Page 124 of A Major Puck Up

Brooks follows behind her, his size immediately making the room feel smaller. He kneels beside me and offers a fist to Vivi, even though she doesn’t have the coordination for fist bumps just yet. “Hey, Vivi girl. How’s it going?”

I sigh but smile at the baby. “She’s teething, and her daddy is still sick.”

“Oh, that’s fun,” Sara mutters.

Brooks smiles. He’s always smiling. “Hiding from him?”

I snort. “What gave that away?”

He squeezes my wrist, then runs a finger along Vivi’s cheek. “He’s trying,” he says as my eyes catch on the friendship bracelets circling his wrist. Best Uncle, Saint, and Crazy Girl.

I take a steadying breath when a flash of Gavin’s bracelets hits me, specifically the one with my nickname on it. But before I get too lost in the memory, I remember that Lennox is still hiding in the closet. “Hey, any chance you guys can help me really quick?”

They all eagerly agree as I rack my brain for an excuse to get them out of here. I blink at Brooks, then Sara, then War, searching for inspiration, but my mind is blank.

“You need something?” Brooks says slowly, brow furrowed.

“What the girl needs is sleep,” War says. “Come on, Baby Hall.” He looms over me and holds out his hand. “Let’s go up to my place. We can watch Vivi while you take a little nap.”

I put my hand in his and hold tight to Vivi, letting him help me up. Now that sounds like a plan.

After spending the afternoon at War’s, I return to the apartment, feeling marginally better. According to her text, Lennox made it back to Sara’s apartment without being spotted. I promised to catch up with her later, then pocketed my phone to ensure Sara didn’t see the messages. When she discovered I’d never seen Dawson’s Creek, she just about lost it and forced me to sit through the first four episodes.

I get Vivi set up in her baby swing, and while she’s cooing and smiling at the spinning butterflies above her, I heat up a bowl of soup, then take it and another dose of meds with me down the hall. “Gavin.” I knock on his door. He doesn’t answer, but I figure he’s sleeping, so I press inside. “Hey, Gavin?—”

The words die on my lips as I come face to face with a soaking wet Gavin who is stepping out of the bathroom in nothing but a towel. His head shoots up, and his brown eyes settle on me.

Rivulets of water travel down his shoulders and between his pecs, then disappear where the towel clings to his waist. I can’t look away from the V that leads to the most perfect cock. One that is very clearly growing hard the longer I stand here ogling him.

“Fuck,” Gavin mutters.

Caught in the act, I tear my eyes away and instead zero in on his face, which is etched in severe lines.

Lip caught between my teeth, I wince. “Sorry—I, uh—” I point to the door. “I’ll just leave the soup here and get out of your way.”

“Millie, wait.” Gavin takes a single step closer, his expression easing. His damp hair is a mess, but his skin looks less pale. “Let me get dressed, and I’ll take over with the baby.”

“You’re sick.”

“I’m feeling a lot better. Sleeping the day away will do that.”

I smile. “I’m glad you’re feeling better, but seriously, rest. You can take over tomorrow.”

He sighs. “You sure?”

“Yes. Vivi and I are going to eat. Then I’ll give her a bath before we both crash for the night.”

He nods and swallows audibly. “I really appreciate it. I’ll be out in a bit to say good night to her, at least.”

“Okay.” We watch one another again. There’s so much to say, but neither of us dares to interrupt this ceasefire we seemed to have entered. I catch a glimpse of the bracelets on his wrist again and feel another swell of certainty that we’re going to be all right.

Then I book it out the door before I launch myself into his arms.

“Please, Vivi.” We’re both crying now. She’s been up every hour since midnight, drooling and gnawing on her hand. This damn tooth is so close to breaking through. Every time she falls asleep, I collapse into bed and set the monitor beside my head on the pillow. I’m so delirious from lack of sleep, I worry I won’t wake up the next time she cries.

But I do. And every freaking time, I fling myself up too quickly and bang my head on the top bunk.

I pace back and forth in her room in the moonlight. “We both need sleep, baby girl. Please.”

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