And suddenly, there he is, standing in the dining room doorway and beaming at the whole room like he’s the best thing that ever happened to everyone here.

I hate that fucking look.

“Well well! Big NFL star!” Dad throws his arms wide. “Come on, boy! Git over here and give your ol’ man a hug!”

I stay seated, my eyes narrowing at him. Him, the man who beat the hell out of my mother, who cheated on her, who left her, who stole from her.

The one she always took back.

He’s drunk, obviously, and he stands there swaying slightly on his feet for another second or two before he suddenly turns his eyes on Natalie.

I growl.

“Well well!” He whistles lowly, his gaze turning all sorts of evil as he narrows in on her.

“So you must be the bride, huh?”

Natalie smiles cordially, clearly sensing the tension in the room but still putting up that smiling finishing school veneer.

“Yes, sir.” She starts to stand. “Please to finally meet you, I’m-”

Dad belts out a hooting laugh, cutting her off. “Holy shit, son!” He grins, nodding his chin at Natalie. “Look at this piece of tail, huh?”

Natalie quickly looks at the floor, her face growing red. Mom is fidgeting from foot-to-foot across the room, silent as usual in the presence of Harry.

“I mean damn!” Dad whistles again, openly ogling Natalie as I feel the red rage building to the point of no return inside.

“Shoulda gone pro myself! I mean, would you look at that ass!”

He suddenly puts his hand out, as if he’s about to touch her, and that’s when I fucking snap.

I stand with a roar, yanking her behind me and shoving him away and into the wall. It’s primal, like I’m some sort of caveman, but I don’t care.