Page 121 of Sin Bin Daddies
By the time I’m out, my stomach’s growling. I towel off, toss a shirt on over my trunks, and swing by this little bakery that Madeline likes near her place. They’re just opening up.
I grab fresh bagels, some lemon muffins, and her favorite strawberry smoothie. Asher’s easy—coffee, black, no sugar.
When I arrive, I find Madeline in a yellow dress that makes her glow. Not just beautiful. Radiant.
There’s this soft pink in her cheeks, like she just woke up from a good dream, and when she sees me, she smiles like it’s automatic.
Like I belong here.
Her bare feet pad across the floor toward me. I kiss her, slow and careful, one hand sliding over her waist, and everything quiets again for a second.
“Hi,” I say, and she gives this sleepy little smile.
“You brought bagels?” she asks, eyes drifting down to the paper bag in my hand.
“Only the best for you.”
She grabs the smoothie first, takes a long sip, and moans like it’s the best thing she’s had in days.
“I still don’t get why I have to switch doctors,” she says once we’re all seated at the kitchen table, food between us. “I just got this one, and Daisy recommended her. I don’t think we have to change.”
Asher leans back in his chair, voice calm. “No chance of anyone leaking your name to the press. You get guaranteedprivacy especially since Leo is involved. This doctor’s has strict NDAs in place, and he’s used to dealing with people like us.”
She lifts an eyebrow. “People like you?”
“You know… hockey royalty,” Asher says, deadpan.
I snort into my coffee. Madeline just rolls her eyes but there’s a ghost of a smile playing at her lips.
She nods slowly, then picks at a piece of her muffin. “Okay. If you really think it’ll help.”
“It will,” I say, nudging her foot under the table. “Did you hear from Henry?”
She shakes her head. “Not yet. He’s probably still absorbing the shock. Logan did text to congratulate me and tell me to give my brother a bit of time.”
I nod and then glance over at Asher. “What about Leo?”
He sighs. “Not yet. Not since last night. He’s probably meeting with Coach right now. We’ll update him after the visit.”
Madeline’s quiet after that, staring at her half-eaten bagel. I reach for her hand and pull her into my lap.
She curls up like she was always meant to fit there, resting her head on my shoulder while she finishes her breakfast.
I press a kiss to her temple. “You okay?”
She nods, not looking up. “Just tired. And nauseous. And overwhelmed.”
“We’ve got you,” I say.
“I know,” she whispers, then kisses my jaw.
We clean up, and Asher grabs the keys. The car is one of those big, low-key SUVs that doesn’t draw attention but drives like a tank. Madeline slides into the back seat, and I hop in the front beside him.
The hospital’s tucked away behind gated stone walls, shielded by a line of dense trees and no obvious signage. It’s the kind of place that caters to celebrities, politicians, and people who can’t afford a headline scandal.
Inside, it smells like lavender and eucalyptus. Nothing sterile. Nothing cold.
There’s a separate entrance for patients like her, with security and check-in done through a small glass window instead of a front desk. Everything’s designed to move quietly.
