Free Jordan (Season Two: The Ninth Inning #5) by Lindsay Paige, Mary Smith Page B

resting against the table and I take a seat as well.
    “How’s it going, Sofia?” Trent asks her.
    She beams him a smile. “Perfectly. Blake’s ready for me to take leave,” she rolls her eyes, “but other than that, life is perfect.” Her hands go to her stomach and I lean forward with my head bowed to avoid looking at her because all I can think about is Heidi.
    “Do you know the sex yet?” he asks, sitting next to her.
    “I wanted it to be a surprise, but Grumpy demanded to know. So, yes, we know.”
    “Well?” he prods when she doesn’t go further.
    “We haven’t told our families. I can’t tell you when my own mother doesn’t know yet.” There’s a pause and then she asks, “Are you okay, Jordan?”
    I turn my head to look at her. “Yeah, I’m fine.” Her gaze isn’t on me though, but it’s close. I glance down to see what’s caught her attention and squeeze my eyes closed when I see that the necklace holding my wedding ring has fallen out from under my shirt. I slip it back in place as I lean back up to see Colby walking our way. Thank god.
    He sits next to me with watchful eyes. “Everything go okay last night?”
    “Depends on who you ask,” I answer.
    “So, good or bad?”
    “Depends on who you ask,” I repeat.
    Colby nods. “Are you pissed at me?”
    “No.”
    “Good. Let’s not have a repeat, okay?”
    I laugh. “No promises.”
    Just then, the back door swings open and Tanner leans out with a damn crown on his head. “The Birthday King demands we eat! C’mon, it’s ready!”
    We all stand, but Trent and Colby walk ahead of Sofia and me. We’re quiet, which isn’t a surprise. We’re almost to the door when Sofia lays a hand on my arm to stop me. Her eyes are watery and trained on where my wedding ring is hidden.
    “I’m sorry for whatever happened.”
    For a moment, all of my memories of an emotional, pregnant Heidi flood my brain. She’d so easily cried at everything, whether it was something happy, funny, sad, or inappropriate. She was an emotional, crying mess, but I loved every second of it. I would hold her in my arms until she stopped. I’d give anything to be able to soothe her now.
    “I just wanted to say I was sorry,” Sofia continues, bringing me out of my memories. “You remind me of Blake sometimes, so I know whatever happened, it’s hard to deal with and is still painful for you. I felt bad, and I had to tell you I was sorry.”
    I remind her of the guy everyone called Grumpy last season? Before I can respond, Blake pokes his head out the door, eyeing me suspiciously when Sofia wipes away a stray tear.
    “Are you okay, Sofia?”
    She gives him a little smile. “I’m fine, Blakey.”
    He holds out his hand, which she takes, and he begins to lead her inside, glaring at me while she walks up the steps. Blake was always one unhappy son-of-a-bitch last season until he started seeing Sofia and his dad was arrested. Am I becoming the team’s new Grumpy?
    The wounds of yesterday’s anniversary on top of everything else happening to make my life fall apart, have me debating leaving. I don’t know if I can walk into a house full of happy people who all have their life in order with the people they love, when I’m trying to deal with losing the things they have. All I really want right now is to be in South Carolina where my daughter and memories of a happier time are.
    A place that is hours upon hours away by car. Unless…
    I catch the door before it closes and step inside. “Sofia, wait.”
    She and Blake turn to face me. I can hear the excited chatter from the dining room.
    “Is there any way I could borrow your dad’s jet and pilot for the night?” Her eyes widen with surprise. I know he has one. I heard Blake and Sofia mention it once because that’s what they took when they went on vacation in the offseason. “ Please ,” I beg with every ounce of despair I’m feeling. “I can pay the costs.”
    “What the hell do you need a plane for?”