“I like Quinn,” Elle adds for good measure.
I smile down at her and return to watching Katelyn. She’s talking to Noah’s coach.
“Shouldn’t he be coaching?” I ask just as Liam yells from his spot by the fence. The coach looks at Liam and yells something out to the players.
“Noah doesn’t like the coach.”
“I don’t think I do either.” Josie laughs. I look at Liam, who’s having an animated conversation with Peyton. She’s holding her football under her arm and waving her other one dramatically in the air.
“You’re really good with the girls, Harrison. Katelyn sees that.”
“Peyton…” I look down at Elle and shut my mouth. The last thing I want to do is talk about her sister in a way that she could take as demeaning. I want Peyton to like me, not because of her mother, but because I think she’s an amazing little girl and want to get to know her. If she’s anything like her sister, even though they’re opposites, she’s going to steal my heart too. I just have to find a way to get past the wall she’s put up.
“She’ll come around. She was so close to Mason. Everywhere he went, she was with him and for her to wake-up and have her daddy gone… she doesn’t know how to cope. Katelyn says things are getting better with Dr. Brooks.”
“Someday,” I say confidently.
Katelyn returns with the bag of ice. It took that coach long enough to give it her and I’m about to say something completely stupid, until she smiles at me as she walks up the bleachers, making me forget whatever it was. I take the bag from her as she sits down. She slips her hand up under my sweatshirt. My body stiffens as I yell out.
“Sorry,” she whispers in my ear, placing a kiss there. “My hand was cold.” My tongue is tied, so I nod and wink at her. I’ll make her pay for it when we’re in Los Angeles.
“It’s cold,” Elle says turning away from me. I have to pull her away from my body against my will, but we need to put ice on her head to keep the swelling down.
“Just for a little bit.” Katelyn sets it back down on her bump and holds it there. I want to put my hand on her thigh to let her know that I think she’s amazing and to not let Elle’s actions get to her. I can see it in her face, the way it falls each time Elle tells her no or moves away from her. She’s trying so hard with both girls. I know she’s just looking for a tiny bit of happiness where they’re concerned.
Elle snuggles into my chest with Katelyn holding the icepack against her forehead. Josie starts cheering, causing Elle to turn sharply and almost fall out of my arms. Her sudden movements also send the icepack flying into the man sitting in front of us. I stifle a laugh and scramble to pick it up without dropping Elle. I hand it back to Katelyn, who looks mortified.
“Sorry, sir, it slipped out of our hands,” I say, hoping he won’t freak out. I sometimes forget that the people of Beaumont aren’t like some of the people in L.A. At least here you’ll just get a glare.
“I think we should go,” she whispers into my ear. Chills spread across my body with all the innuendos that could mean. The simple statement of we should go is what’s really turning me on. Just to be with her and the kids as a family is all I need right now. Everything else with her is just gravy.
I nod, pick up Elle and wait for Katelyn to gather her purse.
“We’re going to take off,” she says to Josie, who is so enthralled in the game, she just nods. I jump off the side, holding Elle tightly in my arms, and turn to see Katelyn about to jump too. I reach for her and am rewarded with her hand slipping into mine, before she hops down. I don’t let go and neither does she. We walk hand-in-hand to Liam. His eyebrow rises when he sees us. I shake my head slightly. I don’t want a scene or any wise cracks coming from him.
“Peyton, we’re going to go.”
I see the anger in her eyes immediately. I’m prepared for the outburst. She bites her lower lip and clutches her football tighter.
“Peyton?” Katelyn says her name again.
Liam is watching all of this as it’s about to explode.
“Uncle Liam, can you give me a ride home after the game?”
Liam looks from Peyton to Katelyn, who nods quickly.
“As long as your mom doesn’t have a problem with it, but you’ll have to ask her.”
Peyton sighs and looks at her mom. “Mommy, can I stay with Uncle Liam?”
Katelyn covers her mouth and I’m oblivious to what just happened. “Yes, you can stay.” She steps forward and kisses Peyton on the forehead before turning and walking toward her car, leaving Elle and I standing there.
“What the…?”
Liam shrugs and goes back to yelling at Noah on the field. “Hey man, Quinn can stay too if he wants.”
“I want,” he says quickly.