Page 18 of One Good Puck (Denver Bashers #5)

Abby

I glance around the kitchen. It looks like a tornado hit it.

The sink is full of dirty dishes, there’s flour all over the counter, and the stove is covered in crumbs and bits of food. So is the floor. I glance over to the dining table, where Emma’s backpack is, along with a half-dozen papers scattered around it.

I let out a heavy sigh, totally exhausted. Right now, the last thing I want to do is clean up the kitchen after the day I’ve had.

I had a faculty meeting after school that went long, so Emma and I were late getting home.

She needed extra help on her science assignment, which made her homework take an hour longer than it normally does.

And then she didn’t mention until right before her bedtime that she needed to make cookies for her class’s bake sale tomorrow.

I was going to just bake them by myself and send her to bed, but Emma insisted on helping and wanted to do as much of the baking herself as possible, which is why the kitchen is a disaster .

After spending the last hour baking cookies, I finally got her off to bed.

I let out a tired, defeated laugh. Mom life really kicks your ass sometimes.

I grab my phone out of my jeans pocket, pull up a playlist, and listen to music while I get started on the dishes.

As much as I’m dying to crawl into bed, Gavin is due back late tonight, and I don’t want him coming home to this mess.

He’s letting us stay here for free, and the least we could do is clean up after ourselves.

Once the dishwasher is loaded, I put away the cookies that have been cooling on the counter and start wiping down the counter.

My phone on the counter buzzes with a text from Dakota.

Dakota: Hey! Feel like grabbing a glass of wine with Sophie and me?

I toss aside the washcloth and text her back.

Me: Wish I could, but I won’t have time to get a sitter. Emma just went to bed.

Dakota: That’s perfect! We can pick up a bottle and come to you.

Me: You wouldn’t mind coming over here to hang out?

Dakota: Not at all! We were hoping for a quiet night in.

Me: That would be amazing!! I have to warn you though, the kitchen is a mess.

Dakota: You know I don’t care about the state of your kitchen. You’ve seen my classroom at the end of most days lol

Me: Good point haha

Dakota: On our way!

Twenty minutes later, Dakota and Sophie arrive with a bottle of Sauvignon Blanc. I hug them when I let them in, and we head to the kitchen.

“Thanks so much for coming over,” I say as I uncork the bottle and pour the wine into glasses. Sophie doesn’t drink alcohol very often, so I pour a citrus sparkling water into her glass.

“A glass of wine is just what I needed tonight,” I say.

“Long day?” Sophie asks.

I nod and take a sip of wine. The three of us head to the couch, and we chat about our days.

“You’re super mom, Abby,” Sophie says when I finish telling them about what happened. I wave a hand, but she shakes her head.

“I mean it. I can’t believe all that you do every single day. And you do it as a single parent. You’re amazing.”

I try to smile. “I don’t always feel amazing.”

“You should,” Dakota says.

Sophie nods.

“Some days it feels like I’m failing to accomplish a million different things as a mom and a teacher. And as a human being in general,” I say. “Most of the time, I don’t get half the stuff done that I need to.”

Sophie reaches over and grabs my hand. “You get the important stuff done, Abby. The stuff that counts.”

“Yeah. Your daughter is happy and safe and loved,” Dakota says. “Every day you show up to work and do a great job teaching your students, who adore you. That’s all that matters.”

This time when I smile, I don’t have to force it.

Dakota and I have been work friends for the past three years, pretty much ever since she started working at the school.

Through her, I’ve met and hung out with Sophie, who I’ve gotten to know better these past few months.

They’re both wonderful people. So kind and supportive and hardworking.

It means so much to know that they think I’m a good person, a good teacher, and a good mom.

“Thanks, you guys. That was the pep talk I needed,” I say. They both beam at me and raise their glasses.

“To Abby for being an all-around badass,” Dakota says. I laugh.

“To Abby!” Sophie says with a smile.

I’m still laughing as I click my glass against theirs.

“So how’s wedding planning going?” I ask them.

“Stressful but fun,” Sophie says.

“Same,” Dakota says. “Finding a venue took a while, but now that that’s done, everything else feels easy.”

“Yeah, I felt the same way,” Sophie says. “I still can’t believe we’re getting married at a winery.” She chuckles. “Me, the girl who hates alcohol, am getting married at a vineyard.”

Dakota nudges her playfully. “We know the only reason you and Xander booked that place was because the views are breathtaking.”

“Pretty much.” Sophie chuckles. “I can’t wait for your wedding in the mountains,” she says to Dakota.

Dakota flashes a blissful smile. “ Me neither.”

“Have you two gone dress shopping yet?”

They both shake their heads. “When we do, you should come,” Dakota says.

“Yeah, I wanna make it a fun girls’ day,” Sophie says.

I smile, heartened that they want to include me. They start chatting about dress codes and cake tasting and seating arrangements.

“I probably need to go dress shopping too,” I say. “I haven’t been to a wedding in ages.”

“When’s the last time?” Sophie asks.

“Before I got pregnant with Abby. The dress I wore to that wedding is wildly out of style now. No way could I wear it to either of your weddings.”

Dakota laughs. “Okay, we need to see this dress.”

I chuckle, feeling a pleasant buzz from the wine. I hop up from the couch and run up to my bedroom, grab the dress from the back of my closet, and run back down.

When I hold it up for Dakota and Sophie to see, they both gasp at the rose gold bodycon bandage dress.

“Oh my gosh! I wore a dress that was just like that to my high school homecoming dance, except mine was hot pink,” Dakota says. Sophie laughs.

I laugh and shake my head. “I was probably twenty-three when I wore this and solidly in my tight little dress phase.”

“You should try it on!” Dakota says.

“Oh, I don’t think it’ll fit right. My boobs are a little bigger now from breastfeeding Emma as a baby.”

“Come on, try it on, Abby! Let’s get you feeling sexy again!” Sophie says.

Laughing, I shake my head. “Fine.”

I head to the hallway bathroom and do a quick change. I look at my reflection in the mirror, pleasantly surprised at how well it still fits, except in the chest area. I’m practically spilling out of it.

When I walk back out into the living room, I hold my hands over my chest. “Just wait till you see how low-cut this dress is. And how it barely covers my butt.” I shake my head at myself. “How did I ever have the confidence to pull this off?”

When I pull away my hands, Dakota gasps.

“You’re on the verge of a nip slip,” Sophie says.

I giggle. “Told you.”

“You look hot,” Dakota says.

“Oh, definitely,” Sophie says. “You could absolutely pull off wearing that dress now if you wanted.”

I smile at my sweet and supportive friends. They’re probably just being nice. “This is the dress a hot twenty-something wears. Not a thirty-two-year-old mom.”

Dakota tilts her head at me. “Hotness has no age limits. You’re a hottie, Abby, and you are rocking that dress right now.”

Sophie nods. “No question.”

I’m heading toward the bathroom so I can change back into my normal clothes when the front door swings open, almost hitting me as I walk by.

I step out of the way and bump right into Gavin’s chest as he steps inside.

He drops his suitcase and grabs my waist, steadying me.

“Whoa…” he murmurs as he looks at me. “You okay?”

“Yeah.” I let out a breathy chuckle.

His gaze floats from my face down my neck, landing at my chest. His blue eyes are wide. A second later, they glaze over.

He clears his throat. “You look…nice. ”

Behind me, Dakota and Sophie chuckle.

“Real smooth, Dad.”

I bite back a smile, feeling a boost of confidence. Because judging from the way Gavin is looking at me, I guess I do look hot.