Page 92 of A Major Puck Up

“All set.” Millie pops up and brushes her hands off.

All set? Is she ducking kidding me?

“How did you do that?” I hiss.

Ford has given me more than my fair share of looks this weekend. I think he’s giving me grace because he knows I’m stressed, but I’ve barely been more than cordial to Millie since Friday night. He’s likely regretting encouraging me to hire his daughter and move her into my home.

Please reconsider it. I wish I could just tell him why it’s the worst idea he’s ever had.

“Like I’ve told you every time you’ve asked, I used to babysit a lot. Not much has changed.” She reaches for Vivi, but I’m quicker.

“Thank you for having us,” I say to Lake as I settle Vivi against my chest.

When Ford pulls his daughter into his arms, I turn away so I don’t have to watch them together. The less I see Millie behaving like a well-rounded adult, the better. Latching on to my anger is my only form of defense at this point.

“When do you find out the baby’s sex?” Millie asks as Lake envelops her in a hug.

As they pull apart, Lake rests her hands on her stomach and turns to Ford. “This one over here doesn’t want to know.”

“Dad! We need to be able to plan.”

Ford drapes an arm over Lake’s shoulder. “It’s a baby. He or she needs very few things in the beginning. Besides, I’m not a huge fan of pink. Look at Vivi, here. She looks perfect rocking the blue.”

I huff out a laugh. “It’s all from Aiden. If he had it his way, Langfields would only wear blue.”

“I, for one, would love to know what we’re having,” Lake says. “So work on your father.”

Ford drops a kiss to the top of her head. “You know it’s almost impossible for me to say no to you. Don’t add Millie’s puppy dog eyes in. I’ll never survive.”

Millie pouts and bats her lashes. “Please, Daddy?”

Ford groans, and Lake shakes with laughter beneath his arms.

“I’ll call you when he’s set up the appointment,” she says with a wink.

I’m struck stupid by the easy way they’ve interacted this weekend. What happened between December and now to facilitate such a monumental change?

When Millie turns to get in the car, she bumps into me because I’m frozen in place, staring like an idiot as I try to figure out what her endgame is.

“Gonna get in the car, Coach?” That nickname in her sexy lilt is the kick in the gut I need.

I nod another goodbye to Ford, and with my resolve strengthened, I place my hands at ten and two on the wheel and drive the fuck away.

Ten seconds down the road, the chatter starts. “How do you like living in the hockey building?”

“Fine.”

One-word answers. I can do this.

“Did you move in there before or after you stole Vivi?”

I shoot her a quick scowl before I focus on the road again. In my periphery, she’s beaming.

“Before.”

“Should I call you Coach, or should I go with something more appropriate?” She taps on her plump lips.

Fuck, even with my eyes on the road, I can’t help but fixate on her every move. “Oh, I know, baby daddy?”

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