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“You’re single?” Kennedy asks.
“So freaking single.”
“That’s only because those boys she brings home are intimidated by her,” Arthur chimes in.
“Don’t let him fool you,” Reese quietly says to Kennedy. “I haven’t brought a boy home in quite some time. Dating is the last thing on my mind when I’m training to take over an entire MLB franchise. I’m about to be the first female team owner in the league. People are already going to assume there’s a man running the show behind the scenes. You know what I mean?”
Kennedy is looking at her, nodding in agreement, as if she can relate to every word she has to say. “I know exactly what you mean.”
There’s a heavy pit in my gut because I know she’s referring to me. When she goes to this interview on Monday, they’ll know she’s married to me. Will that contribute to her getting the job? No, absolutely not. She’ll get it because she’s qualified and real fucking good at what she does. But when she does get that offer, is there a part of her that’s going to assume it’s because of me?
Arthur waves his granddaughter off because he’s old school and doesn’t understand how difficult it is for either of them to work or thrive in a male-dominated sport.
“You’ll be great,” he says casually, before someone leans down to say something in his ear. “We should find our seats. Your brother wants to get started.”
“Good to see you,” Reese adds before following her grandfather to their table.
Kennedy drops my hand, though I tell myself it’s because she needs to use her own to pick up her dress. “I like her.”
“Yeah, she’s cool. She’ll be good next year.”
“Part of me wishes I was going to be here to see it.”
The statement is thrown out so easily, whereas every part of me wishes she were going to be around next year to see it.
We find our table closest to the stage. Miller in her dark green dress, sitting on my brother’s lap. Kai and Monty in their suits, but the cutest of them all is Max in his bow tie.
He’s clearly sleepy as it’s getting close to his bedtime, resting against Monty’s shoulder.
“Ken, you look good!” Miller whistles.
“Same to you!” Kennedy wraps an arm over Miller’s shoulder from behind, squeezing her in a hug before bending down to pop a kiss on the top of Max’s head, as if it were the most natural thing for her to hug her friend and kiss my nephew. She then takes her seat, leaving an open chair for me next to her.
Miller stands from my brother’s lap and retakes a chair, she and Kennedy leaning over my empty seat to chat among themselves.
“You ready for this?” Kai asks quietly, standing to his full height.
I huff a dry laugh. “Nope.”
He studies me. “Tell me the truth, Isaiah. Are you going to be okay with this?”
“Kai, if this is what’s going to make you happy, I will learn to be okay with it.”
A soft smile ticks up on the corner of his lips as he nods. “Yeah. This is what will make me happy.”
“Then do it. That’s all I’ve ever wanted for you.”
He cups the back of my head, pulling me into him for a hug. “I love you, kid.”
“Yeah. I love you too.”
“Thank you for everything.”
“Fuck,” I exhale. “Don’t start that now.”
“Kai,” someone says, and we separate. “Are you ready to start?”
He nods, running a hand over Max’s hair then bending to give Miller a kiss before following the emcee to the stage.
