Page 150 of A Major Puck Up

The redhead’s eyes bulge, and Sara hisses.

“We don’t say pussy in the office,” Sara says. Then, in a louder voice, she adds, “But yes, once you’ve let that bitch out into the wild?—”

Hannah slaps a hand over her mouth. “Can’t say bitch either.”

“Duck is an excellent replacement,” a bedazzled Beckett Langfield says as he strolls by, hands in his pockets, full of swagger, as if he isn’t reflecting the hallway lights like a blue disco ball. “Now if you’ll excuse me, ladies, I have a bun to duck with.”

“This must be a fun place to work,” Lennox sings as she loops her arm through mine.

Behind us, Sara laughs, the sound echoing down the hall. “You are not working here. Don’t get any crazy ideas.”

Lennox leans in close. “But those are my favorite kind.”

Lunch turns into an afternoon cocktail party, though I stick to club soda since I drove Gavin’s beloved car. Even without the alcohol, I laugh entirely too much as the girls tell story after story about working for Beckett and Gavin. Surprisingly, Lennox tells us a little about her history with Aiden, which even Sara seems surprised about.

The redhead, Ava Erickson, is the head of charity relations for the company. She and I chat quite a bit, since before I came into the picture, she helped Gavin with Vivi. We make plans for her to come over later in the week so she can visit with my girl.

On our way back to the office, I’m feeling lighter than I have in months. Spending my days with Vivi has been far more rewarding than I could have imagined. My relationship will be out in the open in a matter of hours. And now I’ve met a group of wonderful women who I could see becoming my true friends. Women who are kind and caring and uplifting. No more Taylors or Chrishells for me, please.

They all insist we pop into Sara’s office before parting ways, and once we’ve said goodbye, I stride down the hall toward the parking garage, anxious to get home to my family.

Halfway down the hall, I hear Beckett Langfield’s loud voice and decide to stop in to say hello. Not only is he Gavin’s brother, he’s his best friend, as well as one of my father’s, so it’s important to me that we get to know each other and get along.

“And you’re sure this is her?” he says.

Realizing he’s on the phone, I hang back in the hallway, waiting for him to finish.

“Thank you so much. My brother wanted to put his head down and ignore it all, but it’s important that we find Viviane’s mother. I appreciate your help in the matter.”

My heart lodges itself in my throat. Holy shit. He found Vivi’s mom?

“She’ll be there tomorrow?” He pauses for several seconds. “Amazing. I’ll make sure he brings her too.”

He’ll make sure Gavin brings who with him? Viviane?

“No, this is the right thing to do. Gavin wants her to be a mother to Viviane. And Viviane deserves her, not some flake who will disappear the next time things get hard.”

Beckett’s words hit like a slap, and I stagger back, tears filling my eyes.

Gavin has been so concerned that I haven’t forgiven him that neither of us considered that his family may not forgive me.

God, is that what they really think of me? I stumble down the hallway, swiping at tears as I go. I need to get out of here.

So much for being happy.

FIFTY-FIVE

GAVIN

Pacing the expanse of my living room, I will my nerves to settle as I wait for Ford to arrive. My time is up. This moment has been inevitable for two years. I wish I had known early on how impossible it would be to walk away from Millie Hall. If I had, I would have come clean immediately.

Now the lie has gone on for so long, I’m not sure Ford will ever forgive me.

Once the doorman calls up to let me know Ford is here, I rush to the bathroom and splash water on my face. Then I straighten my shirt and give my reflection a little pep talk.

I’ve never actually met the parents of a woman I’m dating. I’ve never cared for another woman enough to make it to this step. It’s not lost on me that, of course, I already know Ford. We’ve been friends for years. We’ve shared whiskeys over late-night rounds of poker with my brothers and gone to bars and left with different women. Hell, he’s been my wingman and I’ve been his. I was there the night he finally decided to go for it with Lake. I pushed him toward her, in fact.

And yet I feel completely unprepared for the meeting we’re about to have.

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