Page 35 of When Alec Met Evie
I’m holding a baby.
Or…sort of holding a baby? I might as well be holding a basketball. Juno is dangling from my hands, little legs kicking, eyes wide as she looks up at me.
“Want me to hold her?” Carter asks, stepping toward us. “I’ve got a niece, so I know how.”
A part of me wants to agree, but a bigger part doesn’t want to give the baby up. Suddenly, Juno makes a cute babbling noise before her mouth lifts into an enormous grin. We’re making eye contact, she’s looking right at me, and shesmiles.I pull her closer. “No, I want to hold her.” I look down at Evie. “I just don’t know how.”
“Just tuck her against your chest.” Evie reaches up and positions my arm just below Juno’s butt, then moves the other so it’s supporting her back.
Juno shifts her weight forward, one hand clamping onto my shirt, and Evie grins. “See? Just like that.”
I bounce Juno lightly in my arms. “Hi, Juno,” I say, feeling a strange sense of wonder. I look over at Evie, completely forgetting the awkwardness that punctuated the last few minutes. “This is pretty awesome.”
“I love hanging out with my baby niece,” Carter says, warmth in his expression. “But my sister says I only feel that way because I only hold her when she’s happy.”
Behind him, Theo drops onto the couch and leans his head back, lifting his feet to prop them on the coffee table.
“True, but this is a good place to start,” Evie says. She smooths her hands down the front of the jersey, holding my gaze. “I love this,” she says, her tone warm. “And the things for Juno. Thank you for thinking of us.”
The Appies turquoise across the shoulder and down the sleeve brings out the blue in Evie’s eyes. But more than that, the genuine gratitude in her expression keeps me from feeling any regret about giving her the jersey. Even if it wasn’t my idea to do it.
“Can we watch something?” Theo says, reaching for the remote.
“Nah, man. Let’s leave them alone,” Carter says. “You’re annoying when you’re drunk.”
“I’m not drunk,” Theo says.
I don’t love that Theo and Carter left the team dinner for another party. Had I been with them, I would have encouraged them to stay, to get to know their teammates. Avoid partying when our season’s just starting. I can’t fix the way things went down, but I can hopefully do a little bit of damage control now. “Actually, why don’t you pick out a movie, Carter?” I say. “I’ll make some coffee for Theo, then we can all watch.”
“I can make coffee,” Evie says, moving toward the kitchen. “And pop some popcorn. As long as you’re happy holding the baby.”
She moves around the island while I pace behind the couch, a soft bounce in my step as I rub my hand up and down Juno’s back. Eventually, her head drops onto my shoulder, one hand lifting to her face as she rubs it against her eyes.
“Is it okay if she goes to sleep?”
Evie turns and looks at me across the island, her expression tender. “She’s fine if you’re fine,” she says. “If she does, we can take her upstairs and put her to bed.” Evie winces the slightestbit before quickly correcting herself. “Not we. I don’t know why I said we.I just mean I.Ican put her to bed.”
I nod, growing more and more comfortable with having Juno in my arms. Honestly, I didn’t really mind that Evie saidwe.I thought I meant it when I told Megan I didn’t do babies, but that was before I met Juno. Before I realized how fun this is.
As I continue my pacing, I leave the living area and move into the hallway that leads toward the front door. There’s a mirror on the wall halfway there, and I stop, turning to the side so I can see Juno’s face. Her head is fully on my shoulder, her eyes heavy, but she’s clearly fighting, trying to stay awake. I sway back and forth a few times until finally she takes a deep breath and her eyes fall closed, her weight sinking into me as she fully relaxes.
I haven’t felt a stronger sense of victory since we took the Calder Cup last season. Juno is asleep—in my arms.I did this. And it feels amazing.
I snuggle her a little closer, my cheek dropping onto her baby-soft head.
When I look up again, Evie is watching me from the end of the hall.
I offer her a tentative smile. “I don’t know what I did,” I whisper.
She slowly walks toward me, her hand lifting to Juno’s back. “You must have a magic touch.”
“I don’t know about that,” I say, but Evie only shakes her head.
“Trust me. She doesn’t go to sleep for just anyone.”
“I’m happy to help anytime,” I say. “I mean, as long as I’m here.”
“That’s right. You’re leaving soon, aren’t you? I remember you saying I’d have the house all to myself.”
