Chapter 33 #2
After last week and the best night of my life, I’d definitely be more inclined to say yes. But we’ve hardly had a chance to speak or see each other between my busy life with Blake and the hockey season reaching a crescendo. The playoffs are now only days away.
“I’m not sure how to answer that,” I tell her quietly. “To say that it’s complicated doesn’t really do the whole thing justice.” I drop my eyes to a feeding Blake.
“Oh, trust me”—Kate bites off another piece of breadstick—“Emmett is serious about Billie.” She smiles victoriously. “Really serious.”
“A boy obsessed.”
I turn over my shoulder to find Collins standing behind us.
Reaching down, she runs a light finger over Blake’s cheek. “Darcy just told me that Archer said Emmett was feeding Blake in the dead of night. No man cares for another guy’s child if his world doesn’t revolve around their mama.”
The use of that name has my thighs pinching in the best way possible.
All three of them notice, and Kate’s dirty giggle causes me to snort right before Darcy stands from her chair, clinking a fork against a glass.
“I want to make a little announcement before we all eat and drink way too many cocktails.”
“Alcohol is bad for you,” Will pipes up. “It’s important to treat your body like a temple.”
“And now he’s quoting his father too,” Kate mumbles behind a hand. “Lord save me. My daughter might also go by the name JJ, but my son is basically his dad.”
Darcy deadpans at Will before continuing, “I know some of you have traveled all the way from other states to be here today …” She looks at Mia and Luna.
“And I’m so happy to have the whole Scorpions-Blades family here together to celebrate a milestone in two amazing women’s lives.
” Her eyes land on Felicity and then Kate.
“Morgan Jones LLP is going to take over the world!”
She thrusts her fist into the air right as the kitchen doors swing open, and two servers wheel out the biggest cake I have ever seen. It’s five tiers of buttercream deliciousness.
“Umm …” Luna looks confused. “Don’t we eat cake after lunch?”
“We shouldn’t eat cake, period.”
Kate tosses what remains of her breadstick at her son. “Give it a rest, William.”
Darcy waves a hand in front of her. “Eh, it’s a small detail. Some rules are there to be broken.”
Will’s upper lip tips up at that, and he raises his water glass in the air. “Eat well. Play hard.”
Against my foot, I feel a vibration coming from my bag.
Kate must’ve felt it, too, as she reaches down and hands me my purse. “Let me guess. It’s the boy.”
I don’t need to say anything since my giddy grin provides the answer.
Emmett
We’re flying back from Dallas earlier than originally scheduled. The boys all want to go out and celebrate making the playoffs, but I want to celebrate in a different way.
I type out a quick response as Darcy begins cutting the cake.
Me
Is this where you turn all coy and suggest we watch another soccer game in your bed?
Emmett
Nah, being coy was so last season. I’m entering my candid era.
I want to fuck you in my bed. Hard.
I tingle everywhere.
Me
I’m sitting around a table full of your teammates’ wives. You’re so inappropriate.
Emmett
Inappropriate is the perfect way to describe what I’m going to do to you later.
Me
And as much as I’d love to do all of those things, you should definitely head out and celebrate with the boys. You deserve to.
A couple of minutes pass before my cell vibrates on the table with another text from Emmett.
Emmett
Do you know how fucking perfect you are, Billie? You’re everything I want.
“Down baaaaad,” Collins sings, shimmying past me with a couple of cocktails.
Me
You could always come over to my place afterward?
Emmett
I’ve got a better idea. When you’ve finished up with the girls, head home and pack for three nights for you and Blake. I’ll swing by and pick you up after I spend a couple of hours with the team.
Me
Three nights? And where are we going?
Emmett
Initially? Back to my place, followed by two nights in the Catskill Mountains. I just booked us a secluded cabin.
My heart actually flutters. Two nights of uninterrupted time together.
Me
But what about hockey?
Emmett
Coach has given me two days off ahead of our first playoff game.
Me
Has he granted that to the whole team?
Emmett
Only me. Giving my body some extra rest time.
Just to clarify, when I say “rest time,” I’m talking about hockey-related activities and not sleep. I’m going to keep you awake for forty-eight hours solid.
Me
Sounds perfect. If sleep wasn’t necessary to care for Blake.
Emmett
Well, rest easy, Mama. I have B and all her needs covered.
With Blake nuzzled into my chest, her gentle inhales and exhales keep my racing brain centered.
Each time I speak to or see Emmett, I can’t help but wonder if it will be the last. So much of what we have feels borrowed, even stolen, from the hands of fate.
It’s only a matter of time before everything goes up in flames.
Me
I can’t wait.