Page 37 of The Winning Hat Trick (The Steel City Knights #1)

I can feel his smile against my lips when the heart monitor starts going like crazy again, but he doesn't stop kissing me. Instead, he pulls my body close to his and absolutely devours me. We only stop when Landon interrupts us again.

"Oh, for fuck's sake, you two," he huffs from the door.

"Zip it, Lan. The woman told me she loves me for the first time. There's no way I'm not kissing her after that," Mac growls over his shoulder.

"Well then, good for you." Landon slowly claps for us, making me blush. "I suppose this is good timing. I've got your discharge paperwork ready, and your IV is done. You ready to blow this joint?"

"Abso-fucking-lutely." I grin at him.

It's been a couple of weeks since my stint at the hospital and the vile bullshit that woman tried pulling.

Thankfully, all of the major news outlets did their due diligence and pulled any defaming stories about Mac and his alleged child.

For the most part, people have left us alone, and the paparazzi have respected our wishes to keep the kids' privacy.

We're finding our new normal and learning how to work together to become a family, and I couldn't be happier.

"Here you go, ladies." Mac sets a tray full of all the fixings for mimosas down on the table with a wink, then turns to head back in the house.

"Hot damn." Gabriella fans herself where she sits across from me. "How the hell do you get anything done with him walking around like that and waiting on you hand and foot?"

I try to fight my giggle, but Talia's bursts free, and it's so contagious that I can't hold my own in.

"Umm, I have three children who are always here and under foot. They are great little cock-blockers."

Talia just took a drink, which goes spraying across the table.

"Oh my god. I'm so sorry." She covers her mouth, but Gabriella and I are laughing so hard that she quickly joins us.

"Eh, don't worry about it. I'm used to messes. Once again, I have three semen demons."

This time, Gabriella's drink sprays, and we all dissolve into a mess of laughter and gasping breaths as we try to regain an ounce of composure.

"Staph, you're killing me today." Gabriella swats me.

"Can't help it. That's what great sex and an even better man will do for you." I wink at her.

"And bottomless mimosas." Talia gestures towards the table. "He does know that if he keeps feeding us mimosas, he's either going to have to play chauffeur or we're never leaving?"

"Oh, he knows. But he said I deserve a day off with my ladies and we all deserve to have some fun. Besides, I think your brother is here, so you can always carpool with him." I shrug.

"He is?" Talia sits up and tries to peer into the back of the house. "I feel like I haven't seen him in forever. Our schedules have been opposite. D-do you ladies care if I go—"

"Of course not. Go see your brother," Gabriella cuts her off with a wave of her hand. "Family first always, baby cakes."

"Thanks." Talia's eyes get glassy. "And thanks for taking me on as a client and being so kind to me. I don't think I would've lasted much longer in the industry if it weren't for you two." She grabs our hands.

"Ugh, now you need to stop it," Gabriella grumbles as she tilts her head to the sky and blinks rapidly. "I don't do all this mushy shit, so I'm blaming you two on my eye's desire to leak."

"Fair, but I'd also blame the mimosas." I tilt my glass to her.

"Oh, touché."

We clink our cups as Talia goes inside to find Thor.

"I'm glad you and Mac got everything figured out." My friend smiles at me.

"Me too. I just wish there was a way we didn't have to worry about Chad dick pulling a stunt like this again. I'm done with him playing emotional warfare on my life. He doesn't get to have a hold on me anymore."

"Good for you, babe. Have you thought about talking to his dad? I know you didn't want to, but I think he could be a good ally for you. Especially since he's due for a visit with the kids, isn't he? What if you took Mac with you?"

"I don't know." I pick at the imaginary lint on my pants.

"It would do the man good to see you've found someone who treats you the way you deserve to be treated.

Plus, Mac will never let anyone take advantage of you or the kids when he's around—not that I think that will happen.

I just think it wouldn't hurt to let Chadwick know what his son's latest stunt was. "

"Yeah, I'll think about it."

"Good. Now, have you thought any more about modeling? Because I think I have the perfect opportunity for you to return to the runway if you're up for it."

"Really?" I'd be lying if I said I didn't want to get back into modeling. I loved being on a runway, but I honestly didn't believe I'd ever be able to do it again.

"Yes, the show is in New York, and it's on a day when Mac doesn't have a game, so he and the kids could even come if you wanted."

"Seriously?" Never in my wildest dreams did I ever think I could share that part of my life with my kids in Mac, but this idea is so tempting.

"Yep." Gabriella smirks at me but doesn't give me any more information.

"Ugh, okay. Who is it?"

"Finally. I thought you'd never ask." She smiles as I make the "get on with it" motion with my hand. " Fenty and Savage X Fenty are having shows the same day, and they want you in each show."

"Shut the fuck up." I sit back in my chair.

"I still don't know why you're shocked by this." Gabriella rolls her eyes.

"You know how much I love their brand and how inclusive they are, not only with their sizes but also with their gender identities. They were one of my favorite shows to walk when I was modeling."

"I know, which is why I let them know you'd be interested in working with them again. Apparently, the love affair is mutual because they sent me an offer the same day."

"Aaaahhh!" I scream as I launch myself out of my chair to hug Gabriella.

My momentum is too much, and I send us tumbling backwards. We shrink as the chair falls, and we dissolve into laughter.

"Everything okay out here?" Mac pokes his head out the door.

"Everything is perfect." I smile up at him as he makes his way across the yard to help us.

"It sure is. Your girl is making her comeback in the modeling world—with one of her dream designers, no less." Gabriella crosses her arms, a proud smirk filling her face.

"No shit. That's fucking amazing, gorgeous." He picks me up and plants a kiss on my lips.

"It is. And the best news is that you and the kids will be able to come with me, hopefully. You don't have a game that day."

"Hell yeah! I'll talk to Coach and make sure I can be there." He kisses me, then sets me down.

"Hey, do you think you can go with me to meet someone this week?

" The need to go see Chad's dad weighs even heavier on me now that all of my dreams are at my fingertips.

If I can have someone in my corner to help keep the happiness I'm building for me and the kids, I'd be stupid to not seek out their help.

"Of course. You've got my schedule. If we can work around that, I'd appreciate it, but if not, I'll talk to Coach and let him know it's important. He'll understand if I have to miss practice to be there for you."

"Thanks, Mac." I kiss his lips.

Hopefully, with this meeting taking place, I can finally put my past behind me. Mac is my future, and I'm ready to dive all in. The kids and I deserve the love and devotion he gives us. I'm not going to let Chad dick , or anyone else, take that from me.