Page 95

“Cum and cupcakes?” She giggles. “No one says cum and cupcakes.”
“You just did twice, and you laughed. Now answer my question.”
“But now I want cupcakes.” She pouts.
“I’ll bring you cupcakes.”
“And cum?”
“Straight from the source.” She’s been gone for only a few days, and my balls already ache. My dick wants nothing to do with my hand. “Now, answer me.”
“I think we need time together, but that won’t happen with your job and living on separate coasts.”
Twenty-two,I remind myself, resisting the urge to throw my phone across the room. “Did I not say that before?”
“But now you want me to live here.”
“Only until I figure out shit with Kyle.”
I’m trying to protect Jax as well. If I can keep him away from his asshole father, it might prevent him from doing something stupid. He may not enjoy the winter weather, but he came back from New York happier than I’d ever seen him. Isolation with Aurora will do him good.
“How long is that going to take?”
I don’t know, but I’m not telling her that. In her anxious brain, that could mean forever.
“Do I need to stalk you and break into your apartment for you to understand I’m crazy about you? We’re not broken up. I meant everything I said. Now, if this isn’t working when my contract ends, I’ll figure something else out. Better?”
“No. You love your job.”
“I also love you.” It comes out of my mouth with no hesitation. “I have eighty-two games a season, and half are away. I have a stretch where I’m on the road for twelve days. Believe me, I’ve thought about how difficult this will be.”
“You know I can’t stay home, right? Not unless you want your life to be absolute hell for those twelve days.”
“Oh, I’m banking on it.” I’m banking on Jax forcing her to travel, and she’ll do it because he needs her, and I need him.
I also need her. I’m just not at Jackson’s level of dysfunction.Yet.
“What about when I can’t travel because I’m too pregnant? The last I checked, you’re away the entire week of my due date.”
“That’ll suck. Jax will go batshit crazy. We can ask the doctor about scheduling the delivery if you’d like. A couple of my players have done it.”
“This is a lot of work, Blackwood. I can’t believe you decided to use an expired condom, and now we have to schedule a baby in between hockey games.”
Laughter erupts from deep within my chest. “Worth it. Best mistake of my life.”
“Seriously, though, when will you be here?” There’s that pout again.
“This weekend, love.”
“And I’ll have you all weekend?”
Jesus fucking Christ, my cheeks hurt from smiling. “I’m yours all weekend.”
47
JACKSON
Unlike the Tribeca apartment,this place is quiet, too high to hear the city or be blinded by the lights. I awake rested, with the most beautiful girl in my arms, who’s currently sitting against the headboard, staring down at me with a bright smile.