Page 157 of Pucking Strong

Poppy sighs. “Lukas, honey, you have to forgive Teddy. He was acting on my orders. If you need to be mad at someone, be mad at me.”

“I can’t be mad at you. You birthed my baby.”

She flashes him a dazzling smile. “She’s a good one, isn’t she?”

He softens, his shoulders relaxing. “She’s perfect.”

“Okay, so show her off to your friend Teddy and bury this hatchet, while I go to the ladies’ room.” She shuffles the baby into his arms as Novy mutters a grunt of protest. Then she sweeps off to collect Grace. “Space Kitty, let’s go. Potty break!”

“We gotta go too,” says Tess, giving my anxious husband a pat on the shoulder. “But y’all have fun with this.”

“Tess, come on,” he pleads.

“Let’s go, Aurora,” she calls to her daughter. “We’ve got pumpkins to carve!”

In the Langleys’ absence, Novy and Teddy stare each other down. Nov sways slightly to soothe his fussing baby. Slowly, Teddy holds out his arms. “So, uhh … can I hold her—”

“No,” he growls.

“Oh, come on, man. This is total bullshit. I only did what yourpartners thought was best. Morrow told me not to give you the keys too. And it all worked out. Look.” He gestures at the baby. “She’s perfect, right? And you didn’t even miss a thing. So, you have to forgive me already.”

“I don’thaveto do anything.”

Teddy flaps his arms. “Well, so what then? What do you want from me? What’ll it take, huh? Name your freaking price.”

Novy’s eyes flash with interest. “Seriously?”

“Yes! What, do you want your suit back?”

“I—” Novy’s mouth snaps shut as his eyes narrow. “Wait, you still have that?”

Teddy shrugs. “Maybe.”

“Then, yes, asshole. I want that back.”

“Fine. What else?”

He smirks as he considers. “Oh, I think you know what I want.”

Teddy points a finger at him. “Only within reason. Don’t be a greedy fuck.”

Now, Novy smiles, and I feel the need to inch in closer to Teddy’s side. “What do you think is fair, Doc?”

Teddy considers. “Ten minutes?”

“Try an hour. Every week. For the rest of the season.”

“You know what? Maybe I’m fine with you being mad at me.” Crossing his arms, Teddy glares at the baby. “Maybe I don’t even want to know her name.”

Novy gasps, pulling back, as Morrow finally steps in behind him, one hand on his shoulder. “Hey, guys. Ted, Karlsson.” He smirks at the stupid crab claw mittens on my hands. “Whoa, nice costume there, bud.” Sensing the mood, he glances between Novy and Teddy. “Wait, what’s happening right now?”

Teddy holds Novy’s stare. “Your partner is setting the terms for his forgiveness. In this moment, I’m forgetting why I’m even sorry.”

“What are you negotiating?” I ask.

“My time,” Teddy replies, still staring Novy down.

I glance between them. “Your time?”

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