The Girl Next Door | Baby Daddy

3.4 | Jersey Score

(I'm ashamed of this title)

I was over at Ben's the next morning like usual. There had been a basket of Emma's laundry on the coffee table so I took to folding it since Emma was still asleep. Riley was over with me, sitting on the couch answering emails on her phone. She had been working at a law firm as an intern since she was still fresh out of law school. They mainly hounded her for trivial things, but it was all a part of climbing up the corporate ladder.

"I can't believe this. That guy, Bradley, I was telling about, is getting on my case because he said I organized his files wrong. Those files were perfect!" Riley ranted, talking angrily with her hands. We had both inherited that habit from our mother.

"Remember what we talked about, Ri. Breathe." I encouraged, laying my hand on her shoulder as she buried her face in her hands. As Riley had a mini meltdown, Tucker walked into the kitchen from the hall, yawning as he did. "Hey, Tuck." I greeted.

"Hey, girl." He responded, grabbing a mug from the sink. I had already put a pot of coffee on so he made himself a cup.

Bonnie suddenly swung the door open unannounced, (as per usual). She stepped into the apartment wearing an overly sparkly white skirt with a lavender blouse and a mint green leather jacket. As always, there was a purse draped over the crook of her elbow.

"Morning, Bonnie." I said in a somewhat sarcastic tone as her heels clicked against the hardwood floors, which were probably due for a mop.

"Where's Emma?" She wondered excitedly. "I'm taking her shopping. Emma's first shopping trip with grandma!" She said, dancing giddily.

"Okay, first of all, we all know you're gonna tell people you're her mom. Second, she's still asleep in Ben's room." Tucker answered, stirring his coffee with a spoon he had retrieved from the sink as well.

Bonnie shot him a glare. "Well, I could be her mother. I mean, look at me." Bonnie struck a pose and I rolled my eyes. I had always loved the Wheelers, but Bonnie was hilariously full of herself.

"Right... ay, pick up some baby wipes while you're out." Tucker told her.

"Grabbed some. On the counter." I informed Tucker, who spotted the grocery bag on the counter. He dug out the wipes, as well as the new bottle and can of formula I had purchased for Emma.

"Morning!" Danny called out as he emerged from the hall.

"Hey, honey! Game day!" Bonnie cheered, hurrying over to greet her oldest son.

"Hey, mom!" He responded happily. They talked while Riley answered more emails, Tucker took care of some of the dishes in the sink, and I continued to fold clothes.

I set aside a few of Emma's onesies and a pair of footie pajamas. I reached for another article of clothing, but instead, I pulled out an old rag that I didn't recognize at first. At least, not until I saw the familiar worn out blue letters spelling out "EELE." I gasped as I realized it was Danny's lucky jersey, and it was ripped to shreds.

"Riley!" I whisper/yelled and held it up. When she saw it and recognized the raggedy shirt, she dropped her phone into her lap, throwing her hands over her gaping mouth.

"Oh yeah, what was that?" Tucker had joined us in the living room and gestured to the jersey with his hand holding his coffee mug. "It looked like a rag to me."

"Tucker!" I snapped. "This is Danny's lucky jersey!" I whispered to him sharply, trying to make sure Bonnie and Danny didn't overhear from the kitchen as Bonnie prepared him a plate of his pre-game scrambled eggs.

"Wait... what?" Tucker said.

"You just ruined Danny's career!" I exclaimed to him, still being quiet and Tucker's eyes widened.