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Kevin’s week so far had been an endless douse of bad news.
And all of this news surrounded one Andrew Minyard. They were a bonded pair and a dynamic duo on the court, so this news affected him by extension.
It made perfect sense.
Bad news: Andrew was quitting their team.
Bad news: The other goalkeepers were nowhere near his skill level.
So-so news: Andrew had a child now.
He didn't… Resent the kid, just the situation. She was a surprise, the result of a hookup Andrew had a year ago. Kevin cared too much about his public image to do anything of the sort. He thought Andrew was more careful than that, but now he was putting a hold on his career to raise this child.
Kevin wasn’t eager for the day the press clued onto Andrew having a family and possible romantic life to dig into.
Bad news: There was now a "Neil" hanging around.
Neil, who gave Kevin guarded looks and jittered whenever they were in the same proximity too long. Kevin strongly disliked him with his inconsistency and oddly specific excuses. He was the other parent, a trans man with an undisclosed history.
Kevin had a suspicion that he might be leeching off of Andrew. He wouldn't put it past someone wearing those clothes to baby-trap an athlete of Andrew’s worth and fame. It wasn’t unheard of. Kevin even had stalkers before.
He’d tried to needle Andrew about seeking proof of paternity, but he’d been warned to mind his own damn business.
Okay, maybe he overstepped, but Kevin just worried sometimes. They weren’t used to trusting outsiders, Andrew kept a tight grip on their group in university. No one was allowed in or out—not until graduation, where Nicky went back to Germany and Aaron cut Andrew off at the first opportunity.
Andrew protected him for years, the least he could do is scout out the lesser threats. But where it’d been Kevin and Andrew for years, it was now Kevin, Andrew and Neil.
And baby Josephine.
Josie for short.
Andrew was clearly decided on keeping her. And for what it was worth, she was a cute one. She favored both of them.
It took a couple of days to get used to visiting Andrew and seeing baby items strewn all over the place or hearing her on the phone. Andrew spoke to her and shared his thoughts like she had the ability to understand his words at merely two months old. He’d taken on the father role completely.
Today, Kevin had come to ask Andrew’s advice about some new plays he’d been working on. It was a toss up whether the blonde would actually give his two cents or ban the topic of exy completely. But he didn’t say anything when Kevin tuned the TV to a match in the meantime.
Partway through the game, Josie started crying.
Kevin shot a nervous glance at the baby rocker. He paused the TV.
"Andrew. She's crying."
His voice carried on from the kitchen, where he was preparing food. "My hands aren't free. I will get her in a second.”
A second stretched into a minute and then two. Kevin casted a glance down the hallway. Neil was in the guest room, napping not too far away. Andrew seemed to read his mind, sending him a pointed look over the kitchen island.
"Do not wake up Neil."
Right. Andrew was protective of him too. Apparently.
Kevin’s leg bounced, itching to either leave the room to relieve his ears or crank up the volume of the TV, but he wouldn’t dare. He’d just… Wait it out.
The baby’s face was becoming red. There was the sound of pots clacking, more cries then a sigh.
"Pick her up."
Kevin physically recoiled. "What?"
Andrew clicked his tongue.
"Kevin Day. Faced the horrors of Edgar Allan and rebounded from a career-ending injury, yet is afraid to hold a baby."
“I’m not afraid to hold a—” Kevin stopped, inhaling sharply and not rising to the bait. How stupid. He wasn’t afraid of babies, he was just… Scared to be around them… And unsure how to handle them.
What was he to do with a tiny human placed in his hands? What if she got hurt?
Andrew would maim him.
“Tick tock,” the blonde added, interrupting his thoughts.
Kevin tapped the TV remote against his restless knee before setting it on the coffee table. He stood up, making the short stride to the baby rocker. He hesitated before bending down, unbuckling her from the seat and picking her up by her underarms.
The crying came to a stop.
Josie was just sort of… Dangling. She was light. Kevin froze, unsure what to do next.
Andrew was unimpressed. "Are you holding a baby or a football?"
He huffed. "I don't know! I've never held a baby before, I don't know how they work."
Andrew shook his head. He went over to the sink, washing his hands and drying them on a towel before walking over. He corrected him, arranging his arms into more of a cradle.
"Support her head, idiot."
His words were harsh, but his touch was gentle. Kevin frowned but adjusted his hold to his liking. Andrew nodded, seeming to approve. He gave them one last onceover, expression unreadable, before he went back to the kitchen.
Kevin was incredibly tense, staring at the child with a mix of terror and apprehension. The infant just looked back at him with big eyes, some sort of blue. There was silence.
Then Josie sneezed, her pacifier falling out of her mouth.
Kevin's face softened. He cautiously adjusted his hold on her, picking up the paci clipped to her onesie and holding it up to her mouth until she took it. He slowly sat back down, holding the same position. He unpaused the game, continuing to cradle her.
She was calm.
Whenever he looked down, she was just watching him curiously with no signs of distress. His anxieties were put to rest and he relaxed. He toned down the usual commentary and rants he’d make during games, his volume at a low to avoid disturbing her.
He caught himself when he started to get too heated.
But come on, how did that moron fumble such an easy catch?
Later, Neil padded in with an impressive bedhead, rubbing his eyes before taking in the scene. He gave Kevin a strange look then wandered into the kitchen to speak to Andrew.
Then Neil came back over, steps slow but holding his hands out with clear intent. There was a fleeting moment where Kevin almost wanted to say no, but batted that thought away.
He handed her over.
Neil held Josie up, briefly smelling her before leaning back and grimacing.
"Oh, she needs a change."
“She was clean last I checked,” Andrew said dryly. “She must have timed it just for you.”
“How generous,” Neil replied with equal dryness, heading toward the nursery.
Kevin sat back, setting his attention back on the game but his arms feeling disappointingly empty.