Page 106 of Always Will
“Sounds fake,” Jared scoffs, while Bryant boos at me.
“It’s clearly rigged. Good looks can get you anywhere these days,” Bryant jokes.
Chase and I got word about receiving the Innovations in Tech Sales Award right around the time my paternity leave ended amonth ago. It turns out the automated reporting system we developed as a last-ditch effort to help our new associates wasn’t as simplistic as we thought. The chief information officer had summoned us to her office, where we found out she’d sent our work to the board at the Edward Reed Technology Foundation. They created an entirely new category just to give us this award. Honored doesn’t even begin to cover how I feel. Chase and I were featured in yesterday’s newsletter from corporate, and as soon as the congratulations died down, Bryant and Jared laid it on thick. This is just the tip of the iceberg with these two.
“The Office Slacker Award nominations were already full,” I say, tapping Jared’s doorframe with my palm and turning to look at Bryant over my shoulder. “Nice pictures, by the way.”
Bryant laces his fingers behind his head, leaning back in his chair with a hearty laugh. “Oh, he’s gotjokes?”
“Nah, but I do have work to do.” I give a head nod and stroll down to my office.
“Come on, Trev. It’s Friday,” Jared calls after me. “Live on the wild side!”
Laughing, I flip on the light and drop my phone and laptop bag on my desk. I settle into my chair while my computer boots up, and my phone vibrates with a “good morning” picture of my Lyla Belle. Her sleepy smile, complete with a singular dimple in her left cheek, is offset by her copper-colored curls sticking straight up like they do on most mornings. I don’t know how it’s possible, but my heart bursts every time I see her deep brown doe eyes. Lyla Isabelle Willis-Jones is the perfect mix of Willa and me.
Willa
Morning Daddy!
Me
There’s my sweet pea Now where’s her beautiful mama?
Willa sends back a picture of her rolling her eyes. She’s getting back to her old self more and more every day, and all it does is make me fall deeper in love. This is the Willa who had me crushing for years, only now I’m living the best of both worlds. I get to kiss and hold her. Tell her exactly how I feel. She only gives me a little bit of a hard time about it now. No sex though. At least, not yet, anyway. She hasn’t felt ready. With all the changes her body has endured over the last year, I want to give her the time she needs. But it’s getting hard to hide how much I miss our physical connection. Her body was incredibly sexy before—curvy and full in all the right places—but now, it’s a goddamn masterpiece. A shrine that was the lifeblood of my most precious treasure, and I’m near frothing at the mouth to fall to my knees and worship every single inch.
Me:
So sexy.
Willa
Flattery will get you everywhere right now. Lyla just puked in my hair.
Me
My sweet pea would never…
Willa
You two probably conspired against me before you left this morning.
Me
It was all her idea, Gem. Love you.
Willa
You better.
Me
Miles felt sobad about that Salt Lake trip, he’s keeping me on local flex for several months so I can be close to home. I told him it wasn’t necessary, water under the bridge and all that, but he insisted. Who am I to refuse that gift? Coming home to my girls every night is the best thing I’ve ever experienced. Exhaustion and all, I wouldn’t change a thing.
Willa’s slumped against the kitchen counter, wiping the back of her hand across her forehead, when I drop my bags by the door. She doesn’t look up, instead closing her eyes as her head falls back, stretching out her shoulders. I take a few steps through the living room and wrap my arms around her, hugging her from behind. She melts into me when I nudge her hair off her shoulder and kiss her neck.
“Hi, Gem.” I press kisses along her skin, and she lets out the lightest moan. “Rough day?”
Leaning her head back into my chest, she nods but doesn’t say anything. I walk her to the couch, keeping my arms wrapped around her waist, and pull her into my lap facing me, waiting for her to let me in. “Lyla’s teething, for sure. Soaked through five bibs. The good ones with the waterproof layer in the middle. And she was ornery as hell. She just now went down for a nap.”
