Page 25 of Enticing

I press my lips against her head and pull back, concerned. “You’re warm, baby girl.”

Mentally, I go through the cupboards, trying to remember the last time I bought infant’s Tylenol and decide to swing by the pharmacy drive-thru on the way home to be on the safe side.

My phone rings a few moments later as I slide behind the wheel of Mrs. Murkey’s caddie, and I hit the speaker while Lennox whines from the back seat. “Hey, Coraline. What’s up?”

“Hey, Addie. Just finished my first final. I’ve got three more and a paper to turn in, then I’ll be home. Counting down the days. What’s going on in Kroydon Hills?” she asks me in a hyperactive way that makes her sound like a cartoon character on speed.

“Slow down, sissy. Take a breath. How did you do on your final?” I ask, loving how happy she sounds. I get it. Coraline is in her final year of law school. Thankfully, our parents left money in the trust specifically for tuition, so she’s been able to finish.

My heart pinches in my chest as I think about the way they’re controlling our lives even now, and I have to force it away.

“I nailed it.” Her smile is evident in every word, even if I can’t see it.

“Good... Can’t wait to see you this weekend.”

“What’s wrong? You sound upset.” If anyone can call me out on my shit, it’s her, and she never hesitates to do it.

“No. It’s all good. Just struggling to get through a chapter. I’m in the car now, on my way to pick up Izzy, then swing by the pharmacy. Lennox is teething and has a fever.” As if sheneeds her side to be heard, Lennox’s whimpers in the back seat transition into a full-blown sob.

“You sure it’s just teething?” Cori asks, as concerned as I am.

“I think so. She’s six months old. The pediatrician told me at her last checkup, we should be past the point of seeing any complications. But still... I think I have some lingering trauma over the whole thing,” I admit, concerned.

“I guess so,” Cori agrees. “A small bowel resection at three days old and seventeen days in a hospital would do that to any parent. I’d be more concerned if you didn’t have some trauma.”

“I know. But it’s not like she’s going to wake up, and her intestines are going to be on the outside of her body again. They fixed it. She should be fine. This is either teething or a little bug.” I’m definitely working to calm my own fears while I try to calm Coraline’s as well.

You never get over having your baby stay in the hospital for weeks.

Thank God for my sister and Mrs. Murkey.

I couldn’t have done it without them.

“So...” Cori drags out in a teasing tone. “Ishegoing to be there?”

“He who and where?” I ask, playing stupid. I know exactly who she’s talking about.

My sister laughs. She knows too.

“Whatever. I’ll play your game. Do you want to talk through the chapter giving you a hard time?”

I turn the corner, nearing the practice facility in town that today’s Hockey Tots practice is at. “No. Not right now. You focus on studying. One more semester to go. I’m so damn proud of you.”

“Don’t be proud yet. Let me pass the bar next summer, then we can celebrate. Love you. See you this weekend.”

We disconnect as I pull into the parking lot and stare at the building for a hot minute. I was pleasantly surprised when we got the message that the remainder of the Tots practices would be at the practice facility. Serena Kingston personally apologized for the change, but it was much more convenient for me because I didn’t have to make the trek into the city. Not that it took long, but ten minutes to the center of town versus thirty minutes to the Revolution Arena is a nice little win in my book.

I untuck Lennox from the car seat and hold her tight to my chest, hoping the closeness calms her a little as we hurry into the building and stand, swaying by the half wall surrounding the ice, getting us both settled to catch the last ten minutes of practice. And there she is. My girl. Laughing with a little blonde as they take turns trying to hit the puck. Neither manages to make contact, and the two large men behind them beam as they watch them.

One is Leo.

The bigger one.

The hotter one.

Not that I noticed or anything.

But really, how could I not?

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