False Start (Red Zone Rivals, #5)

by Kandi Steiner

I made my way down the hall to him, and as soon as I made it to his door, Sebastian hugged my legs tight, burying his face in my stomach like he did when he was sick. Or scared. I sighed, running a hand through his hair. “Everything is okay,” I promised him. “I don’t like when Daddy yells at you.” My eyes shut, and I let out a long breath before replying, “I don’t like it either, baby.” “Kyle never yells at us.” Another squeeze of my heart. “No, he doesn’t.” “He loves you.” At that, I smirked, dropping down to his level and brushing his hair from his face. “I don’t know about that, but I know he cares about both of us.” Sebastian nodded, looking down at his sneakers. “You okay?” I asked him. He nodded again, but then shook his head. “Sometimes I have a bad thought.” I frowned. “Well, you can tell Mommy. There’s no judgment here. Remember?” Sebastian swayed a bit side to side, his eyes on his shoes still, and I thought I heard the front door open and close somewhere behind us. “Sometimes, I wish Kyle was my dad, instead.” I covered my mouth, and when Sebastian looked at me, he seemed worried that I was upset. So, quickly, I smiled and grabbed his arms. “It’s okay to wish that,” I assured him. “But your dad loves you. And you have fun with him, don’t you? You always love going to his house, and when he takes you to get ice cream, or when he takes you to the cool baseball games downtown.” “Yeah,” Sebastian said, but he grew quiet after that. “You about ready?” I asked. He nod...