15. Chapter Fifteen
Mom and I may have gone a little overboard at the furniture store and the baby boutiques.
The entire nursery will be delivered to Viktor’s penthouse in a couple of weeks. I have just accepted that I live here now. I even went to get Tabby so I could move her in. Hopefully he doesn’t care about cats, because she’s my first baby and she’s here to stay. Joy is of course thrilled that she doesn’t have to take care of her anymore. There is a reason she doesn’t have a cat. The thought of her having to go in and feed Tabby and love on her makes me chuckle. She probably pet her with just the tip of her pinky.
I’m placing the last of the bags from our shopping trip in the room I’ve chosen for the nursery before I go to meet the girls. I had sent Viktor photos of the room to ask if I could commandeer it for the baby. Of course I was told to do whatever I want, and that he has a credit card for me in the bedroom drawer if I want to use it for baby purchases.
I didn’t use his money though, I never would without him here.
Tonight Joy, Claire, Jolie and I are meeting some of the other girls at The Penalty Shot to watch the game. The photos I saved from my gallery are burning a hole in my pocket and I can’t wait for the puck to drop so I can send them. He won’t see them until after the game before his press conference and I can’t wait to get his response in return.
True to what the doorman said when Viktor left, my driver, William, has been at my beck and call since Viktor left. Each time he comes to whisk me away I try to tip him but he insists that Viktor is paying him enough money that he can’t accept my tip. I will have to ask what that cost him when he’s back. I don’t argue it because it does feel a lot safer than calling an Uber.
And apparently I’m in my soft era with Viktor now. Ugh. It infuriates me how much I love it.
Baby Daddy: Have fun with the girls, Skatten Min.
Me: Have fun winning your game winking emoji, heart emoji
“Ms. Miller, your driver is here.” The doorman’s voice comes through the speaker by the door .
I grab my purse and rush out the door to meet everyone on time.
The girls and I are huddled around the bar, we take up at least half of it and the three nearby tables. The bartenders know that the guys are away and they appreciate that we’re here to watch the game. The more diehard wives and girlfriends are at the table next to the largest television so they can watch every play. But Claire, Jolie and I grabbed the best spot right at the bar where we can people-watch and catch glimpses of the game.
I watch as the puck drops onto the ice and Viktor is already in motion. I pull out my phone and send along the five images I chose as my favorite. I’ll send the full gallery later. But I want him to have these images as soon as he opens his phone.
A satisfied smile takes over my face, causing Claire and Joy to raise their brows at me.
“Ugh please, did Vikkie-boy text you again? I can’t take this sappy version of my girl.” Joy rolls her eyes, but I know she’s truly happy for me.
“Nope.” I flash her my screen.
“Oh my God! Are these the pictures from Alesandra? Let me see!” Joy rips the phone from my hands so she can see the final outcome.
“Oh you already did your session?” Claire asks, her interest piqued in the conversation.
“I did. I paid her for expedited editing. I wanted to send them to Viktor while they were gone. She even asked me if she could use some of my images for marketing and her website.” My cheeks blush and I don’t know why I added in that fact.
I’m not even sure how I feel about that yet myself. I would also need to check with Viktor. I don’t want him to get bad press because of me.
“Girl.” Joy passes my phone to Claire and now Jolie. “You need to let her use those. You look abso-fucking-lutely stunning. Holy shit.”
“If I didn’t already have my session, I would definitely book with her seeing these.” Claire fans herself.
“We’ll see. I don’t want to cause Ken any more stress than I already am.” I roll my eyes at the annoying man that Ken is.
I know he’s looking out for the guys on the team, but hell, that man needs a Prozac some days.
“Ugh, please. He’ll be fine. Just ignore him. He’s honestly a little bit much some days. I mean, maybe with the rookies sure, be that protective. But you two are committed. Who gives a shit.” Jolie shakes her head.
Viktor told me about how she and Joaquin got together, and that they weren’t supposed to be together because she’s a dancer. I’m sure Ken had a fucking field day with that. I can hear him muttering his doomsday worries to himself.
“Shit, Boston is playing dirty tonight.” One of the girls from the tables exclaims .
My attention is immediately drawn to the television. Boston’s black uniforms are flying down the ice in a group. I can barely keep track of the puck because there is so much going on, but then I see the puck fly through the air straight to Viktor. It hits his thigh and when he doesn’t make a move to recover it but Joaquin does, I know something is wrong. He skates much slower than normal behind the team. He isn’t playing like his usual self.
When I catch him limping off the ice at the end of the period, I know I need to be worried. I bite my nails watching him.
“Do not stress. They limp off the ice all the time. It was a blocked shot so he’ll have one hell of a bruise when he gets home. Happens to Craig all the time,” Claire reassures me.
Even though the girls all told me about a time their men got hit with a blocked shot, I’m still worried about Viktor. Not being able to talk to him is torture right now.
At intermission, I check my phone obsessively, but nothing.
I can’t wait for the press conference just so I can see his face.