Second Down Darling: A Forbidden, Single Dad, Sports Romance by Lex Martin

Author:Lex Martin [Martin, Lex]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2023-08-06T16:00:00+00:00

22

JAKE

I barely have the front door open before my two older brothers come barreling through and tackle my ass to the ground.

“You dicks.” I groan and shove them off me.

Although I’m annoyed, a part of me feels like I’m finally part of their club. David and Elijah are a decade older than I am, and when I was a kid, I was definitely the weird middle child. I’m eight years older than my younger brother, who was only five when our dad decided he’d fuck off and divorce our sweet mother. Sure, he came around for a few more years, but then he pretty much forgot all about us.

“Where’s Colby?” I grit out as Eli tries to put me in a chokehold.

“He’s got some eighth grade dance.”

“¡Muchachos, pórtanse!” My mom claps her hands as if that’s ever been an effective tactic to get us to behave.

Charlotte hides her smile behind Asher’s head as she bounces him in her arms. Next to us, Duke jumps and barks.

I’ve been a little worried about this reunion. My mom is cool, but I’ll kill my brothers if they’re assholes to Charlie.

Elijah hops up off the ground and holds out his hand. I’m tempted to drag him back down again, but I’d rather not get injured doing something stupid. I let him pull me up.

“Mamá, remember all the times you put him in charge?” I point to Eli. “You really think that was such a good idea? He’s the reason you came home from that potluck dinner at church and found your coffee table in pieces.”

Eli mumbles, “Snitches get stitches, little brother.”

David looks like he’s going to crack a joke when he notices Charlie. She gives him a shy wave. “Hi. Long time no see.”

He gives her a curt nod and takes Asher out of her arms.

I frown. “Okay, bro, don’t be rude. Y’all know Charlotte.”

She moves closer to me, and I smile because she looks so fucking adorable in that Bronco t-shirt with my number on her back, grease strips on her face, and knee-high socks. Her hair is up in a high ponytail. I’ve been trying to play it cool all week, but I’m pretty stoked she’s going to the bonfire with me tonight.

My mom shoots David a look that warns him he’d better behave and gives Charlie a hug. “So good to see you, mija. How have you been?”

They chat for a minute while I gather Asher’s stuff and then we all walk to my mom’s car so I can load up her old Honda. It pains me to see her drive this piece of crap. The floorboards are rusted and have small holes, and if you lean forward in the passenger seat, you can see straight through to the road.

I hope someday I can get her her dream car, a refurbished 1976 Gran Torino, painted red with a vector white stripe like that show our grandfather used to watch, Starsky and Hutch.

It’s always bittersweet to part from my son. I clear my throat.

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