Page 26

When we step back into the bedroom, both Avery and Nessa are already gone.

I pick Tilly up and head down to the kitchen to start on breakfast. They’re slowly starting to eat more fruits and vegetables, but since it’s Sunday, I’ll treat them to pancakes and scrambled eggs with some chopped strawberries and blueberries on the side.

Hopefully Mackenzie will join us. Her bruises and scratches are fading, but her stitches look like they’re ready to be removed. Hopefully Marie brings some sort of medical kit with her. I have no idea if what she’s doing today is legal or not, but I’m thankful for her.

I get the girls situated at the island and head down the hall to Mackenzie’s room and try to listen to see if she’s awake. I knock on the door and peek my head in, seeing her bed is made and I hear the water running in the bathroom. That’s a good sign.

I slip back out and sit down to eat, listening to Avery and Nessa talk animatedly about what they want to do over winter break.

“Don’t your grandparents come to town around then?”

Avery nods. “Yep! We usually go ice skating, walk around the zoo, and go to the movies with them. They don’t stay for very long.”

I hum and finish off my eggs before moving on to my pancakes. “Why don’t you and Nessa write down a list of what you want to do over your break. You get three weeks off, so that’s plenty of time to do something fun.”

They both nod and talk excitedly together as they come up with a game plan.

Nessa can’t write very well, but she loves to scribble all over the papers and white board in the playroom when I do ‘school’ with her.

Slowly but surely she’s getting there. Tilly just paints and colors before she runs around while I work with Nessa.

I’m not worried about her, when she’s three I’ll start working with her more.

Mackenzie joins us and I smile at her and look her over. Her hair is wet and braided down her back. Her green eyes are looking a little brighter, but still dull and I can see, feel, the fear still radiating from her. Her shoulders and back are tense and she’s still wearing massive, baggy clothing.

I feel for her so much.

She sits down beside Tilly and smiles at her. “Hello girls,” she whispers and the girls try to pull her into a conversation. I stand up and open up the oven, pulling out her plate that I left in there to warm.

I slide it over to her and work on making her a cup of coffee, well, mostly cream and sugar with a touch of coffee. The same way that Morgan drinks his.

She smiles at me when I hand that over, busying myself with collecting the dirty plates and cleaning Tilly up before I start the dishes.

Mackenzie takes a few bites before clearing her throat. “What time will Marie be over?”

I shrug and glance up at her. “I’ll text Morgan, maybe sometime around noon?”

She closes her eyes and nods before eating a few more bites and she frowns at her plate. “Sorry… I’m not that hungry. I’m going to go lay down.”

She waves to the girls and scurries out of the room. I chew on my lip as I scrape her plate in the trash and wash up the kitchen.

I wink at Avery when she picks up Tilly from her high chair and they go racing down the hall towards the playroom.

It’s only eight AM so we have some time to relax before needing to get ready for Marie to show up. I head to my bedroom to grab my phone and sigh when there’s nothing from Morgan. Ever since he found out about Brittany being in rehab, he’s been distant.

I know that he doesn’t love her, and doesn't want to be with her. But that was before she was getting help. Would their relationship have worked out if she went to therapy or this sort of facility before? Would they have had more kids?

I sigh as I wrap my fingers around my phone, holding it in my fist as I step out of my bedroom and stride down the hall towards the playroom.

I hear the girls squealing and laughing.

I lean against the wall as I watch Tilly throw balls out of the ball pit, while Avery and Nessa are up in the jungle gym, messing on the monkey bars, making it over to the slide.

I unlock my phone and start a message to Morgan, hoping he’ll see it before they get on the jet to make it back home. I almost missed watching their game against the Florida Gators last night. I was so exhausted and was nodding off in Tilly and Nessa’s room while I was rocking them.

Mackenzie didn’t venture out of her room to watch it with me, but it was a fantastic game.

Logan and James had one goal each, with Morgan getting two in the last period.

They won 4-1. I’m sure they had a blast celebrating last night…

I’m not a jealous person or anything, but every other time he’s been traveling with the team, he was texting me and calling me all the time.

I chew on my lip as I type and delete a text several times before settling on telling him we miss him and can’t wait to see him when he gets home.

I don’t think he’s ever been one to succumb to the puck bunnies, but he’s also a freshly single man. A very hot, muscled, mature man.

We never talked about what’s going on between us, aside from him telling me he wants me and wanted to wait to do anything with me until his divorce was final.

We had sex, hot, amazing, sex in the backyard, and nothing since, except for some heavy flirting and light touches. It’s hard because the girls sleep in my bed at night and Mackenzie is here.

But my worries keep dragging me back to worrying about him wanting Brittany when she’s better. Or someone else. Someone tall, beautiful, and whole. Able to have more kids. I don’t think I’m a plaything or anything of the sort, he’s never treated me as such.

But, fuck, I just want him to talk to me.

My phone vibrates in my hand and I snap my eyes down to it, my heart beating so fast that it feels like it’s going to explode out of my chest.

Morgan: Tell the girls I miss them too. I can’t wait to see all of my girls… and drag you into my room tonight once they’re in bed… We need to talk. Maybe after a few rounds.

I frown as I read through the message. Obviously we won’t be talking about anything bad since he said that, right?

What do we need to talk about?

Me: Mmm. I’ll let them know. Any requests for dinner tonight? Can’t wait to actually see your bedroom…

I snicker quietly and glance up at the destroyed playroom. “All right, girls. Go ahead and start cleaning up. Marie is coming over soon and she’s bringing the babies. Do you think we should go to the park? Or play here?”

Nessa slides down the slide and races over to me. “Oh! The park! They have baby swings and we can help push the babies!”

I wink at her and walk over to Tilly and help toss the balls back in the pit. “Your daddy says he misses you girls and he will be home today. Are you excited to see him?”

Avery nods and helps pick up the stuffed animals over by the TV and bean bag chairs. “Yeah! Are we going to do anything tonight?”

I shrug and stand, pulling my hair out of the high, messy bun it’s in to run my fingers through it. “What do you have in mind? He might be too tired to want to go out. But maybe I can cook dinner, we can go on a walk… then you can pick out a movie?”

Nessa and Avery smile and nod at that, then I herd them down to their bedrooms so they can shower and get ready for the day. After baths and getting dressed, I help them do their hair, then we make beds and I get ready to make snacks for the day.

I have no idea how old the babies are, so I don’t make anything for them. But I do start to make up lunches for the park.

My phone vibrates and I smile as I look down at it.

Morgan: You.

I shake my head and reply back to him, hopefully tonight helps fix my anxieties. Maybe we do really need to talk. But sex first, that sounds like a solid plan.

Morgan: By the way, Marie is on her way over. We’re getting on the jet now, see you in a few hours.

I bite on my lip as I put my phone away and let out a slow breath. Maybe everything will really be okay.