Chapter 37
Chapter Thirty- Seven
Zara
A s it turned out, planning a trip to see Dave wasn’t quite that easy. Dave’s excitement over my visit was uninhibited. But when we sat down to find a time that worked for everyone, we hit snags .
His schedule was tight, and when we checked the flights, they didn’t arrive and depart when we needed them to .
I’d offered to drive instead, but it would be five hours with Nicole alone and cranky in the backseat. Not the best option. I began to get discouraged as we looked at dates further and further out .
But then Dave called me back with a proposed solution—he had a couple of early season games in Florida, with a two-day gap between them. He could fly us to Miami for three nights—two with him at a resort hotel, and then one by ourselves when he rejoined the team for the Miami game. Nicole and I would have second-row seats .
“Book it,” I said, tired of waiting. Now that I was all in, I wanted to tell him in person .
I did some panic shopping with Audrey. Now that our new guy Roderick had started, we were all breathing a little easier. Two days before I was due to depart, we hit the stores in Burlington for maternity clothes for her and a new bathing suit for me .
“Let’s not forget lingerie,” she said as we carried shopping bags down the outdoor Church Street mall .
Two black satin nightgowns were added to our stash—one for each of us .
It was a good day, and I let optimism bubble through my soul in a way that was rare for me .
Which was why, on the day of our trip, I was blindsided by the worst flight ever .
Earlier in the week, Nicole had come down with a bit of a cold. But toddlers were famous for having lots of colds as their little immune systems learned the ropes, and I didn’t let it worry me. I was too excited to see Dave—at a luxury beach resort no less .
Nicole was a little weepy as we began our trip, but I assumed it was just the break in her routine. Then she was fussy during the flight and wouldn’t eat or drink her milk. Still, not a big deal .
But as the plane started its descent, she began to whimper. And by the time I could see the lights of Miami, she was crying. The cries became howls. She buried the side of her face against my collarbone and cried like there was no tomorrow .
I couldn’t soothe her with a trip up and down the aisle, because the Fasten Seatbelt light was on. She cried, and I shushed and patted her back as people began to stare .
“It’s probably her ears,” a flight attendant said, trying to help. “If she drinks something, it might relieve the pressure.” She offered me a bottle of water, which I took .
But Nicole wasn’t having it. She screamed when I tried to sit her up, and her crying took on that desperate, hiccup-y sound of the truly despondent .
The plane took four hours to land. Not really, but that’s how it felt to me. And then came that interminable time before passengers were allowed off the plane. Everyone near me was tapping their fingers or toes, eager to flee from us .
I didn’t blame them .
When I finally stood up and took a good look at her, one ear was bright red. She’d been rubbing it against me for almost an hour, so it could have been irritated, but I had a sinking suspicion that Nicole had a bigger problem—baby’s first ear infection .
“I’m so sorry,” I whispered in her good ear as she cried. “I didn’t know .”
Hell, I wasn’t even sure I had baby Motrin in my suitcase .
By the time we were able to leave the plane and head for the baggage claim, I was a nervous wreck. And she still wouldn’t stop crying .
Then I spotted a certain auburn head and a certain rugged smile. For a second I forgot to panic. There he was, waiting for me. Waiting for us .
God, I almost had to pinch myself .
Once he got a good look at us, his smile faded fast. “What’s wrong?” he asked immediately .
“She won’t stop crying. I think it could be an ear infection .”
Dave reached for Nicole and took her from me like any good dad anywhere. He cradled her and whispered something to her .
“DADA…” she wailed .
I felt like crying , too .
* * *
Dave
The next couple of hours weren’t easy .
To the irritation of the Uber driver, my child screamed all the way to the hotel, like we were trying to kill her. I called the team doctor in New York and asked him what I should do. He sent us to an overly bright urgent care facility, where a young physician’s assistant diagnosed an ear infection and gave us a prescription .
“Give her a dose immediately,” she said. “And a dose again in the night, if she wakes up. She should get some relief within twelve or twenty-four hours. And baby ibuprofen will help , too .”
One pharmacy stop later, and we were on our way back in the hotel’s courtesy car, with Zara looking shaken and bleary .
Still crying, Nicole relaxed into a fitful doze in her car seat. I reached across to Zara and took her hand. Her fingers laced into mine, but she looked out the window and bit her lip .
Then, finally, we’d made it back to the suite I’d booked. There was a crib waiting in the extra little bedroom and a bottle of champagne sweating in the bucket where I’d left it hours ago .
Ah, well. The best-laid plans .
Zara put the baby’s medicine in a sort of eyedropper and squirted it into Nicole’s sleepy mouth .
My baby girl was enraged. Unfortunately, Zara had to do it again with the pain reliever, and Nicole was inconsolable. She cried herself to sleep in my arms, and I didn’t think I’d ever seen anyone look so bereft .
When I finally set her down in the crib and tiptoed out, I could hardly believe she was actually resting .
I walked quietly into the master bedroom, where Zara had sat down on the edge of the bed and then tipped her body back onto the comforter in defeat. “Wow,” I whispered, trying to lighten the mood. “That was intense .”
She sat up. “I’m so sorry. You went to all this trouble…” She glanced around the room, taking in the food, the wine bottle, the glasses. The chocolate I’d put on her pillow as a joke .
“Don’t be sorry.” I sat beside her. “Come here.” I pulled her into a hug. “I know you’re tired and stressed out. But she’s going to be okay .”
“I know,” she whispered .
“And we’re going to be okay. You have no idea how happy I am that you’re here. I missed you terribly .”
Her eyes leaked. “That’s what I came all the way here to tell you. I missed you, too. So much .”
“See?” I buried my face in her neck and found smooth skin to kiss. “It’s us. In the same room. And that’s all I really needed from you tonight .”
Her arms came around my back, and I felt her body start to relax. Slim hands traced my spine, then my ribcage. “You feel so good .”
“Come to bed with me,” I whispered. “Let me hold you. You’re probably exhausted.” I could see it in her face .
Zara got up and wandered into the glamorous marble bathroom, murmuring her approval. She emerged a few minutes later wearing a black silk nightie I’d never seen before. “You like?” she asked when she caught me admiring it. “I bought it when I thought this was going to be a sex fest .”
I cocked a finger and beckoned her. “Get in this bed, woman. We’ll just have to see what transpires .”
She gave me a tired smile, and I took my turn in the john .
When I returned, she was curled up on her side of the bed, looking anxious. “I hope she can sleep. And that the medicine works fast .”
“If she doesn’t sleep well”—I slipped into the bed beside her—“we’ll take turns holding her. It’ll be okay.” I switched off the bedside lamp and rolled close to her. “How was your trip before the screaming started ?”
“Fine? I can barely remember .”
I curved my body around hers and put my hands on her shoulders. “ Relax , baby .”
She tried. I worked my thumbs into the tight muscles of her back and used my fingertips to ease her shoulders .
“That’s…really awesome,” she slurred .
“That’s right,” I whispered. “I believe it’s the first thing I ever told you—that I’m great at stress relief. Pro level .”
She laughed, but then her laughter died when I reached around and teased her nipple with my fingertips, tracing a circle around it until I felt it pebble under the silk. She arched her back, offering me her neck, and I began to drop kisses there .
“Mmm,” she said with a sigh. “I thought I was too tired for this. But maybe not .”
“I’m gonna do all the work,” I promised, kissing my way down her arm .
She gave me a wise smile over her shoulder. “You must be desperate .”
“I am.” I rested my chin on her arm. “But not the way you mean. I’m a big boy, Z. I can go a couple of months without sex, if I know I’m going to see you again.” Her expression softened. “Of course, now that you’re here, I’m suddenly dying .”
She grinned and I was happy to see that naughty sparkle return to her eyes. A defeated-looking Zara was more worrying than a screaming baby. “Where do you want me ?”
“Stay right there,” I said, putting a firm hand to her hip. “Don’t you move unless I tell you to .”
“Yes, sir.” She said it cheekily, but her cheeks heated .
Just to make my point, I gently pushed her head against the pillow, facing away from me. “Close your eyes .”
She snapped them shut .
“Good girl,” I whispered as my fingertips began exploring her body. I dragged them down the front of her gown, sliding over silk and then skin when I reached her knee. Her lips parted in appreciation, and I felt her relax against me. “That’s right,” I coached, dragging my hand over her body again. I paid special attention to her breasts, which I was allowed to touch again. And suck. I worked the strap of her nightgown down and leaned over her body until I could get my mouth on her .
“Mmm,” she sighed .
My hand worked its way beneath her gown, and I made a noise of appreciation when I found no panties in my way. “I do like this outfit. It’s my favorite .”
She smiled with her eyes closed. And when I ran a palm down her bare belly and between her legs, she shifted and spread her legs for me .
“That’s my girl,” I whispered in her ear. “Always ready to take my cock. You want it, don’t you .”
“Yeah,” she gasped as I tucked my fingers into the slickness waiting for me .
My lips found the sensitive spot beneath her ear as I stroked her sweet pussy. She moaned and pressed against me everywhere .
It was all too easy to kick off my boxers, lift her leg, and slide inside her from behind. “Unhh,” I exclaimed as her body welcomed me. We lay there a second, our breathing rapid, and I swear every cell in my body vibrated with expectation. “Now this is what I’m talking about.” I flexed my hips and she rolled hers , too .
Heaven .
“You are perfect,” I whispered over her shoulder .
She grabbed my hand and clutched it. “Pretty…great yourself .”
“You make me feel lucky .”
“Well, you’re getting lucky,” she pointed out .
“No.” I chuckled in her ear. “I meant all of it.” I lay down on my side and pulled her against me, even if it meant I couldn’t keep up my good work for a second. But I needed her to feel this connection all the way down to her soul. I had a point to make, and now seemed as good a time as any. “I’d do it all again, Zara girl. With you. No regrets .”
She went still in my arms .
“You’re it for me. I don’t care if there are gonna be earaches and lots of days missing you. I’ll take it, because you’re the best there is .”
“I love you, too, honey,” she whispered. “I think I always have .”
My heart gave a big old kick. “Thanks for finally letting me know .”
I felt her smile even if I couldn’t see it. She pushed her ass back against me to remind me that we were in the middle of something important. That was Zara for you. She liked to keep the upper hand .
But so did I. So I rolled, taking her to her stomach, spreading myself out on top of her luscious body. I braced myself on my forearms and began to move, and she moaned her approval .
Skin kissed skin. I was against her. Above her. Beside her. Inside her. Everywhere I needed to be, all at once .