Page 24

24

ANDI

Ford and I take turns with Tilly, although others at the party want to hold her and play with her, which is a nice break, too.

We eat, drink, and play games.

And laugh a lot.

I like these people.

Mabel is a hoot, and the guys are so down to earth for professional athletes.

I’m having fun.

Seeing Ford with his “hockey family” makes something flutter in my chest.

I can’t stop watching him, seeing how easy he is with them, and how much they respect him.

Although you’d never know it from the chirping.

“Why are you wearing a mullet?” Eddy asks him.

Ford looks at him in horror.

“This is not a mullet.”

“Yes, it is.”

Ford runs a hand through his hair.

“This is the finest lettuce in the Metropolitan Division.”

“You still losing hair?” Crusher asks.

“I’m not losing hair.”

“You ever thought of going Mark Messier?” Eddy regards him thoughtfully.

“I mean, if you’re worried about losing hair you might as well shave it all off.”

“No, but I could rock that look. My head is perfectly shaped.”

This is apparently part of hockey.

But underneath the put-downs and friendly insults, there’s a strong sense of trust and affection among all of them.

The next Friday morning, around eleven o’clock, I’ve just finished my morning meeting.

I sit back in my chair.

What’s in store for me tonight?

Ford asked me earlier this week to keep Friday night open.

But why?

I have nothing planned, so it’s not a problem, but it makes me curious.

Then he and Tilly show up at my door.

My hair’s in a messy bun with a pen stuck in it, I’m wearing old yoga pants and a sweatshirt…

but they’ve seen me looking worse.

“Come in. What’s up?”

He strolls in with the baby.

She reaches out to me.

“Bama!”

Oh, no.

Is she saying mama?

Oh, God.

My heart.

I take her from him, because she’s happy to see me and I’m happy to see her and I want to squeeze her chubby little body.

“Hi, baby.” I give her smacking kisses all over her face and she laughs.

I look back at Ford, pretending that never happened.

“Hi.”

“Hi.” He smiles at both of us.

“Tonight. We’re going out.”

“Oh.” I blink and carry Tilly into my living room.

“Where?”

“That’s a surprise.”

I squint at him.

“Okay. Like… are we having dinner?”

“Yes.”

“A child-friendly place,” I say, nodding.

“No. Definitely not child friendly.”

I tilt my head.

“But… Tilly…”

“She’s not coming with us.”

My eyes widen.

“I’ve got a babysitter lined up,” he continues.

He moves closer to me.

“And we are going on a date.”

I blink a few times.

“A… date?”

“Yeah.” Now his confidence seems to falter, his eyebrows lowering a bit.

“Andi, will you go out with me tonight?”

I gaze back at him.

We’ve never gone on a date.

Our relationship isn’t like that.

My heart is pumping at an uncomfortable speed.

What does this mean?

“I…”

He waits, his eyes flickering.

“I’m not hesitating because I don’t want to,” I say.

“I’m just not sure why…”

His beautiful mouth softens and he tucks a piece of hair that’s hanging in my face behind my ear with gentle familiarity.

“I want to take you on a date. I want to have alone, adult time with you.”

I smirk.

“We have that all the time.” Although even in bed, when Tilly’s asleep, we’re not really alone.

He laughs.

“Okay, true. And it’s hot as fuck.”

“Ack! Language!”

“Right, right. Anyway. I want to go out with you. I want to wine you and dine you. And then sixty-nine you.”

“Noooo.” I start laughing.

“Sorry, I couldn’t help it. I want this to be a romantic date.”

Still choked up with laughter, I say, “Offering a sixty-nine is romantic?”

He collapses into laughter, too.

“Sure, why not.”

“But… why?”

“Because I love eating your pussy.”

“Ford! Why are we going on a date?”

He’s obviously using his dirty flirting to keep things light.

But I push him.

“Because…” He takes a breath.

“I like you. I like being with you, and not just in bed. I like talking to you and laughing with you.”

My heart is now a ball of gooey goo.

I swallow.

We eye each other for a long moment.

I want to analyze the shit out of this so I know what’s happening, but right now I see the warmth in his eyes and the affectionate curve of his mouth, and…

I want to go on a date with him.

“Okay. I’ll go out with you.”

“Great.”

“Who’s babysitting? Lieve?”

“No. Mabel and Benny.”

“What?”

“She offered, actually. At the party last week, she said we need some alone time. And I thought about it and… she’s right.” He strokes my cheek with his fingertips.

I resist the urge to close my eyes and melt into him.

“I’m going over there now to drop her off.”

I pull in a slow, steadying breath.

I knew people would get the wrong idea about us.

But I don’t say it.

“That’s so nice of her.”

“Yeah.” He pauses.

“It really is. So we’ll be staying overnight. Pack a bag.”

“Ooooh, really?”

“And bring something nice to wear for dinner.”

I look down at my faded, stretched-out shirt and grin.

“Okay.”

I zip to my closet after he leaves.

I guess I don’t need a new dress, since I have those three I bought with Elodie before the awards dinner.

I’ve never even worn the blue one.

But what I’d really like?

Some sexy lingerie.

I hold a quick debate with myself about whether I should reschedule a meeting this afternoon to go shopping.

That’s not exactly responsible.

But what the hell!

I’m my own boss, there have to be some benefits to it.

I head into Manhattan.

There’s a little place in Chelsea I shopped at years ago called Blush.

They had beautiful things.

And I can afford to splurge now.

Everything in the city is decorated for Christmas, which makes me realize neither Ford nor I have a Christmas tree and I haven’t done any Christmas shopping, other than the gifts I ordered online and shipped to my parents in Springfield.

But first I’m going to take care of myself.

I browse leisurely through the shop, stroking silk and lace, admiring colors, picking up a few items to study them.

There’s a whole holiday-themed display with red items.

Ford’s favorite color.

Yes.

It will be red.

I look at a bustier trimmed with white fur.

That might be a bit much.

I try on a few things.

I end up buying a bias-cut silk slip in a luminous red, edged with French lace, and a matching thong panty.

My belly flutters with excitement as I survey my image in the mirror.

Will he like it?

I like it.

So I’m buying it.

And since I’m here, I also purchase a silk robe in a delicate shade of blush pink that Elodie will love.

Out on the sidewalk, snowflakes are falling—soft, lazy ones.

I smile and stroll up the street.

I pause outside a children’s bookstore, then step inside.

I’m overwhelmed by the selection, but a sales associate directs me to the section for infants and toddlers.

Kids need books!

Tilly needs books.

I could go crazy here, but I limit my purchase to four cute picture books, including My First Book of Sharks .

I grin.

Ford will love reading that to her.

And I should buy something for Ford.

Oh, sure, I’m going to buy the rich hockey player something he can’t buy himself.

Oh, wait.

I saw something in one of the books at the store…

I’ll check into that later, at home.

There’s a toy store right around the corner, and I can’t resist going in.

I want to buy everything for Tilly!

I end up with a teething toy—she’ll need it soon!

—the cutest little soft unicorn booties with rattles, and some soft blocks.

I pause in front of a display of books called The Story of You.

I love that idea, but Ford can’t fill in any information from Tilly’s first four months.

That makes me sad.

But I’m happy with the things I got.

Time to head home.

I need to do some serious waxing to prep for my big date tonight.