Page 110

FIFTY-TWO

MILLIE

“This is a bad idea,” Daniel grumbles behind me as we step inside. “Can you at least not, like, hold hands?” he whines. “What if the press sees?”

Gavin, who’s now holding Vivi, turns around and holds his hand out to me, palm up. “We’re a very touchy family,” he teases.

I place my hand in his and link our fingers. “Could you at least try to be happy for me?” I ask Daniel.

“And there’s no press,” Gavin assures us. “I’m crazy about her , not plain crazy. I have no intention of letting this get out to the public before I talk to your dad tomorrow.”

“He’s like Dad’s age,” Daniel whisper-yells, still trailing us. He’s watching us with his lip curled on one side, like he smells something bad.

I ignore it. I get the reaction. The look he’s giving us is probably identical to the one I wore for the better part of two years around Lake and my father.

Out of nowhere, Daniel cracks up, causing us both to frown at him over our shoulders.

“What now?” I ask, pulling up short in the hallway.

“Can you imagine Paul’s reaction?” He slaps a hand over his mouth to muffle his loud laughter. “First, Dad steals his girlfriend, and now Dad’s best friend is sleeping with his sister.”

Gavin grins. “I’m sleeping with your sister too.”

Daniel drops his hand, and his grin morphs into a scowl. “Not cool, man. Not cool. If this is gonna be a thing?—”

Chuckling, Gavin pulls me in close and presses a kiss to my cheek. “How about you worry about hockey, and I’ll worry about keeping my girl happy?”

With a sigh, Daniel straightens and holds a hand out to Gavin. “You better be good to her. No more hiding her like she doesn’t deserve to be paraded around.”

Gavin releases me and shakes Daniel’s hand. “From here on out, everyone will know the two most important people in my life are right here.” He bounces Vivi in his left arm and juts his chin toward me.

Butterflies take flight, leaving me feeling light and slightly drunk. Is this what love feels like? I thought I knew before, but there’s something about living love out loud that makes the colors seem brighter. Makes my heart take flight. People say someone can steal your breath, but in this moment it feels like I’ve sucked in too much oxygen. I’m quite possibly delirious with how happy I am.

“Then we’re good.” Daniel nods once, and then he saunters into the arena, falling into his typical loud, boisterous persona as he high-fives everyone he sees.

Gavin turns his full attention to me. “That went okay.”

Rolling my eyes, I try to hold back a laugh. “He was the easy one. The Energizer Bunny in him wouldn’t let him stand still long enough to dig too deep into the details. His brain has already moved on to whomever he’s going to drive nuts next.”

Gavin’s loud laugh hits me right in the solar plexus.

“Ducking yes. Gavin is back!” Aiden pumps his fist as he wanders our way with a grinning Brooks and Sara beside him.

“If it isn’t the other Energizer Bunny,” Gavin says. His tone is dry, but his smile is fixed firmly in place.

“Hey, Vivi girl,” Sara coos to our sweet girl.

Like the little attention hog she is, Vivi makes grabby hands at Sara until Gavin hands her over.

When Brooks leans down and nuzzles noses with her, I swear I’m melting into a puddle of mush. What is with these Langfield men today?

“Is it finally out in the open? Can we tell everyone Princess Peaches is Millie and Millie is Princess Peaches?” Aiden asks, bouncing on his toes. “There’s a song by Jack Black I’ve been practicing while I’ve been waiting, anticipating, this moment right here.” “Aiden,” Sara says, giving him a pitying frown. “He’s singing to Princess Peach, not Princess Peaches.”

Aiden shrinks before my eyes, hurt flashing across his face, but Brooks saves the day. “Come on, crazy girl, we all know Aiden changes the lyrics. Let him have his moment.”

Aiden brightens again. “So, can I? Is it? Are we?”

Beside me, Gavin frowns. “What the hell are you talking about?”

“Does everyone finally know that you’re together?” He steps closer and lowers his voice. “Keeping this secret since I saw you on the beach in Aruba has been killing me.”

“Since Aruba?” Brooks’s shocked laugh echoes through the empty space.

“Vivi and I are going to take a walk. She doesn’t need to know about what her daddy was doing in Aruba.” Sara winks at me and disappears.

“Tell me he doesn’t mean the time we were in Aruba for Lake and Ford’s wedding.” Brooks’s expression is even, but he’s a big guy—bigger than his brothers—so even though he’s a complete softie, he looks slightly menacing at all times.

Gavin pulls me in close and presses a kiss to my neck.

“What are you doing?” I hiss.

Gavin clings to me. “Yes. Aruba. I’m talking to Ford tomorrow. I’d like to enjoy what might be my last day on earth with my girl and my daughter. Get all your questions out of the way now so Millie and I can skate.”

Aiden’s grin is so bright it hurts to look at, his eyes bouncing between Gavin and me. “I really love this for you. Ford will be fine. You got this, big bro.”

I smile, even if I don’t quite believe the sentiment. It’s nice to know at least one person is for us, and it’s nice to be out in the open with the man I’ve fallen for. Aiden isn’t gaping at us like we’re a circus show, and he isn’t questioning why his brother would want to be with me. Not thinking that I must have seduced him.

I kind of did—but I know his feelings are real too. He wouldn’t risk his reputation and his friendship with my dad if they weren’t. This is more than lust and more than a mid-life crisis. I’m enough. Just me.

That’s what I hold on to as we go in search of Vivi. As we step onto the ice and everyone stares, I take a deep breath and remind myself that their opinions don’t matter. This man has fallen for me. We’re happy.

Vivi is strapped into the carrier on his chest, facing out so she can enjoy the view. Gavin has our fingers twined as he guides us around the ice, a big smile on his face.

Aiden and War skate backward in front of us. War makes silly faces and gently taps Vivi’s nose and feet while Aiden sings his newest tune about Princess Peaches and her no-longer-growly king.

Daniel eventually joins in. Like I said, the kid can’t keep from jumping into the fray. His smiles are genuine as he teases Vivi and the guys. He’s the best brother, and as long as I’m happy, he is too. That’s how it’s always been.

“You doing okay?” Gavin asks as we take another trip around the rink.

“Yeah,” I sigh, giving him a warm smile. “I just wish I could skate backward so I could watch Vivi’s reaction to this.”

Gavin lifts my hand to his lips and presses a soft kiss to my knuckles. Then he lets go and spins so he’s skating backward.

Vivi breaks into a gummy smile, her rosy cheeks lifting, when she sees me.

“Show off,” I tease. “Hey, bestie. You having a good time?”

She squeals and kicks her feet. “Duck!”

A laugh bubbles out of me. It’s so violent I stumble. For a second, I’m sure I’m going down, but then a warm hand grasps my elbow, keeping me steady. I turn to say thank you and am met by the steely blues of Camden Snow.

“You okay?”

“Yeah, thanks,” I say, bringing a hand to my racing heart. I quickly peer at Gavin to gauge his reaction.

The smile Gavin has worn all day has been replaced by a scowl. I give him a small nod, silently signaling that I’m fine and he has nothing to be upset about.

“So you and Coach?” Camden asks slowly, his hand still on my arm.

I grab hold of the ledge, coming to a stop. Gavin continues and does some fancy footwork, which results in ice flying up toward Aiden.

“Someone call a penalty,” Aiden shouts. “He just iced me!”

Camden laughs and shakes his head as he stops beside me, waiting for me to reply.

“Um, yeah,” I say, lowering my head. “I’m sorry if you thought?—”

He shakes his head. “Hoped. You didn’t give me any reason to think there could be more. It’s okay.” He smiles, his dimple popping. “He’s a lucky guy.”

“Thank you.” I grasp his arm and press a kiss to his cheek. “You’re a good guy, Camden.”

At the sound of a throat clearing, I pull back and smile at my very jealous and possessive boyfriend. I’m not even going to lie and say I don’t like it. In fact, I love that he can be openly jealous and possessive now.

With a hand on my hip, he glares at his player. “Say goodbye, Camden.”

In the true good-guy fashion, Camden smiles, looks his coach dead in the eye, and says, “Be good to her.”

Gavin seems to respect the response and nods.

Once Camden skates off, I turn my attention back to my two favorite people. “Your daddy is ridiculous,” I tell Vivi, rubbing my hands against her cold cheeks. “Think it’s time to get this little lady home and warmed up.”

Angling closer, Gavin presses a kiss to my lips. “I can think of a few ways I would like to warm up Vivi’s nanny.”

I pinch his side. “Stop calling me that or that’s all I’ll be, Mr. Langfield .”

Gavin gives me his cheekiest smile. “But your brother told me there’s a whole thing about single dads and nannies.”

Eyes narrowed, I cross my arms over my chest. “You wanna be a single dad?”

With a chuckle, he kisses me again. “Not a chance,” he says against my lips. “Completely taken with one woman and one woman only.”

I smile against his lips and hum contentedly, closing my eyes. “Better be. Come on, Hockey Daddy. Take me home.”