“Yes. I tell Ben on my own that you’re his father.”
He sighed, eyeing me warily. “When are you going to tell him?”
“I’ll tell him when we fly back to Fort Worth next week, and you can meet him then. I think it should be on neutral territory for both of you.”
“And what does Baby Soph consider neutral territory?”
I smiled for what felt like the first time that morning.
* * *
Stating, “The football field, of course.”
ELEVEN
SOPHIE
For the past week I tried to soak up as much alone time as I could with Ben. Our lives were about to change full force, and I wasn’t prepared for any of it. We’d flown back to Fort Worth yesterday, and tomorrow morning I’d be taking him to meet his dad.
The only person who knew the truth was Jax’s team and my father. I hadn’t told my mom yet, and I was nervous for her to hear the news. She had never been a fan of Jax, and it hadn’t changed over the years.
If anything, it became worse.
“Mom, are you okay?”
My eyes shifted to Ben. “Yeah, why wouldn’t I be okay?”
He shrugged, getting into his bed. “You’ve been standing at my bookcase forever.”
“Oh,” I anxiously laughed.
This was our night-time routine. Every night, we’d switch who picked out his bedtime story for me to read. Ben inherited my love for reading. Probably because I started reading to him while he was still in my womb. It was our bond. He had three bookcases in his room, all filled with different genres of stories.
His favorite books were always football-related, though. He was obsessed with the sport. Knew more than I did when it came down to it.
“I think maybe tonight we try something different for a change. What do you think about that?”
“Ummm…” He nodded. “Okay, Mom.”
I smiled, placing the book I had in my hand back on his shelf before I made my way to his bed. He scooted over for me, and I sat in my usual spot beside him. Pulling him closer onto my lap, he laid his head on my legs like he did every night.
Ben loved getting back and head scratches, reminding me so much of Jax. Jax would lay the same way Ben is now, and we’d talk all night while I scratched his head and back. There were quite a few ways that Ben was like his father. The older he got, the more personality traits he seemed to take on from Jax without even meeting him.
His stubbornness.
Attentiveness.
The ability to have me wrapped around his finger with a simple smile.
Not to mention, he was already showing characteristics of becoming an amazing athlete. I wasn’t exaggerating by any means. My dad was determined to make him the next G.O.A.T. in the football league.
After he was sprawled out on my lap, I began his bedtime story.
“Once upon a time, there was this young girl who moved to Fort Worth to live with her mom in the home where she was the housekeeper.”
He giggled. “Mom … that sounds like you and Grammy.”
“You’re too smart for your own good.” I kissed the top of his head. “She lived in the guesthouse of their estate, and from the moment she laid eyes on the son who lived there too, she fell madly in love with him.”