Chapter 25
VAUGHN
Ishake a stuffed turtle over Nora where she’s lying in her stroller while we walk along the stalls of the Saturday market in town. I’m well aware that I’m going to miss her like crazy. Every day she does something different. She’s already holding her head up.
"Gosh, should we be concerned that she really doesn't cry much and just seems to be happy all the time?" I ask Isla, smiling widely at our daughter.
Isla glances sideways and throws me a humorous glare. "Don't jinx the crying part, and this all means that she is happy."
"True. We're lucky."
“I promise that I’ll send you photos and videos every day,” Isla mentions as she sips from her to-go cup filled with tea.
“I know you will, but it’s just not the same.”
“Before you know it, you’ll be back. Your moments with her will be extra special.”
My lips quirk out from her comment, but I have to believe she’s right. “I guess we’ll do an hour more here, then head home before it gets too noisy here.” I have the afternoon free as everyone prepares for our first team flight tomorrow for a preseason game up in Toronto.
“We also have those noise-canceling headphones for babies that you were adamant we get so she can attend the first home game of the season.” Isla twists the corners of lips, clearly finding it all amusing.
“Safety first,” I defend.
She sighs as we continue our stroll. “I fear the day when Briggs will play against the Spinners. My alliance feels questioned.” She’s half serious.
I indicate to the free bench up near the oak tree. We both find ourselves a seat there and continue on from her statement.
I nudge her shoulder with mine. “What if I tell you that I’ll let you have a pass for that game. You don’t need to choose the boyfriend-slash-baby daddy over your brother.”
She scoffs a laugh and brings her eyes to meet mine. “That’s very kind of you. Is that what your new title is? Boyfriend-slash-baby daddy?”
My arm now rests on the back of the bench behind her in a sort of claim to the outside world that we’re together. Trust me, in no part of my past was I this sweet with a woman. “We may need to work on that.”
“Uh, but your offer is… I don’t want you to think that I don’t have loyalty to you.”
I brush it off. “I know you do. But I also know how much you love your brother. So feel free to secretly support him while wearing my shirt. But only one game.” I give her a sheepish look.
Her hand comes to rest on my thigh, her touch already making me untamed.
Since we started upgrading our sleep time—and the shower—activities, we’ve both been kind of avid.
Before we were orbiting around one another in a peculiar way.
Now everything is on the table. We can be parents, lovers, and two people who care deeply for one another.
“Vaughn…”
I’m broken from my spell of thoughts. “Yes, Isla.” I grin because her delicate tone informs me that she has a meaningful question about to hit us.
“We can be something real, you and me, right?”
My eyes widen at her. “How do you do that?”
“What?”
“Read my mind as if you knew exactly what I was thinking.”
She shrugs her shoulders. “Coincidence?”
“No, it’s not a coincidence.” It only takes a beat to state the truth. “Yeah, Isla. We can be something real going forward. It’s more than a chance too.” I hear the vulnerability in my voice.
Her face lightens with that gentle smile of hers. “I was hoping you would say that.”
“You shouldn’t be relying on me to lead the way, although I do love it. It’s just… don’t be afraid to say what you want.”
Isla straightens her posture and ceremoniously takes my hand in hers. “I always thought you would be the one hesitating, but I guess it’s me. Except now I’m clear about what I want, and it’s you.”
An emotion overcomes me that feels raw, unfamiliar, but exhilarating.
It gravitates my lips straight to hers for a warm kiss. I can’t get enough of this, all of this. Her.
Isla gave me a gift twice over. A daughter and a relationship with her that I never intended or expected. I’m one lucky man.
“Careful,” I warn her as I murmur against her lips. “I might have to end this outing and take you right home to bed. Screw that, we can do a memory-lane session in the front seat.”
Her head falls back with hysterical laughter that can’t not make anyone within our radius smile. “Vaugh, please, oh please, explain how that will happen with a child in a car seat in the back.”
“Solid point.” Disappointment floods me. “Let’s just buy a bottle of wine, and we have options. I can take you on the patio table, or we can go traditional and use a bed.”
She dives in for another kiss, her finger tipping my chin. “I’m completely on board with that plan.”
Which is why we walk to the general store to stock up on wine and pick up some takeout on the way home. We enjoy some tummy time with our daughter on the living room floor before I take her to the shower where I sit on the floor holding her. It’s our moment that we share. She gets plenty with Isla.
“Your mom is finally being less stubborn. Seeing the light when it comes to me and her,” I tell Nora, and she coos in response.
“I know, right? Why the hesitation? It’s me, I’m the man of her dreams, I’m sure.
Her own version of Prince Charming,” I lightheartedly explain to my daughter.
“Go easy on her while I’m away. I’m not here to relax her in a way that she and I enjoy. ”
“Jesus, Vaughn, must you already traumatize our child?” Isla arrives holding a towel, ready for me to hand over the goods.
“Hey, never interrupt our serious conversations.” This playfulness around our child is good for the soul.
I’m not sure how anyone could turn away from this.
It leaves a sour feeling in the pit of my stomach considering my upbringing, something I missed.
Or how at first when I was blindsided by the news of Isla’s pregnancy, I wasn’t sure for a brief moment.
Isla opens the shower door, and I hand off Nora. “Be quick with the bedtime routine, we have a long night ahead of us.”
“Yeah, yeah, yeah. Let me just feed her, which could be a while. She loves my chest as much as her daddy.”
I grin at her. “We both know a good thing.” Well, minus the milk aspect. Admittedly, I tried a little in a cup because one of the guys on the team said it’s extra protein or vitamins, which is why he adds it to his coffee. Yeah, not going forward with that plan. Not my style.
“Don’t fall asleep. I plan on coming to bed naked tonight,” Isla casually mentions as she shimmies away to the nursery.
I rub my face, trying to keep myself in check, so I don’t rub one out in the shower due to impatience.
I must hold out, though, because we have to make it somewhat special tonight. To reconfirm what we spoke about and to have an excellent parting before I leave. There is a lot on the line tonight.
By the time I’m lying on the bed waiting on my side, I’m nearly going out of my mind. But then my little vixen struts into the room, slowly untying the flimsy fabric of her satin robe. The robe falls in a swoosh down her skin to pool at her feet.
“I believe someone was waiting for me.” Isla comes to me and is quick to push me to my back and swing one leg over to straddle me.
“This is heaven.” I rest my hands behind my head.
She smirks and leans down to press a kiss on my chest then sits back up with her breasts perked out and her fingers tangling in her hair, giving me a view. I plant my hands firmly on her waist.
“I really want to watch you touch yourself before you ride me the way you want.” My voice is thick with desire.
Isla takes my hands and brings them to her breasts to cup. I’m careful not to get carried away but still allow the pads of my thumbs to circle her nipples.
“I just need you in me.”
I sit up and drive my thumb up to her bottom lip to drag across. “Then do it. Remember, just say what you want.”
Her hips move in a wave over my cock, creating friction.
“Fill me up and show me that you meant what you said earlier.” Her arms hook around my neck to ensure my lips stay close to hers.
Her pussy finds its way to welcome my shaft inside, and I slowly drive up into her.
“I meant every word,” I promise and place a kiss on the curve of her shoulder. “I meant every word,” I repeat and press a kiss to her collarbone. I don’t stop until I’m back at her mouth.
Isla’s lips grow into a satisfied smirk against my mouth. “Me too.”
Then we tangle into one another, not sure where our limbs start or end. We crumble in one another’s arms, forgetting that we should have been more careful, but it’s a chance worth taking if it means I don’t need to leave her warmth.
I stay inside, and I drop back onto the mattress, keeping Isla flush to my body.
“Shit, I wish I didn’t have to leave.”
She shushes my mouth with her long finger. “Stop it. Hockey is who you are, and we’ll be here when you get back. Plus, Declan already said that we can join you on his plane; the perks of being an owner, I guess.”
I didn’t realize how much I needed her to say all of this. It’s true, a lot of the times, I won’t be flying with the team or coach so Declan and I can talk freely.
Inside my brain I’m figuring out what flowers to send or what our next outing will be, ignoring that our phones will become our main method of communication. A beacon of light hits me when I imagine Isla at the home games, there to support me.
It’s only positive things ahead, especially since she reassures me that she’ll be waiting for me.
How the hell did I miss it all those months ago that Isla was going to be more than a friend with benefits? I believe, though, that this is how it was all supposed to be.
I’m fairly confident that even though I never found the one before, I do not need to look further, as she is standing right before me. For the first time, I’m beginning to realize what this is.
She’s a gamechanger.
I just don’t tell her and instead kiss her with full force, catching her off guard.
But in my head, I’m beginning to be certain that this is what love is.