Page 48 of Playing the Player

Me: Well I could help with that?

Angel: I can’t ask you to do that.

Angel: He’ll probably forget about it once he’s home anyway.

Me: How long is he staying for?

Angel: My parents are flying over in a few days to get him.

I know this is breaking her heart. She worries about Liam constantly. Her parents seem to be useless with him. They say they don’t understand how to help him, but according to Sash, they’ve never really tried. That’s just so fucking sad. My parents weren’t the most supportive, but they tried and that’s more than I could have asked for.

Me: You’re gonna miss him.

Angel: I am.

Angel: But I will be glad to have my bed back. My back is killing me. I’m gonna go for the best nap of my life.

Before I can overthink it, my thumbs start flying over the screen.

Me: Come stay with me.

I stare at the message the second it sends. Shit. Where did that come from? I quickly type out another.

Me: Both of you. I have a spare bedroom.

The three dots appear when Sasha starts typing but they disappear just as quick. They reappear and disappear four times before she finally replies.

Angel: We couldn’t. Thanks though :)

Me: Why couldn’t you?

Again, the dots appear and disappear multiple times before a reply comes through.

Angel: Because it would be against our rules.

Me: Relax, Angel. It’s only sleeping.

I’ll sleep on the couch and

you can take my bed.

Angel: I’ll think about it.

She’ll think about it.

20

Sasha

After Conor took Liam to the stadium, Isabella woke up screaming and nothing Olivia, Josh or I did would make her stop, so I took her for a walk because the movement seems to soothe her.

If I remember right from when Liam was a baby, I would say Bella is teething. Her cheeks are rosy, her hands are constantly in her mouth and she’s slabbering over everything. We took a trip to the pharmacy so I could get her some medicine, teething gel and a few of those teething toys you stick in the freezer, and then we went to see Aunt Dee and Charlie at Buttons and Books.

Diane was thrilled to see her great-niece, as she always is. She’s more like a grandmother to her than an aunt. And she’s a great one at that. It makes me sad for Liv’s family though. Diane is really the only grandparent Isabella has. Josh’s mom passed away years ago and his father doesn’t really bother with them. Olivia’s mom basically abandoned her after moving to the States and her dad is in the UK. Since Bella was born, Liv has been trying to reach out to him more but he hasn’t made the effort to see his own granddaughter. It’s his loss.

I’m so lucky in a way that Olivia and Josh aren't. When I have kids, they’ll be blessed with two sets of grandparents since Conor and I have both of our parents. Wait… Where the fuck did that thought come from? I’m not having babies with Conor. What is wrong with me? Stupid Conor obsessed brain!

After dropping Bella home, I go back to my place.