Page 88

THIRTY-TWO

MILLIE

As much as I’ve always loved Gavin’s penthouse, I couldn’t be happier that he’s moved since the last time I saw him. The fact that his new apartment is only a couple of floors away from my brother may be my only saving grace in this situation. At least I’ll have somewhere to sneak off to when Gavin lashes out.

A weaker woman would be sad right now. Maybe even angry.

But I’ve decided to ignore this Gavin. This Gavin is overwhelmed and slightly unhinged.

But my Gavin is somewhere beneath the prickly exterior. He’s been trapped, and I’m determined to set him free.

Is my plan slightly delusional? Possibly. But honestly, it’s better than letting his words get to me. What we had was real and so, so good. I fucked it up, but I refuse to believe I can’t fix what I broke. I’ll start by being here for him in every way I can be. I’ll put him and Vivi first. Already, despite his cold demeanor, it’s easy to do, because I haven’t felt this at home in months.

“Leave it,” Gavin says as I reach for my bags. He’s already got Vivi. He’s always got her. It’s clear to me after less than forty- eight hours that he’s most comfortable when she’s in his arms. “I’ll send the guys down to grab everything.”

“Little abuse of power, Coach?”

His responding growl starts low in his chest and works its way up to his throat. Before I have a chance to tease him about it, he’s striding away. I scurry after him, and when we reach the elevator, he steps to the side, silently urging me in first. His jaw is rigid as he follows me in and hits the button for the fourteenth floor.

“Oh, the top. Fancy!”

At the sound of my voice, Vivi squirms until she can see me. Then she gives me a sweet smile. Her daddy just gives me a bored expression. I make faces at her, and the little brown-eyed cutie squeals and kicks her feet.

When the elevator door opens, I let him step out first so I can follow.

“Baby Hall!”

I turn and find a group of guys sitting in an open space set up with couches and beanbags and a couple of TVs. It’s minimalistic and modern, with sports memorabilia hung on the walls.

Hit with a wave of relief that not everyone here is annoyed by my presence, I start in their direction.

Gavin’s growly again when he calls my name. “Where are you going?”

Over my shoulder, I give him a wink. “Saying hi to my brother and his friends. Give me a minute.”

Daniel hops up and meets me halfway, wrapping me in a bear hug and lifting me off the ground. “Mills! What are you doing here?”

I squeeze him back. “Have you gotten bigger?”

He’s been taller than me since he shot up when he hit puberty, but he was still pretty lanky through high school. Now he’s nothing but muscle and pure strength.

My cocky brother doesn’t disappoint. “Sure have.” He sets me down and takes a step back, his shaggy brown hair falling into his face as he studies me. “You look good, Mills.”

“Thanks.” I peer over his shoulder. “What are you boys up to?”

One of my brother’s teammates gives me a flirty smile, and it’s met with not one but two growls.

“Don’t even think about it,” Daniel says.

“Eyes off my nanny” comes from behind me.

I turn around and glare at Gavin, but he’s laser focused on the guys and misses the figurative daggers I’m launching at him.

“Nanny?” Daniel asks.

“Ah, Vivi’s got a hot babysitter!” Aiden teases. He’s decked out in his typical blue Bolts attire and kicked back on the couch.

“Baby Hall,” Tyler Warren adds from beside him with a wink. Talk about a hot hockey player. The man has dark hair and piercing blue eyes, and with the ink peeking through wherever skin shows, he has bad boy written all over him.

Daniel drops his head back and groans. “Seriously, dudes. No talking about my sister like that. Remember,” he says, pointing to Aiden, “you have one too.”

“Who happens to be my bestie and a total hottie,” I remind them all.

Gavin lets out a heavy sigh. “Can we go now?”

“Wait. Not until you explain what this is about.” My brother stands taller, his gaze bobbing between Gavin and me.

Gavin may not be a ripped hockey player, but he’s just as formidable. He takes a step closer, and then the men are zeroed in on each other, eyes narrowed.

With a huff, I take the baby from Gavin’s arms. “Viv and I are going to be spending some time together.”

“Which means she’s off-limits.” Gavin crosses his arms over his chest, the move punctuating his decree.

Laughter threatens to spill out of me at the display, but I bury my head in Vivi’s neck to stifle it, making her giggle. Yeah, my ex is totally over me and not possessive at all.

Ha.

“Does that mean she’ll be living here?” Daniel looks at us both dubiously.

Camden Snow, who’s a close friend of Daniel’s, tosses his Xbox controller onto the coffee table and stands up. “Need help moving in?”

Physically, Camden is the polar opposite of Tyler Warren. He’s all blond hair, blue eyes, and a dimple that pops when he smiles. And that dimple is on full display right now as he stares at me like I’m the best thing he’s seen in months.

I don’t exactly hate it, especially when the tension radiating off Gavin ratchets way up.

“You can all help.” Gavin folds his arms across his chest. “Millie and Vivi are coming with me. The rest of you go down to my car and bring up their stuff.”

“On it, Coach,” Tyler says, heaving himself off the couch.

As they pass, Aiden presses a kiss to the top of Vivi’s head, and she makes googly eyes at him. He has that effect on women. Most of them do. These hockey boys are something else. Before he steps away, he presses a kiss to my cheek. “Happy you’re home. I’m sure your dad is thrilled.” He juts his chin in Gavin’s direction. “Maybe he’ll even start smiling again now.” With those words, he heads off.

I blink as I watch him stride toward the elevator with the rest of the guys, dissecting the comment. Does he think my presence is what will make Gavin smile? Or the help with Vivi? I suppose it doesn’t matter. For now, my only concern is this little one.I have to prove to him that I want to be part of his life, and this is the best way to do it. Lucky for us all, this sweet girl has already carved out a place for herself in my heart.

“We’re not done discussing this,” Daniel says with a squeeze of my arm. Then he’s hightailing it after the guys.

Gavin lets out a long breath. “Are you ready now?” His voice is a fraction kinder than it has been.

In a matter of seconds, the guys are gone, leaving the common area eerily quiet and an absolute mess. Empty bags of chips, Powerades, video controllers, and straight-up porn are strewn about. “It’s like Daniel’s college dorm all over again.”

The noise Gavin makes is somewhere between a laugh and a growl.

My heart floats in my chest at the sound. I’m wearing him down already.

Vivi squirms and rubs her face against my chest, and for the first time since I met her, starts to cry. “Hey, bestie. What’s going on?” I bounce her gently, patting her on her back.

“She’s probably hungry. And needs a diaper change.” Gavin plucks her out of my arms and settles her against his chest. “Come on, Vivi girl. Let’s show Millie her room, and you and I can relax.”

I follow him down the hall, pushing away the throbbing ache that hits me every time I observe the two of them like this. His soft, comforting words to her make me want to lie against his chest and beg him to love me again.

He guides me through the door at the end of the hall, and as I step inside, I’m hit by how very real this all is. The floor is littered with toys, and the kitchen is cluttered with bottles and a can of formula. A highchair is set beside a stool at the kitchen counter. The visual of Gavin and Vivi sitting here nightly, having dinner, leaves me smiling. It’s all so domesticated, and I kind of love it.

His penthouse was the definition of a bachelor pad, decorated impeccably, if not a little sterile, with beautiful views of the city. This place is just as beautiful, but more lived-in, with an open floor plan and a gorgeous view of the seaport. As my gaze sweeps the space, cataloging every inch of my new “home,” my heart thrums in my chest wildly.

This will either be the beginning of every dream I’ve ever had, or it will be a heartbreaking disaster.

Gavin stands in the middle of the open room, bouncing a crying Vivi, watching me. Almost like he’s holding his breath, waiting for my reaction.

I spin dramatically and inhale, ready to tell him how beautiful it all is. I’ll have to tease him a little too, add some levity to the moment. But mid-twirl, I come to an abrupt stop, and my heart lodges itself in my throat. In the farthest corner, beside the door, sits a beautiful black and gold grand piano with a black cushioned bench in front of it.

Slapping a hand to my chest, I pull in a sharp breath. “Did you?—”

The words die on my tongue when the front door swings open and the guys barrel in.

“Where should we put Baby Hall’s bags?” Tyler winks at me, then grins at Gavin, obviously relishing how easy it is to piss Gavin off.

“Try the one that isn’t Gavin’s bedroom,” Daniel says, knocking Tyler with a shoulder so hard the guy stumbles.

I’d laugh at the insanity of the situation if I wasn’t still fixated on the piano.

Why does Gavin have a piano? Was it here when he moved in?

He certainly didn’t have one in the penthouse.

Around me, the guys continue to rib Gavin, chatting loudly as they carry in the bags and then settle around the counter.

Of their own accord, my feet shuffle to the piano, and one hand gently brushes over the smooth, lacquered surface. It’s stunning.

My fingers ache to slide against the ivories, but I squeeze them tightly, swallow thickly—willing my heart to return to its rightful place—and take a deep breath. When I’ve found a modicum of composure, I turn and join what has become a party.

“You ready for your first road trip with us?” Camden asks as I join them in the kitchen.

Daniel is the one who answers. “You’re going to travel with us?”

Tyler nudges him. “Looks like you’ll have to keep it in your pants for the rest of the season.”

I roll my eyes. “Please, I’ve been watching him parade his flavors of the night around for years. Don’t go changing for me, Danny.”

“Danny!” Aiden crows.

“Oh no,” Gavin grumbles.

The rest of the room falls eerily silent.

“What?” I frown and scan the guys, who are all side-eyeing Aiden.

Aiden steps forward. “Summer lovin’,” he croons.

“What’s happening?” I whisper, eyes wide.

Tyler leans in close. “Aiden lives in song, and you just brought up his favorite musical. I guess this road trip will be Grease inspired.”

My brother’s face is fixed in a murderous expression, and he’s directing it right at me.

I hold up my hands and mouth, “I didn’t know.”

Vivi is still fussing, but when Aiden takes her from Gavin and bounces, she goes quiet, and when he breaks into a rendition of the Grease song, she shoves a finger into her mouth and watches him with rapt attention.

“Vivi girl, got a new nanny,

Vivi girl, she’s pretty fancy,

She’s Hall’s twin, and she calls him Danny

Don’t call her baby, or my brother will flip

Vivi girl, you’re going to be

Oh ah, the happiest girl”

I lean closer to Tyler. “Does he not know the words?”

He shakes with silent laughter. “The kid remembers the day he lost his first tooth like it happened yesterday—and he’ll tell the story in detail—this is just his thing .” He wraps an arm around my shoulders and sways along to the beat. “By the way, everyone calls me War. Welcome to the team, Baby Hall.”