Page 23

Chapter 22

Taylor

I sigh as I spin the silver bracelet belonging to my stubborn, hardheaded, beautiful girl. I eye the extra charms lacing it, which sum up the kind of person she is.

A cradle for our son, a heart with ‘Mom’ in the middle because she’s an amazing mother, a dark blue heart gem to indicate our sons and my eyes, and a caduceus to represent that she’s a nurse.

I also added a sun because the room lights up when she’s around.

Since sleeping with Pen, we’ve been closer, but she hasn’t given in yet. I can still feel that wall up. It’s been a week, I’ll sleep in bed next to her, holding her all night long while our son sleeps, but there’s still that part of her keeping me out. I don’t know how to break that bit of wall down without her opening up to her father.

She won’t come to my games, won’t meet my family as the mother of my child and the girl I’m in love with instead preferring to be known as the nurse who looked after Kaylah. Heck she won’t even see my little niece yet because, apparently, she doesn’t want her to get the wrong idea about us when there isn’t a wrong idea.

I’m hers, and she’s mine, and have been since that night at Bulls.

I gently rub the heart charm, hating that I have to leave soon. This means I won’t see Pen or Hudson because they both will most likely be asleep by the time I’m done with the press, whether we win or lose.

We’re playing the New England Eagles tonight, which will determine whether we’ll make it back into the semi-finals. If we lose, we don’t get another chance of playing, and I really want my girl and son there. That would mean she’ll need to meet my parents, and so far, she’s pushed back against it, and I know it’s because that last wall is still up.

My phone rings, and I pick it up and without looking at the screen, I answer, “Yeah?” Keeping my eyes on the bracelet.

I wonder if she’ll finally let me in when she realizes I kept the bracelet after all this time.

“Well, hello to you too, little brother,” Dylan says, and I snort.

“Shouldn’t you be doing press right about now after winning?” I ask.

“Well, actually, little brother, I managed to convince my coach to let me off interviews so I could get to the arena and watch you kick some ass, though Xanthe will be with me. I didn’t know she was at the game, and I walked out to see her flirting with some reporter, so I can imagine that’ll be in the press tomorrow,” he says.

I sigh, “The woman needs to fucking check herself. Doesn’t she realize you’re ready to divorce her?”

He chuckles darkly and admits, “Despite what our mom, dad, or even Hannah believes, I was ready to divorce her as soon as the doctors confirmed she was never pregnant. She tried to fake a miscarriage, brother.”

My lips part in shock, and I stutter, “Then why did you stay? I mean, why not kick her to the fucking curb?”

“One, because I didn’t make her sign a prenup until after we married, and that only stated she gets fuck all if she’s caught cheating no matter how long we’re married or otherwise, she gets half of everything, and two, bad fucking press. You know this, Tay, I can’t have that for my team.”

“Fuck’s sake Dylan,” I mutter, and he huffs.

“I know,” he admits, “besides, after a few months, we clicked, the sex was good and well easy, a part of me was hoping I’d fall in love with her.”

“You just couldn’t get past the lies, huh,” I ask.

“That and every guy with a status that comes close to her, she’s tried to get their attention, just never crossed that line in eyesight. The woman is fucking high maintenance and a menace. There isn’t even friendship between us, but hopefully, this private detective has something. Then, I can finally be free because honestly, Tay, I feel fucking trapped,” he admits, and I sigh.

“I’m sorry, Dyl,” I say, unsure what else to say.

The idiot managed to get himself trapped, but he thought he was doing the right thing after witnessing Kaylah’s biological father walk away without so much as looking back.

“Maybe it’s a good thing Pen isn’t coming tonight, then, huh?” I confirm sadly, still bummed she won’t try.

“Fuck, did she say no?” he asks, and I hum. “Sorry, Taylor. Maybe she’ll change her mind at the last minute.”

I check the time and state, “I need to leave in ten minutes, Dylan.”

He repeats, “I’m sorry,” and I shrug even though he can’t see me and twirl the bracelet in my hand. “Alright, I’ll let you get ready, and I’ll see you after the game where hopefully Xanthe is on her best fucking behavior.”

I chuckle as he hangs up, then chuck my phone on the couch and play with the metal again.

I fucking wish she’d show up, that she’ll surprise me, but she isn’t ready.

As I think about it, the door to my private elevator dings and I frown and look towards it.

Now why wouldn’t reception ring inform me I have a fucking guest, especially right before a game? They know I don’t want to be disturbed.

My mouth parts in shock as I lock eyes with the dark green ones I’ve fallen in love with while our son coos from inside his car seat. I take her in wearing a Red Lions jersey with my number on the front, and my heart pounds and hope begins to build.

Please, please, please.

Her eyes tear up as she whispers, “Hey,” while Hudson squeals in delight, most likely finding his feet again before she says the words I was hoping she’d say, “I was wondering if you had room for two more in your car?”

Fuck me, she’s giving in.

“You spoke to your dad?” I confirm, and a few tears fall down her cheeks.

She admits, “I did,” and everything inside me softens. I feel the wall she had put up slowly falling, and without a word, I jump up from the couch and stride towards her.

She gently places Hudson’s seat on the floor just before I reach her and I cup the back of her neck and slam my lips against hers. She melts into me and everything in my world feels right.

Her tongue pushes into my mouth, making me smile before I tangle mine with hers and deepen the kiss as I wrap my other arm around her waist and hold her close to me.

Hudson squeals again, making us both grin as we break the kiss and I gently move my nose against hers and whisper, “Thank you.”

Her eyes sparkle with tears, and she admits, “It won’t be easy. I’m very hardheaded.” I grin, making her playfully push my stomach, and then she says, “But I’m willing to try if you are.”

I chuckle and admit, “Firecracker, I’ve been trying from the moment we met,” and she grins before pushing up on her tiptoes and kisses my lips really quick, too quick for my liking, then pulls back but chuckles at my pout and states, “Don’t you have a match to win?”

I chuckle and shake my head, then state, “Baby, matches are soccer, Games are hockey.”

She makes a face then winces, “Oops,” and I grin wide before Hudson squeals again.

Shaking my head, I bend down and twist the car seat before locking eyes with deep blue ones like my own. My grin widens as Hudson’s face lights up seeing me.

“How’s daddy’s favorite boy doing, huh?” I ask as I gently squeeze his feet, and he babbles back to me, making me laugh.

“He’s going to miss you next week, even one day without you, he struggles,” Pen says, and I look up at her, smiling.

“If we win tonight, the next away game, you are scheduled to attend Firecracker. I want you both there, and I know you aren’t on shift so this time there is no getting out of it, baby,” I tell her. Her eyes race between mine before she nods, not refusing, and the worry I’ve been holding onto, the fear that she’ll choose not to try with me, disappears. I look back at our son and say, “Right, buddy, daddy just has to get his things then we’ll go.”

I look over her features as she smiles at me, but she furrows her brows when I don’t walk away. My stomach tightens at how much love I carry for this woman, and with my heart in my throat, I grab her left hand, confusing her. Gently, I wrap the bracelet around her wrist and clip it on then let go of her wrist as she looks down and gasps, recognizing it before looking at me in shock.

“Like I said, I’ve been trying since the day we met,” I murmur then gently kiss her lips before I walk away to grab my shit.

After tonight’s game, win or lose, she and Hudson are coming back home with me, where they belong.

“Hey, have you changed something in your apartment?” I hear Pen ask, and I grin wider.

She has no idea what is about to hit her.