Chapter 43
FORTY-THREE
The campus was buzzing with that end-of-semester energy that always came after the overwhelming stress of finals.
Gordy was heading off to his grandfather’s ranch in Big Sky.
Sam was going to be working as a camp counselor for most of the summer, and despite her initial plans to move out at the end of this semester, we’d all agreed that she could stay in the hockey house for her senior year.
Liam had been kind of stingy with his plans for this summer.
In fact, he’d been stingy about any real details of his life since Harper and I had gotten together.
It felt weird not knowing what was going on with my best friend, but between fatherhood and my first serious relationship, I’d turned into a bad friend.
The thought bothered me, but before I could dwell on it, Harper walked into the kitchen wearing one of my hockey T-shirts and her red curls in a topknot on her head with a silk scrunchie that she said was mandatory or her hair would be crazy when she woke up.
She’d talked about a silk bonnet she usually wore over her hair, but she’d refused to wear it in front of me.
I’d change her mind about that later. I bet she looked sexy as fuck with it on.
I didn’t care if she woke up looking like she’d wrestled a tornado—she was still the most beautiful woman I’d ever seen. A week of waking up with her in my bed, and the novelty hadn’t worn off yet. If anything, it kept getting better.
“Morning, beautiful,” I murmured, stealing a kiss before she could fully wake up.
“Mmm.” She melted against me for a moment before focusing on Rory, who was in her bouncer living her best life as she pushed away the bottle I’d tucked beside her.
I sat back down next to her and tried to give it to her again. Formula dribbled down her chin and onto her bib as she turned her head away with impressive determination.
“How does someone so small create such a giant mess?” Harper asked, staring at the formula covering the bib and Rory’s sleeves.
“Pure talent. It runs in the family,” I said, angling the bottle back toward her mouth just as she swatted it away, sending a spray of milk across the kitchen. “Future MVP right here.”
Harper snorted as she reached for a coffee mug. “Right, because nothing says athletic prodigy like blocking breakfast.”
“Hey, every player’s gotta start somewhere,” I shot back, dodging another swipe as I tried again. “She’s just working on her defense.”
“Uh-huh,” she said dryly, watching Rory push the bottle away with both hands this time. “Rory Dumontier—first-line starter in the breakfast league, coached by Dad.”
I tilted my head back, letting out a throaty laugh at the image. Besides morning sex with Harper, laughing with her was my favorite way to start the day.
Harper made her coffee while I continued the bottle standoff.
At this point, I was pretty sure Rory was purposefully trying to be a chaos gremlin.
She finally latched on and started drinking, her little hand curling around my finger.
Harper hummed under her breath as she went through her coffee-making routine, and I sat back and let gratitude and sheer happiness flow through me.
I’d never thought I would want my mornings to be so domestic, but it was quickly becoming my favorite part of the day.
I’d always considered myself a pretty happy, carefree guy. I had friends, ruled college life, killed it on the ice, had girls practically falling at my feet—well, until Harper’s poster stunt. I thought I’d had it all.
Turned out, I hadn’t had anything.
And I didn’t even realize it until now, when I was starting every morning with the daughter who came out of nowhere and the woman I’d spent years hating.
My life was turning out nothing like I’d ever planned.
It was so much better.
“You know what’s crazy?” I said, successfully getting Rory to drink some of the bottle.
“Convincing yourself your daughter’s mess-making is indicative of being a hockey prodigy?” Harper asked, settling into the chair beside Rory’s bouncer with a smirk.
“That too.” I grinned at her. “But I was thinking about how I used to think I had my shit figured out. Good grades, decent hockey career, active social life. I thought I was living the dream.”
“And now?” She watched me from over the rim of her coffee cup as she took a sip.
“Now I know I was just wasting time until this happened.” I gestured between the three of us. “Until you and Rory showed me what mattered.”
Harper’s eyes sparkled with mischief. “Drew Dumontier, going all sentimental on me at eight in the morning? Should I be worried you’re running a fever?”
“Blame the kid. She’s made me soft.” I reached over to tickle Rory’s chin, making her giggle. “Plus, having you here to witness my superior parenting skills doesn’t hurt either.”
“Superior parenting skills?” It was Harper’s turn to tilt her head back, laughing. She snorted and pointed at my daughter. “Andy, she just spit up all the formula she just drank.”
I followed her gaze and winced. “That’s impressive, actually. She played the long game on that one.”
“Uh-huh.” Harper shook her head, still grinning as she grabbed the pack of baby wipes from the counter. “You’re lucky she’s cute.”
“We both are.” I grabbed a handful of wipes from her and we both cleaned up my daughter.
My chest tightened with the sudden certainty of what I wanted.
This right here, every single morning.
“Harper.”
“Yeah?” She glanced over at me.
“Stay.”
She blinked. “What?”
“This summer. Stay here. With us.” I gestured around the kitchen, then at Rory, who was shoving her hand in her mouth.
Harper straightened slowly, the wet wipes forgotten in her hand. “Drew…”
“I know it’s fast,” I said quickly. “I know we’ve already signed leases to live in separate houses next year, but this summer could be ours. Just the three of us.”
She was quiet for a long moment, studying my face. “Are you sure? Because living together is different from just staying over sometimes.”
I ignored the fact she’d stayed over every night this past week.
“I’m sure.” I took the pack of baby wipes from her hands and tossed it aside.
“I’ve never been more certain of anything.
I love you. Rory loves you. Stay with us.
I want you here. I want to see you every morning when I wake up and every night before I go to sleep.
I want to deal with the bad days and the good days together. Please say yes.”
Her smile started slow and then spread across her entire face. “Okay.”
“Okay?”
“Yes, you impossible man. Okay, I’ll stay.” She reached up to cup my face. “I love you too. Both of you.”
Rory let out a delighted squeal as if celebrating.
“I think that’s a yes from the tiny boss,” Harper laughed.
“Then it’s settled.” I kissed her, tasting her smile. “Just promise me you won’t judge my housekeeping skills too harshly.”
“Too late for that.”