Chapter Seventeen
TREY
It’s been a week since I had Vivi beneath me on that couch, and I'm losing my goddamn mind.
Every morning, she makes coffee in my kitchen, barefoot, knowing where everything is better than I do.
Like she is meant to be here. Every evening when I don’t have a home game, I watch her and Adeline run through bedtime routines like they’ve been doing it for years, chattering and laughing the entire time.
And every night, I walk her to her car and then sleep alone on the floor, replaying the way she felt wrapped around me, the sounds she made when I was buried deep inside her.
But it was more than that—more than the sex. It was the way she looked at me, the trust she gave me, every touch of hers on my skin that felt like tattooing her fingerprints on every part of me that she owns now.
I’m standing in my living room doorway, watching Adeline and Vivi work through a dry run on her ballet recital hair and a costume fitting on the new tutus that they picked up today after class to make sure no alterations need to be made before the big day.
"Hold still," Vivi says, bobby pin between her teeth as she works on Adeline's bun. "Almost got it."
Adeline stands perfectly still in her pale blue tutu, the layers of tulle making her look like a tiny ballerina doll. Blue tights, satin slippers, even a little tiara that catches the light when she moves. But it's not my niece that has my attention completely captured.
It's Vivi, kneeling behind her, tongue poking out slightly in concentration as she secures each pin.
She's changed into comfortable clothes after picking Adeline up from school—yoga pants that hug her curves and another one of my Hawkeyes shirts that she's stolen from my closet.
Her dark hair falls in waves down her back, and I want to run my fingers through it like I did the other night.
"There." She sits back on her heels, admiring her work. "What do you think?"
Adeline looks from side to side, admiring herself in the mirror. "I look like a real ballerina!"
"You are a real ballerina," Vivi corrects gently. "The costume is just for fun. The work you put in during class is what makes you a ballerina."
This is what Adeline needs. Someone who sees her, who makes her feel special. Someone who doesn't just go through the motions but actually cares.
Someone like Vivi, who won't be here much longer.
My phone buzzes, breaking me out of my thoughts.
I answer the call, putting it on speaker. It's probably something to do with the Little Hawks anyway. "Hey. What's up?"
"Quick question for you," Kaenan says. "Mom wants to take Berkeley to Disneyland for spring break. Two nights, fly down Friday morning, back Sunday afternoon. But Berkeley's driving her crazy, begging to bring a friend."
I can already guess where this is going.
"Specifically, she wants to bring Adeline. Mom's fine with it. Apparently, one nine-year-old is the same amount of chaos as two, and Oliver just chases the two girls around. She says it's no trouble. What do you think?"
I look over at Adeline, whose smile is so bright and wild, and I already know that I can't say no.
"Can I go?" Adeline's voice rises an octave as she processes what she's hearing. "Can I go? Please, Uncle Trey."
She starts bouncing, making Vivi laugh as she tries to keep the carefully constructed bun from falling apart.
"Adeline, careful," Vivi says, chasing her with more bobby pins. "Your hair!"
I pull the phone back up closer to my mouth. "Yeah, that's fine with me. But she better be on her best behavior and not cause any trouble for your mom."
I say it to Kaenan, but my threat is focused on the little ballerina twirling around my living room with excitement.
"She was born to be a grandmother. She's happy to do it."
Adeline lets out a shriek of excitement that probably rattled windows three houses down.
"I take it she's happy?" Kaenan's laugh carries through the phone.
"That's an understatement. Text me the details, and I'll make sure she's packed and ready."
"Will do."
I hang up to find Adeline practically vibrating with excitement while Vivi starts taking out Adeline’s hair since there’s no use at this point, and it was only a trial run to make sure they were ready for her recital in two weeks.
"Disneyland!" Adeline bounces again. "I get to go to Disneyland with Berkeley!"
"If you keep moving like that, you're going to go to Disneyland bald," Vivi threatens, but she's smiling.
"This calls for celebration hot cocoa," Vivi announces once she finishes taking out the hair pins. "And a movie. What do you think?"
"Yes!" Adeline squeals. "Can I pick it out?"
“Yes, but after you get dressed in pajamas and hang up the tutu in your closet so it doesn’t wrinkle,” Vivi tells her.
Adeline disappears upstairs to change out of her recital costume while Vivi starts the hot cocoa.
“You spoil her,” I tease as she walks by me.
“Oh and you don’t? I’m not the one sending her to Disneyland for spring break.”
She turns back, a slight smile over her shoulder as she heads for the pantry to get everything started. I follow her in, but then make a beeline for the refrigerator, already remembering that she’ll need milk for her recipe.
We meet by the stove, her arms full of sugar and bittersweet cocoa powder. I set the milk down next to her and then reach for the nutmeg and cinnamon from the spice cabinet above her head.
“You’ve been watching,” she says, setting a large sauce pot on the stove.
“I notice a lot of things when it comes to you. Like how you haven’t worn his ring since what we did on the couch.”
Her breath hitches, and before I’ve thought better of it, I close the space between us—hands braced on either side of the counter, boxing her in.
Her back presses lightly against the edge. “Are you scared of me, Vivi?”
Her gaze lifts, steady but warm. “No. I’m just scared of you stepping away for good.”
Something primal coils in my chest, but then the pounding of small feet on the stairs breaks the moment like a gunshot.
Adeline bounds down the stairs finally, and we spring apart like we're on fire. Vivi busies herself with the hot cocoa while I put distance between us, adjusting myself before my niece appears.
"Perfect timing," I manage, completely oblivious to the tension between Vivi and me. "Ready for the best movie night ever?"
"Ready," Vivi says, her cheeks flushed but her voice steady.
We settle onto the couch—Adeline between us like a tiny chaperone, hot cocoa in hand filled to the brim with mini marshmallows. I'm hyperaware of every movement Vivi makes, of every time her eyes linger on me, of every smile or laugh she and Adeline share.
Twenty minutes into the movie, Adeline's head starts to droop. Thirty minutes in, she's completely out, curled against my side with her empty mug still clutched in her hands.
"She's beat," Vivi whispers.
"Ballet prep is exhausting work." I ease the mug from Adeline's grip. "Let me get her to bed."
I carry her upstairs, going through our usual bedtime routine even though she's unconscious—tucking her in, checking that her nightlight is on, cracking her door just how she likes it. When I come back downstairs, Vivi's cleaning up the kitchen.
"You don't have to do that," I say.
"I don't mind." She rinses the mugs in the sink. "Besides, I should probably head home soon anyway."
The thought of her leaving makes panic rise in my throat. "Stay."
She turns to face me, and I can see the conflict in her eyes. "Trey, we could have easily gotten caught last time. And you’re right, she’s already so attached. We both are. I can’t stand to hurt her any more than I’m already going to."
"Just stay. We don't have to do anything. I’ll keep my hands to myself, I swear. " I run a hand through my hair. "Just stay."
She's quiet for a long moment and then nods. "Okay, I’ll stay upstairs.”
“Good.”
“I’ve been meaning to ask about next Friday night. The girls want me to come out for girls' night—Kendall's birthday at Ground Zero. It’s the same weekend that Adeline is going to Disneyland. I’m guessing you won’t need me?"
Something cold settles in my stomach. Ground Zero is the kind of club where assholes go and hit on any woman in sight. The thought of Vivi there doesn’t sit well with me, but it doesn’t matter what I want.
This is her life. Her friends. I have no right to be jealous or possessive. Soon enough, she’ll be someone else’s, making hot cocoa in a different kitchen, with kids of her own that don’t look like me.
"You should go," I say, and I mean it. "Have fun with the girls."
"Yeah?" she asks, a sparkle in her eyes. "I mean, I figure you won’t need me with Adeline gone."
Won’t need you? Nothing could be further from the truth, but saying it out loud won’t help anything. Guys like me don't get to keep girls like her. Not with backgrounds so vastly different.
"You deserve a night out with the girls. It sounds fun."
She smiles at that. “Kendall’s been so busy with the team and extra sports medicine conferences. She deserves this,” she says, then adds, “I should head to bed. I have a lot to do this week. And you have early practice in the morning."
I nod. “Goodnight, Vivi.”
"Goodnight,” she says and heads for the staircase. I listen for the sound of her heading up to my bedroom, and for once, I don’t have to watch her taillights drive away with my hands glued inside my pockets to keep me from chasing after her, begging her to stay.
At least tonight I can sleep easy knowing that she is safely asleep upstairs where I can protect her. Even if the person I have to protect her from the most…is me.