“Wait, aren’t they all playoff bound?” Tiff asks.
Zach nods.
“I thought you were pretty much locked in with the Rome Raptors? Didn’t their GM come out and pretty much say you’re all he thinks about at night?” she asks.
I snort. “If Zach’s keeping a grown man up at night like that, someone needs to check his work-life balance.”
Zach tries to hide a smirk by crossing his arms, but I see it. I’ll break him eventually.
“Yes, even though the Raptors are most likely to be my team, I have to be nice to everyone. They could hold my future after my rookie contract after all.” He lets out a low, almost hesitant laugh as he takes a seat at the table next to Tiff.
There’s a moment where he studies the honeycomb tattoo on his forearm.
“What’s wrong?” she asks, placing a hand on his arm.
He gives her a small, pitying look, and they say so much to each other without saying anything at all. Their bond is unmistakable, and I guess that’s what happens when you have a reckless idiot as the father of your child.
Not anymore. She won’t have to lean on Zach anymore, because I’m here, and I’m ready.
“Just not sure if I should leave here,” he says quietly.
It’s not here he’s worried about. It’s Honey.
I glance at Tiff, widening my eyes. He doesn’t know. He has no idea Honey intends on leaving this place, and he wants to stay, for her. For a girl he hasn’t been dating for over a year.
I’d call him pathetic, but I can’t talk. Against all odds, I chased the girl of my dreams and it worked.
“Uncle Zach. Why are you sad?” Ella asks.
Zach glances at her, and he somehow manages to muster a smile for her. “I’m not sad, Ella-bear. I’m just tired. Winning games is a lot of work.”
Ella’s not convinced. She opens her arms out, reaching for him, and he pulls her out of the chair. Then she gives him a hug,making Zach smile. “Mommy says cuddles always make you feel better.”
He bops her nose. “You’re pretty smart, you know that?”
“I know.” She pats his cheek. “Do you want some fuuu-siiillli? It’s the best pasta.”
“Yeah.” He kisses the top of her head. “That sounds good.”
She guides him through plating up the pasta. How much pasta he should have, how much sauce, and when he’s ready to eat, Tiff takes his hand for a second.
“It’ll all work out, Z. I promise.”
“Thanks.” He gives her a small smile, looking unconvinced as he takes a bite of his pasta. Then he focuses all his attention on Ella while he eats, asking her intricate questions about Princess Blanca.
I catch Tiff's eye across the table, and we share a look of helpless understanding. Zach bottles up his feelings, and Honey has no idea what she wants. It’s a mess, but there's nothing we can do. Nothing anyone can do when two people love each other this much and still can't figure out how to make it work.
After dinner, I carry Ella upstairs while Tiff gathers her pajamas. She insists on brushing her own teeth, and by the time Tiff’s reading her a story, she’s already blinking slowly and heavily.
I sit on the floor with my elbows on my knees, watching them both.
I don’t deserve them.
These two perfect beings have been dropped into my lap, and I will do everything in my power to make sure I am worthy of them.
When Tiff finishes the book, Ella holds out her arms to me. I move to my knees and lean in. She wraps her little arms around my neck and kisses me on the cheek.
“Goodnight, Daddy.”