Page 161 of A Major Puck Up

Fuck, it’s hard to keep the tears at bay. It’s one thing for Ford to accept my relationship with Millie, but it’s something entirely different for him to claim my daughter as his grandchild. It means Vivi gets a real family. And between Millie and me, my siblings and parents, Millie’s brothers, and all of our extended family, Vivi is going to have one big, beautiful, crazy family.

When Ford holds out his hand to me, I grasp it and pull him in for a hug.

He claps me on the back and says, “They’re both lucky to have you.”

The door to the conference room opens, and we all straighten. When Sebastian’s smug face comes into view, the tension of this moment settles over me like a heavy weight again.

Before my brother walks in, I grab his arm. “We give him whatever he wants,” I murmur. I’d trade every dollar in my bank account for my little girl.

Beckett hits me with a look that’s pure ruthless CEO. “I’ve got this.” He nods once, confirming that he understands there is no limit. Then he smiles deviously. “And if he becomes a problem, we can always call Jay.”

I cup a hand over my mouth to stifle a laugh. Our best friend Jay Hanson went up against the mob and won. I suppose my brother does understand the lengths I’ll go to for my little girl.

SIXTY

MILLIE

“All right Viv. Apparently Daddy has plans tonight, so you’re going to hang with Lennox and be a good girl, right?”

With a gummy smile, Vivi tugs on my sparkly earring.

“We’re going to have a great time,” Lennox says, holding out her arms. My traitor of a best friend sees the oversized pink Barbie and launches herself at her.

“Jeez, I’ll miss you too,” I grumble, fixing my earring.

Gavin chuckles from the door. “You’re worse than the baby.”

I turn around and stick out my tongue in rebuttal but almost stumble when I see how handsome he looks. He’s in a black suit, his thick arms crossed over his chest as he leans against the open doorway. His brown eyes shine with pure love. His hair’s a bit of a mess, though. I don’t mind. It makes him look a bit more real, a bit more mine. I take a deep breath, reminding myself that he is mine. All mine. Then I step closer to him and press a kiss to his jaw. “Hockey Daddy, you clean up nice.”

He rolls his eyes, and behind me, Lennox snickers.

“Told you the name would stick.”

Gavin wags a finger at her. “You’re a bad influence.”

She holds Vivi up so their cheeks are pressed together and pouts. “And yet I’m watching your daughter so you can go get freaky?—”

“Lennox!” I hiss.

She laughs as Gavin spins on his heel, ignoring her.

It’s been a month since my trip to the hospital. A month since our world flipped on its head and we thought we were losing the little girl who makes our life complete. But instead, thanks to Beckett, she’s ours for good.

Well, she will be once the paperwork is finalized. Then we’ll officially be Vivi’s mom and dad.

Only a few months ago, the idea of being a mom sent me running to the other side of the world. But now if anyone tried to tell me Vivi wasn’t mine, I’d run through fire to prove them wrong.

I wouldn’t change things, though. It was always meant to be this way. Vivi and I were meant for one another. My whole life, I never felt like I alone was enough. But then that little girl looked at me like I was her whole world. And I intend to spend the rest of my life making sure she knows she’s enough. Making sure she knows she’s loved.

And I know Gavin will too. I just hate leaving her tonight since I’ve been so busy the past two weeks in the recording studio with Lake. Still have no idea what I’ll do with the recordings, but there was something incredibly special about sitting in a booth and recording while Gavin and my father smiled on the other side of the glass.

It’s still not completely normal between them, but we’re getting there.

Kind of like Lake and me. I suppose we’re all a work in progress. But isn’t that what life is? A work in progress?

“Peaches.” Gavin says my nickname in a soft, flirty whisper, then presses a kiss to the spot below my ear he knows I love. He tugs on a curl when I don’t immediately respond. “You’re doing an awful lot of thinking in that pretty head of yours.”

I smile up at him, looping my arms around his neck. “Just thinking about how happy I am. But I’m ready.”

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