Sidelined (41 page)
“M
om? Dad?” I push the front door open.
“Front room,” Mom calls.
I tug Jack through the door and into the main room. My lips turn up when I see Dad sitting in a chair in the corner. “Hey, Dad.”
“Hey, cupcake. How you doing?”
“I’m good,” I reply, glancing at Mom. She smiles. “How are you?”
“I’m fucking awesome.”
“Dad!” My jaw drops.
Apparently, today is a good day.
“They tweaked his medication slightly,” Mom says softly, her eyes bright. “It seems to be helping. We don’t know how long for, but we’re making the most of it.”
“So, you remember Jack?”
“Running back for the Vipers? Sure do.” Dad gets up and walks over to us. He shakes Jack’s hand. “Come with me.”
I frown as Dad easily leads him out of the room. “What the…?”
“I have no idea, honey.” Mom shakes her head. “Your dad has been very secretive this afternoon.”
What on Earth is he up to?
“Have you heard from Mitch anymore?”
“Wait, how do you—never mind. Cal.” I roll my eyes.
“Well, yes, but the fact that you walked in with Jack looking happier than you have in a long time is a good indicator that you told Mitch what you think of him.”
My lips tug up. “Mom, you have no idea.”
“Do I want to?”
“Do you want to get arrested for murder?”
“I heard the word ‘murder.’”
“Hi, gossip girl,” I shoot toward the front door.
Cal snorts. “Who’s talking about murder?”
I swear he could hear someone say that twenty miles away. “No one. We’re just talking about Mitch.”
“Yeah, don’t do that,” Cal grimaces. “I don’t wanna have to arrest my family on the first day of my new job.”
“Say what?” My eyes widen.
“You’re looking at LAPD’s newest homicide detective.”
I grin as Mom jumps up and embraces him. Looks like finally saying goodbye to shitty relationships has been good for both of us.
“Georgia? Are you sitting down?” Dad calls.
“Cal got a promotion!” Mom cries, beaming with pride.
Dad stops in the doorway, a large package in his hands, and looks at Cal. “Sit down, boy. My mind could go loco any minute. You aren’t stealing my moment!”
Cal grins and holds his hands up. “Got it, old man.”
“Get away from my chair!”
Cal scrambles toward mine and perches on the arm. “Jesus. Who let him out of his cage?”
“Heard that,” Dad growls.
Jack smirks from behind him. I catch his eye and lift my eyebrow.
What’s going on?
Without another word, Dad lays the large, flat package in Mom’s lap and steps back. “Open it.”
“Joe, what is it?”
“Open it, woman, and you’ll find out.”
“Dad’s sassy tonight,” I mutter to Cal.
Mom slowly tears the paper, her eyes focusing shiftily on Dad. He’s practically bouncing on the spot, and I can’t help but smile at the excitement emanating from him.
“Joe—you…did this?” Mom whispers, looking up with tears in her eyes.
It’s the puzzle.
Dad nods. “It’s your Christmas present.”
“It’s October,” Cal reminds him.
“I know,” Dad replies without looking at him, directing his words at Mom. “But I didn’t want to take a chance that the medication would fail and I’d forget to give it to you, George.”
“You knew about this?” I whisper to Jack.
“As of ten minutes ago,” he laughs softly as my parents embrace. “He needed a hand to wrap it.”
I reach up and cup his cheek. “Thank you.”
He turns his face to my hand and kisses my palm. “Always, baby. Always.”
Look for INTERCEPTED, Reid’s story, coming April 13th!
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By day, New York Times and USA Today bestselling New Adult author Emma Hart dons a cape and calls herself Super Mum to two beautiful little monsters. By night, she drops the cape, pours a glass of whatever she fancies - usually wine - and writes books.
Emma is working on Top Secret projects she will share with her followers and fans at every available opportunity. Naturally, all Top Secret projects involve a dashingly hot guy who likes to forget to wear a shirt, a sprinkling (or several) of hold-onto-your-panties hot scenes, and a whole lotta love.
She likes to be busy - unless busy involves doing the dishes, but that seems to be when all the ideas come to life.
Find Emma online at:
SIDELINED
(By His Game Book Two)
Copyright 2015 Emma Hart
This book is licensed for your personal enjoyment only. This book may not be re-sold or given away to other people. If you would like to share this book with another person, please purchase an additional copy for each reader. If you’re reading this book and did not purchase it, or it was not purchased for your use only, then please return to your favorite retailer and purchase your own copy. Thank you for respecting the hard work of this author.
Cover Design by Louisa Maggio at LM Creations
Photography by Sara Eirew at Sara Eirew Photography
Editing by Michelle Kampmeier at Mickey Reed Editing
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