Page 110 of A Major Puck Up

Brooks: Sara says I’m an idiot.

Brooks: Does she know the secret too?

Brooks: Holy shit! Millie IS Peaches! Princess Peaches?

Me: She’s not Princess Peaches. That’s just what Finn calls her.

Beckett: Don’t blame this insanity on my son.

Me: Okay, Papa Bear, calm down. You know what I mean.

Beckett: The only papa bear you should be worried about is Ford. Keep Gavin away from Millie, boys. That’s your only job this week.

Aiden: Jeez, I thought I was here to score goals.

Me: Your job is also to score goals.

Brooks: Also?

Me: Dammit. No one needs to babysit me. SHE’S the babysitter. Is anyone going to join me for fucking dinner?

Brooks: This is Sara. Secret’s safe with us. We’ll meet you downstairs at Cru. Is Millie coming?

Me: No. She went out to dinner with Daniel.

Aiden: See ya in ten.

Beckett: I’m serious, Gavin. Do not ducking touch Princess Peaches.

Somehow, even when I’m ready to crack a tooth over my aggravation with these idiots, they make me laugh. I heave out an unsteady breath and watch Vivi, who’s lying on the bed with her legs scrunched up, pulling at her toes, lost in her own little world.

Twenty minutes ago, Millie texted to say she was going to grab dinner and could be back in an hour if I needed her. She didn’t even knock on the bedroom door to tell me. When I responded, I told her to take the whole night.

Needless to say, I’m an asshole. I don’t have a choice, because when I’m kind, she gets comfortable and acts like the Millie I used to know, and I can’t resist her.

I can’t see her smile. Can’t hear her laugh.

I almost told her she could never be just the help. That if I had my way, she’d be my everything. Thank fuck the phone rang before I could lay my heart on the line and beg her to love me. Beg her to forgive me for being such a goddamn dick to her all the time.

She made it clear months ago that’s not what she wants. She never loved me that way—if she loved me at all—and I need to keep reminding myself of that.

At least when she’s pissed at me, she stays away. It’s better like this. It has to be this way. Even if I hate every fucking second of it.

Vivi squeals, and I turn to her and smile. “Hey, Vivi girl. You want to go have dinner with the fam?”

Another squeal.

Scooping her into my arm, I press a kiss to her cheek. “Daddy loves that sound.”

She does it again, as if she knows how happy it makes me. Fuck, she really is the perfect kid.

Vivi’s rocking a blue sweater dress tonight, along with a ridiculous pair of fur-lined boots. This outfit is one of many Sara and Lennox picked out for her. I threw on a navy sweater and a pair of dark jeans, and for the first time in a while, I’m feeling like I’ve got this.

We’re going to be okay.

I can’t help but grin the whole way through the lobby. Every person we pass smiles and waves at Vivi or stops to tell me what an adorable little girl I have.

As I step past the hostess stand, my stomach sinks and the smile falls from my face.

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