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LISTEN TO YOUR MOMMA, JOSH.

I rubbed the back of my neck, staring at the summer training schedule without really seeing it. July was still fairly low-key for the guys, but I had plans to review now that the Draft was over.

And overthinking about a certain stubborn woman.

Graciella left right after day one of the Draft ended, and I hadn’t heard from her since. A weekend’s worth of space had to be enough because my patience was wearing thin, and there was no way I’d make it through this Monday without reaching out.

Problem was, I didn’t have a fucking clue what I’d say to her when I finally saw her. I liked her, wanted her…but I wasn’t a single man in my twenties anymore. My stomach knotted every time I considered sleeping with her, no strings attached.

Something told me I’d already attached. And that had me panicking.

Yeah, I’d given her space, but the truth was I’d been hoping the distance would loosen whatever she’d tied around my chest. The strings I didn’t want to cut but knew I should.

I blew out a breath and dropped my head into my hands.

“Daddy!”

A small body knocked into me, shooting us backward in the office chair and nearly colliding with the back wall.

“Hey, Golds. Why aren’t you at daycare?” I kissed the top of her head, the scent of her strawberry detangler loosening some of the knots in my chest. Dredging up memories of when her blonde hair grew long enough that something needed to be done with it, and I was fucking terrified. Halfway considered chopping it back to the length she’d been born with.

Seeing as how my momma only had a rowdy boy for a kid, she wasn’t any help in that department. I’d ordered one of the mannequin heads they use for hair school; for weeks, my nights were spent cussing out the damned thing while YouTube videos on the subject played on a loop in the background.

She peered up at me, her two braided ponytails flinging behind her shoulder. “Nana took me for panpakes first.” The sugary scent of syrup on her little breath hit me in the face.

I smiled, glancing up at my mom who leaned against the doorframe, arms crossed over her sun-kissed skin, a mischievous smile on her face.

“You better hurry, Golds. Uncle Dalton is waitin’ for ya. If you want those treats before school, you better skeddadle.”

Golds climbed off my lap and was out the door so fast I wasn’t sure I’d even had time to blink.

I shook my head, a laugh slipping out. “Late start?”

“Yup. But I let her think we played hooky for a bit.” She smiled and settled into the chair across from my desk. “Now, when are we gonna talk about how I was gone for a few short weeks, and you get a girlfriend and suddenly love being in the spotlight? Think I’ve given you long enough to keep to yourself ’bout it.”

“Uh…” I stared at the blank computer screen, palms already clamming up.

“You’ve always told me about these things right away, Josh.”

“I have?” My voice came out high and squeaky. “I don’t think I’ve always told you right away, Momma…”

She cocked a brow.

The guys thought my silent stare was intimidating. This woman could make you spill every secret you’d ever kept.

“I didn’t say anything because I didn’t want you to worry.” I sighed, scrubbing at my eyes. “The Stars told me I needed to improve my image, or I’d be let go. They brought someone in to help. The girlfriend thing isn’t real.”

Silence.

I forced myself to look at her. She nodded slowly, lips pressed together, not saying a word—but I knew there was plenty she wanted to. When she rolled her lips like that with those short little nods, she had opinions.

“You’re disappointed.”

“Didn’t say that.”

“You haven’t said anything.”

She steepled her fingers in her lap. “Was the girlfriend ruse the team’s idea?”