Page 59 of Playboy

I nod. “Okay, small things and big gestures. I think I can work with that.”

“Brooks cut off all his hair.” Aiden dips his chin in his next oldest brother’s direction.

Our goalie just laughs and shakes his head. “A small thing.”

“That stunt led to the NHL raising millions of dollars for a charity that was important to your fiancée,” Beckett points out. “Not such a small thing.”

“I cloned Lex’s phone and read along with her, then acted out her favorite spicy scenes,” Aiden says, chest puffed out proudly.

Gavin covers his face. “You’ve got to stop telling everyone that. Millie has talked to me about some of the books she reads, and now I can’t look your wife in the eye.”

Aiden licks his lips. “My wife is filthy, and I love it.”

“Okay, so presents, dinner, big gestures, and light stalking. Got it.”

Gavin throws his head back and laughs loudly at my summation.

Beckett, on the other hand, studies me as he takes another slow drag from his cigar. “How’s Hannah handling the pregnancy news?”

In the space of a breath, I go from hopeful to filled with dread. Because I just told her boss that she’s having a baby before she broke the news.Fuck. I clear my throat. “She’s, uh, she’s good. You know she’s dedicated to her job, so that’s her focus.”

Beckett nods. “Yes. But that changes now. Kids change everything.” He leans forward. “Family changes everything.”

I force a smile, certain that I’ll never have the ability to do it again once Hannah finds out what I did.

TWENTY-ONE

HANNAH

“How many pieces did you eat?”Oliver’s jaw drops.

Across the table, Noah laughs. “You should have seen her in high school. First time I had pizza with her, she finished five slices without looking up. I always order an extra pie now.”

I roll my eyes. He’s totally exaggerating. I had four slices that day. Might have even been three. But Noah could house one pizza on his own, which he did tonight, by the way. Oliver and I shared the second one. “You’re just lucky you put pineapple on yours so neither of us touched it,” I tease.

Oliver makes a gagging noise. “Seriously, Dad. You are the uncoolest pizza eater ever.”

Noah tosses his wadded-up paper towel across the table and hits Oliver in the chest. “Go put on pajamas and brush your teeth. Then you can pick a movie.”

Oliver sticks out his bottom lip. “Can we play a game instead?”

Noah arches a brow, focus drifting to me. When I nod subtly, he gives Oliver the go-ahead.

The little guy scrambles off his seat, but before he can get far, Noah clears his throat.

“You forgetting something?” he says, holding out his arms.

His sweet little boy runs toward him, his little body darting across the room far faster than I could travel, and launches himself in for a big hug. I breathe out a small laugh as I watch them. Noah is a great dad. Is this what Daniel’s relationship with our child will be like? The thought instantly has tears threatening to spill. I suppose it will be similar in the sense that a woman who isn’t our child’s mother will be sitting with him or her and Daniel during his parenting time. While during my time, I’ll probably be right here, doing this—hanging out with my brother and my nephew.

The thought sours my stomach, but before I can think too hard about it, Oliver is launching himself into my chest.

He comes at me with so much force my chair tilts, but before I can go down, Noah steadies it.

“Be careful with your Aunt Hannah.” His tone is chiding but soft. He never raises his voice to his son.

I wrap my arms around the little guy and squeeze. When I release him, I run my fingers through his silky hair. “It’s okay. I appreciate the hug.” More than I can say. I can’t remember the last time someone truly hugged me. It melts my heart every time Noah hugs his son. Oliver will always know he’s loved, that’s obvious.

When he rushes off, yelling that we should set up Jenga while he gets ready, we both laugh.

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