Page 141 of A Major Puck Up

“Fine.” I loop my free arm around her. “I know tonight was crazy, but it was perfect. I loved seeing Vivi with her cousins. Loved seeing you with them. But I know it’s a lot, and I don’t want to pressure you about having kids of your own.”

Millie tips her head back and locks those warm golden eyes on me. “I like to think of Vivi as my own.” Her lashes flutter shut, and a blush creeps up her cheeks. “I know that’s probably wrong.”

When I don’t respond—because I’m too lost to my own thoughts about how Vivi isn’t really either of ours but we both want her, yet I may be setting us up for disaster—Millie continues, “She likely won’t remember being left. I know you were worried about that.”

I shift to look at her, loving that she somehow always knows just what to say to calm me. “The doctor says the same thing.” I run my fingers through her curls, settling myself. “I’ll just have to love her enough that she never feels that loss.”

“You won’t be alone in that.” She lifts her head and presses a kiss to my jaw. “We’ll both love her so much she’ll never know anything but happiness.”

My heart skips again. As often as this has happened today, I worry I should see a cardiologist. With a grunt, I pull her on top of me. I don’t have the words to express how I feel about this woman. There’s nothing that I’ve ever heard or read that could encapsulate the joy I feel with her by my side.

Love might be the closest I’ll ever come to describing it, but even that doesn’t touch this feeling. It’s so trivial and overused.

I ache for her, and knowing she’s mine leaves me with a sense of peace that I never believed was attainable. Being hers is my purpose.

Since I can’t describe it, I show her instead. I kiss her, pouring every emotion I have into my actions, hoping she sees that she’s not just my love and she’s not just my family. She’s my everything.

THE HOCKEY REPORT

“Good morning, Boston. Eliza here, with my cohost Colton. Today we’ve got a special edition of the Hockey Report.”

Colton chuckles. “You sound excited, Liza. And you took my line.”

“I am excited. The Bolts are on fire. Even without Tyler Warren, the Bolts pulled off a win last week, and they’re officially in the playoffs.”

“Yes, the game against New York began the stretch of wins. It seems the team and its new leadership have found their groove, and it’s back to hockey.”

“It’s not all about hockey, Colton. Tomorrow the team heads to the arena for family day, and fans are anxious to see pictures of Brooks Langfield with his girlfriend, the head of PR, Sara Case. If we’re really lucky, maybe we’ll get a shot of little Viviane Langfield with her daddy. And, since it’s family day, the masses are wondering whether Gavin will finally introduce Boston to her mother.”

FIFTY-ONE

MILLIE

“She’s already said her first word, and she’s in the ninetieth percentile for weight and height. All in all, I’d say Viviane is doing great.”

Gavin and I beam at one another as the pediatrician continues her assessment. Vivi said duck just as he stepped into the exam room, and at first, the doctor thought she’d said doc. I almost wanted to let him believe she was a little baby genius. I certainly think our Viv is the smartest baby around.

“How’s she sleeping?”

“She’s up about once a night now for a bottle. Last week was rough because of teething, but now that the tooth has broken through, she’s sleeping well again. Any suggestions for how to handle the rest of them?” I smooth my hand over Vivi’s, and she smiles at me, her lips shiny with drool.

Rather than respond, the doctor blinks at me in surprise.

Oh. Oops. That’s right. I’m just the nanny. Gavin should be the one speaking.

“Sorry,” I say with a wince at Gavin. “I’ll let you handle the questions.”

He drapes an arm around my shoulder. “We’d appreciate any suggestions, Doc. Like my girl said, Vivi is up about once a night.”

I duck my head to hide my heated cheeks. The man seriously just claimed me in front of the doctor. We’ve hidden our relationship from everyone we know, so this is new, though I don’t hate it.

I lean into his arm, and Vivi squeezes my hand.

“Duck.”

We all laugh.

“Unfortunately, there’s no magic solution to the teething. There are numbing gels that can help and cold toys during the day for her to gnaw on. Use a little trial and error and find what works best. As for the bottle at night, she’s old enough to go longer stretches without eating. If she wakes up before about five a.m., try getting her back to sleep without one.”

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