Only For Her (Only For #4)

Chapter 1 – Victoria

one

Victoria

“Who is your favorite auntie?” I look over at my nephew who knows about three words.

“Can you say Auntie Tori?” I ask him as he yaps away with nonsense sounds followed by a big glop of drool pouring out of his mouth.

“So we have to work on that,” I tell him as he smiles at me.

“Do you think we can do that? You can do it.” I clap my hands. “Auntie Tori,” I repeat.

“Dadadadadadada,” Jagger says, clapping his hands and smiling like he just said what I said.

“Don’t tell him this, but your dad is super annoying. He’s not as cool as you think he is. I know he tries to pretend he’s cool, but he’s not,” I tell him, as he stares at me, interested in everything I’m saying. “You look like him.” I tap his little nose with my finger. “It might be a curse.”

“What are you teaching my child?” My brother, Jaxon, walks into the living room, tossing his suit jacket on the back of the couch as he sidesteps some of Jagger’s toys that are all over the place.

Jagger is standing wearing a pair of black pants and a white T-shirt.

He’s holding a plastic golf club in his hand as he looks over to where my brother is making his way to us.

“Dadadadadada.” He drops the plastic golf club and runs toward Jaxon, who squats down and grabs him, tossing him in the air.

His laughing squeal fills the room, and I just smile at the two of them.

Jaxon buries his face in Jagger’s neck and his head flies back, soft brown hair moving side to side as his chubby fists wrap around Jaxon’s neck.

“Hello, my boy,” he greets him as he settles Jagger on his hip. “How is my Jagger doing?”

“Dadadad.”

“Yeah, that’s the only thing this kid knows how to say,” I mumble.

Jaxon walks to the side of the couch and sits down on the floor in front of me as Jagger gets up and goes back to his plastic golf club.

“Jagger,” I call his name and he looks at me.

“Who is your favorite Auntie?” I ask him and he walks over to the red plastic golf ball like I’m not talking to him. “Auntie TT,” I tell him.

“That’s not even your name.” Jaxon laughs.

“It’s easier to say TT than it is to say Tori,” I snap at him. “Jagger, Auntie TT.”

“Debada debada,” he chatters, and I shake my head.

“It sounds like he’s a late bloomer, just like you.

” I goad, trying not to laugh when Jaxon’s face goes white.

“I’m kidding,” I say, getting up from the floor.

“He is your son after all, it makes sense,” I tease him like any little sister would.

Makes up for all the times he teased me growing up.

“You don’t like that, huh? Payback is a bitch. ” I point at him.

“Tori,” he hisses, and I laugh.

“I’m kidding,” I repeat, walking to the kitchen that is right off the family room, “it’s a joke.”

“It’s not funny,” he grumbles. “Jagger, what’s this?” He holds up the red golf ball.

“Ball,” he answers and Jaxon smiles at me.

“I’d be a little more impressed if he said red ball.” I lean on the counter as Ariella comes into the room.

“Okay,” she says, “you can go and take your shower now.” She walks toward the living room wearing a pair of jeans and a Warriors T-shirt tucked into the waistband. Her eyes light up when she sees Jaxon. “I thought you were gone.”

“I’m about to head out,” he says and tilts his head so she can bend to kiss his lips.

The two of them hooked up one night, almost two years ago, and in a very surprising twist for both of them, out came Jagger.

They were not the only ones that were surprised.

It was a shock to all of us, especially our fathers who were retired hockey teammates and best friends.

Now it feels like they’ve always been together.

“My sister is being kicked out of our home.”

Ariella looks over at me, shock on her face. “I’m trying to teach Jagger something and all he does is say dadad and debada.”

“He says Mama.” Ariella defends her son. “Jagger,” she calls his name and he looks over at her.

“What’s that?” She points to the ball on the floor.

“Okay, I get it, the kid can say ball.” I roll my eyes. “Jagger.” I walk to him and squat in front of him. “Auntie TT,” I say and he smiles at me, scrunching his nose. “See?” I shrug. “It’s okay,” I tell Ariella, “from what my father said, Jaxon started talking late too.”

“I did not.” Jaxon picks up the ball and throws it at me, making Jagger laugh. I hold my hand up to deflect the ball before it hits me.

“I’m going to shower,” I announce then look at Jagger. “Who is your favorite auntie?” I ask him and he walks over to the ball Jaxon just threw at me and tries to hit it with the stick.

“His favorite auntie,” Jaxon says, “is Lexi.” He mentions Ariella’s best friend.

I flip him the bird before I walk out of the room.

Lexi and Ariella are best friends and when she was going through her divorce she moved in with her and Jaxon.

If I’m being honest, besides my brother and Ariella, Lexi is Jagger’s favorite person in the world.

“Maybe I’ll move in with you guys for a while then.”

“That would be so much fun!” Ariella exclaims at the same time Jaxon says, “Fuck no.”

“What did I say about swearing in front of Jagger?” Ariella snaps at Jaxon.

“Ari, he can’t even say TT, you think he’s going to say fuck?”

“See?” I say, pointing to Jaxon. “Step one is admitting there is a problem.”

“And that is why you are sleeping at a hotel tonight,” he declares and I laugh as I make my way up to the spare bedroom I’ve been staying in for the last couple of days.

After my long hot shower, I put on a pair of black jeans with a black sweater.

It has the same Warriors logo in the middle of it like Ariella’s T-shirt.

When I walk down the stairs, I hear Ariella singing “The Itsy-Bitsy Spider.…the spout again,” she sings, her voice animated as Jagger claps his hands.

“Yay,” I say, walking in and seeing Jagger in front of Ariella.

He is wearing the same pants but now has on his baby hockey jersey.

The logo is in the middle of his chest and has Jaxon’s number thirteen on the back with the name Daddy above it.

I know this because I bought it for him when he was first born.

I knew it would be too big for him, but he’s been slowly growing into it.

“Look at how snazzy you look.” I smile at him. “Who is your favorite auntie?” I ask him and he looks at me and smiles, scrunching his nose. “No, not what is that stinky smell.” I shake my head. “Auntie TT.” I point to myself and he copies, pointing to me and I take his finger, kissing it. “TT.”

“Okay, let’s go,” Ariella urges. “You can teach him to say your name on the way to the game.” She grabs her big bag as she puts in a sweater and a pair of pjs for Jagger before we step into the garage, and I put him in his car seat.

I get into the front seat next to Ariella as we chat about going to the farmers market tomorrow.

We drive into the underground parking reserved for families and she gets out, smiling at the valet there. “How is our big man?” he asks her as I walk around the SUV.

“He’s doing good, Clive,” she replies. “This is Jaxon’s sister, Victoria.” She points to me.

“Hi.” I reach out my hand. “Nice to meet you.” I smile at him, and he takes my hand as Ariella grabs Jagger out of his car seat. We walk over to the elevator, making our way up to the suites.

Ariella steps into the suite before me and I swear I think I hear my name as I look around.

My eyes go to Lexi. “Is that Victoria?” I hear Lexi ask.

Ariella gets to Lexi before I do, Jagger throwing himself out of her arms to get to Lexi.

“It is I.” I point to myself as I try to give her a hug, but I’m pushed away by Jagger.

“Dude, you literally slept with me last night. Have you no loyalty?” I ask him and he just lays his head on her shoulder, and I think the bugger even takes a huge sigh.

“It’s Lexi or no one,” Ariella huffs out. “Which means I can relax and enjoy myself for a bit before he wants me again.” She smiles and the girls are all around us. “Guys, this is Jaxon’s sister, Victoria, she is visiting us for a week.”

“Oh, that sounds like so much fun. Hi, I’m Kylie, Lexi’s soon to be sister-in-law extraordinaire, and also Kirby’s favorite sister.” The girl beside Lexi extends her hand as Lexi laughs at her introduction.

“You’re his only sister,” she points out to Kylie, who just shrugs.

“I’m still the favorite. It’s so nice to meet you.”

“Thank you.” I extend my hand to her. “Coming to visit was a graduation present to myself.” I smile big. “I just graduated less than two weeks ago and, sadly, the first thing I decided to do was come to California to see my brother.”

“Fun,” Kylie says. “I backpacked in Europe for mine and Kirby paid for it.” She mentions her brother who is Jaxon’s teammate.

“I wish!” I shriek. “I freaking wish.” I look at Ariella, who is talking to one of the girls. “Think Jaxon will pay for me to go backpacking in Europe?”

“Yeah, sure,” she nods her head, “and he’ll hire five guys to go with you.”

“Yeah, I’m afraid of that.” I look up at the ceiling. “He’s such a buzzkill ever since he became a father.” I fold my arms over my chest. “Thanks for that.” I side-eye Ariella.

“You’re welcome, I think.” She sounds confused.

“Look at her shirt,” Lexi urges Ariella. Kylie proudly turns around to show her the back of her shirt. All I can see is the number and a glimpse of the name.

Her gasp out loud is very similar to Lexi’s. “That’s bold.”

“It is not bold,” Kylie defends. “There are literally other girls out there,” she points to the seats, “who are wearing his name too.”

“Yes, but you wearing it means”—Ariella holds up her hands—“like you’re taken by him.”

“Well, I am,” she admits and everyone’s eyes go big, except mine.

“We’re dating,” she announces and I guess this must be a big deal, but I don’t really get it.

“Oh fuck,” Lexi whines, “admitting it out loud is—”

“Well, considering I went toe to toe with the ex-wife last night,” Kylie says, and I swear this is better than the soap operas my grandmother used to watch.

I wait for the next update as if my life depends on it.

“And met his parents who, by the way, are assholes.” She takes a sip of the wine and I have so many questions.

“So, she literally put her hands on him to stop him from moving. I swear to everything, I was this close,” she puts her thumb and forefinger together, “to fucking throat punching her.”

“The tea is piping hot!” I squeal with glee. “Wait, so she put her hands on him,” I finally ask cocking my hip, “and you were going to throat punch her?”

“Well, not throat punch her, per se,” Kylie admits. “I would never do it with the kids there, but I did use a firm voice.”

“Got it.” I nod. “I don’t know if I would be as mature. I’d be like ‘Bitch, you want a piece of this?’” I puff out my chest like I’m going to chest bump her. “‘You are going to get a piece of this.’”

“And this is why no one is paying for you to go to Europe,” Ariella retorts to me as the girls laugh and I roll my eyes.

The roar of the crowd goes nuts and we know the guys have taken the ice. I smile as the memories of my father skating into the arena when I was younger come back to me. Those were the best nights, and some of my best memories. “I forgot how loud it can get,” I say.

“It gets louder.” Kylie’s voice goes louder.

“So what are you doing now that you have graduated?” I see the girls starting to walk out of the suite toward the seats and I have no doubt they are going to stand by the boards.

It’s where all the fun things happen before the games.

I still remember I had a whole duffel bag of pucks I collected one year, and I used hockey tape to write down who gave them to me.

It’s still in my closet at home, in the corner collecting dust. I refuse to throw them out.

“I don’t know yet,” I answer her honestly. “I have a couple of options, but nothing has jumped out at me just yet.”

“What’s your degree in?”

“Marketing,” I reply. “I worked with an ad agency back in Dallas, but it’s not really my thing.”

“Well, what are you looking for?”

“Obviously I’m good at social media,” I tell her and she laughs at me, “but then I love doing market research. Finding out the trends before they happen. Helping create the brand and then driving brand awareness is what I love most about marketing.”

“Well, if you want.” Kylie starts, taking a drink of her wine, “we could use the help with the foundation we are running. You could take over the social media, which has been put on the back burner since I don’t want to do it, and Lexi is too busy doing other stuff.

We also were looking at starting an after-school program, which could really be huge if we had the right marketing behind us. ”

Lexi comes back without Jagger and walks to us. “This meeting looks like it’s secretive.” She sticks her head in. “What are we talking about?”

“I was offering Victoria the social media job we talked about having someone take over,” Kylie fills her in and Lexi nods her head. “Why don’t you come by the office this week when you are free and we can talk it over?”

I smile at both of them, and I don’t know why I say it, but I do, “I’m pretty much free as a bird.” I shock even myself. “Why don’t we exchange numbers so we can schedule it?”

They share a look that screams excitement. “I can’t wait,” Lexi says. “I think you’ll be perfect for the job.”

I smile at them while my head screams, What the hell are you doing? “I look forward to hearing about it.”