Page 35 of Might as Well

“I know, but babe, this is a good distraction.” No one can resist Savannah’s bubbly personality. “Give it a chance and if you really want to leave, say the word.”

A minute later, Savannah squeals as she opens the door. “Z!”

“Savannah!” Ian’s stern reprimand causes her eyes to widen as she slowly turns to face him. “What did I tell you about opening the door?”

“But it’s Z,” she replies meekly.

“Did you know that before you opened the door?”

She shakes her head.

“You do not answer the door. No more. Understand?” Savannah nods, her little personality hiding after Ian got on her. Ian sighs and crouches until he’s eye level with her. “Sometimes, people come to the door and we don’t know them. I just don’t want you answering and we not know who it is first, okay?”

“Okay, Daddy.” Savannah turns to face us again. “Are you here to play with me, Z?”

“Yeah, and I was hoping Violet could play with us too.”

Savannah eyes Violet, apparently still unsure of her. “Okay.” She holds out her hand, which I take, and I grab Violet’s to pull her along.

Ian chuckles and follows us into the living room.

“Where’s Sydney and Andrew?” I ask curiously.

“At her brother’s.”

Savannah orders us where to sit and launches her imagination as we continue the tea party she started with Ian. Little by little, as Savannah talks about all the imaginary animals that are in the room with us and the silly things they are doing, Violet relaxes. She even smiles, laughs, and entertains Savannah.

At some point, Ian and I slip away into the kitchen.

“That’s going well, I guess,” he says with a nod of his head toward Violet. When I nod, he adds, “You seem happy. Happier than before.”

Before when you were with Deanna.

That’s what he left off. I’m annoyed she keeps getting brought up. I know my reaction wasn’t great, but it completely threw me off that her other fuck buddy was my teammate and apparently none of us knew it. I had also been sleeping with her for so long yet made no progress to actually know her. It took Brayden way less time. But now, they are happy and I’m certainly over it. Why does everyone have to circle back to her?

“I don’t regret it,” I say. “Marrying her. Just hope she won’t regret it either.” Honestly, I don’t think I’ll ever regret it. This time with her so far has meant so much. “It’s crazy, but I saw her and?—”

“You just knew,” Ian finishes. I glance over and spot his gaze on Sydney, who has come home. “Trust me, I get it. I was only a teenager when I first saw her in an airport and got swept away. By the time we dropped her off at her dad’s, I was a goner.”

I’m glad someone else gets it. The last thing I need is someone thinking I’m crazy. Not wanting to intrude on their family time any more than I already have, I say goodbye to Ianand the rest of his family, snagging Violet’s hand so I can lead her out.

“Can I stay at your place tonight?” Violet asks as I back out of Ian’s driveway.

“Sure; do you want to go by your place first?”

She nods. With that, I drop her off at her place, so she can pack a bag and drive her car back to my house. Later, Violet straddles my lap as I sit on the couch.

“Can I ask you something without you thinking I’m silly or…” She pauses, searching for the right word but there’s no need.

With a squeeze of her hips, I say, “No judgment here, babe.”

Violet smiles slightly. “Why are you still here with me? I have a never-ending pile of baggage and something is constantly going wrong. Why subject yourself to that? To me? What?—”

“I don’t regret marrying you,” I interrupt, figuring she should hear what I told Ian as well. Violet’s eyes widen in disbelief. “It’s crazy, but I have never been as happy and as sure of anything in my life. Being with you makes me feel more complete than anything else has, hockey included. I don’t care that you’ve got baggage; I can help carry it, Violet. I know in reality we’re just dating, but I can’t wait for us to get to a point where we can live together and feel like I’m your husband and you’re my wife.” A horrifying thought hits me. “Are you changing your mind? If you want out, I’ll make it happen and go. Ow!” A short burst of pain hits my side. “Why’d you pinch me?”

“Checking to see if you’re real.”

I laugh. “That’s not how that works.”

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