Free Fourth Down Baby: A May-December Romance by Lauren Landish

Nelson!” I call in, and I hear the clatter as Pete drops something. “Thanks, Pete!”
    “He's a sweetheart,” I tell Dani, who nods. “How's marriage going for you so far?”
    “Still head over heels together,” Dani says with a little blush, and I'm glad to see that she's just as open as I hoped. “Come on, you owe him some Ben & Jerry's for this, and the corner market has his favorite flavor.”
    “Perfect. I told Whitney that I was going to get some dessert for her too,” I say, jamming my hands in my jeans pockets as we walk. “She's decided to go to Jacksonville.”
    “Good for her,” Dani says as we walk. “It's really the best for all three of them.”
    “It is.”
    “But lonely for you,” Dani adds, and I nod. “I'm guessing that's what brought you here.”
    I shouldn't be surprised. She’s a psychology student. “Like I said, you did miracles for Troy and Whit. I was hoping you could hit a three-peat.”
    Dani laughs softly, then shakes her head. “I don't do miracles. I just gather info and tell you what I think.”
    “And what is it that you think?” I ask. “I'd prefer not to be an old maid at forty-two, you know.”
    “Troy won't like that,” Dani jokes, and I laugh. “You know you don't have to be. Besides, you're way too young to be an old maid.”
    “Thanks, but you know what I mean. Besides, I'm on a pretty long dry spell when it comes to romance.”
    Dani stops underneath a streetlight and arches an eyebrow. “I thought you were just in a holding pattern for another couple of months.”
    I gape, then shake my head. “Are you sure you don't work for the CIA?”
    Dani laughs and shakes her twin ponytails. “Nah, I'm way too cute to work for the government. Actually, it's just that when Cory was working for you, I saw how he was. I've seen how he's been since then too. And to let you in on a secret, I've been his sounding board too. Actually, I'm surprised that Whitney hasn't noticed it.”
    “Timing, that's all,” I admit. “That, and I'm a little embarrassed to be thinking this way about one of her former classmates.”
    “A classmate who's nearly twenty-four, looks dashing in a suit, and is busting his butt down in San Fran to try and feel worthy of you. Oh, to have your problems when I get to be forty-two.”
    I laugh, and we reach the corner store. I pick out the ice cream I'm getting while Dani grabs some Cherry Garcia , and I pay for them both. “So you don't think it's weird?”
    “Well, if it were back when we were in High School, I could see some people having a problem with it, not that I’m one to judge. Hell, I say go for it. But these years since then, he’s buckled down and done a lot of growing up. And I suspect you’re the reason.”
    We're quiet on our way back to her house, and I shake my head at the insanity of it all. “Okay, okay. I feel better, but I might end up buying you more ice cream before you know it.”
    “Let's not,” Dani says, then smiles when she sees that I'm worried and that I misunderstood her. “I mean, no more ice cream. Pete's nowhere near the athlete that Troy and Cory are, and I happen to like my baby still Navy lean. He was cute as a soft teddy bear, but as a lean teddy bear, he's more fun when he and I play.”
    “Do I want to know what you play?” I ask, and Dani shakes her head. “Didn't think so.”
    “Why, Patricia, you're relaxing more and more every day,” Dani teases. “Next thing you know, you're going to say the truth.”
    “Which is?” I ask, and she smiles a mysterious little smile.
    “The truth is . . . Cory doesn't have to do a damn thing to make himself worthy of you. Hard part is that he needs to figure that out for himself. That, or you’re going to have to tell him. Good night, Patricia.”

    * * *
    I look around , sad as the house is already empty again. We worked like fiends for twelve hours after I got home last night, packing up as much as we could before Whitney and Laurie's flight. After a