Page 10 of A Surprise for the Holidays
“Fuck, I forgot.” A new wave of guilt swept over him. He’d forgotten that his niece was about to become a mum. Christ, that meant he’d be someone’s Great Uncle.
Ugh. Might as well get myself some cardigans and change my name to Algernon.
“You have had a lot going on the past six or so months. You get a pass on this one. Besides,” he could hear his sister’s smirk in her words, “you funded the nursery.”
Being able to provide luxuries to his working-class family had always been a point of pride, but it didn’t stop him from playing along. “Oh, I did, did I?”
“Yeah. And you bought her the top-of-the-line pram she was after. You’re her favourite uncle for sure.”
He chuckled. “Don’t you dare let Freddy hear you say that.”
“I like how competitive he gets.”
And, just like that, his melancholy evaporated as he laughed loudly at his sister’s antics.
Catching movement in the doorway from the corner of his eye, he turned to find Bailey leaning against the door jam, his hair wet from having just showered post-training. It hung in limp, long strands that reached his shoulders, darkened by the water which also dripped and left watermarks down the front of his soft T-shirt.
For the briefest moment, AJ could envision what his team captain had looked like, standing beneath the likely cool spray of the water, given the summer heat and long training session they’d endured. The image in his head was gone in a blink, but echoes of smooth, tanned skin sluiced with water teased at his subconscious.
What the ever-loving fuck was that about?
Clearing his throat, he turned his attention back to the phone at his ear and gestured vaguely for Bailey to go say hello to Ava, who had yet to notice him. His daughter had blown past merely befriending the striker and now idolised the man, insisting on watching every training session intently. It was cute…and it didn’t hurt that Bailey seemed just as taken by Ava, joyfully hanging back after training to kick a ball around with her, or to sit and draw and discuss cartoons while AJ dealt with administrative tasks.
“…anyway, I’ve got to go,” he told his sister, unable to tear his gaze away from Bailey. He watched as the younger man sat down easily on the floor beside his daughter, crossing his legs and leaning over to join in her imaginary play. He picked up a doll and, though AJ couldn’t hear what he said, he imagined it was in Bailey’s preferred falsetto for doll play. Ava’s answering giggle was almost raucous and that made AJ smile.
“—won’t you?” Abbey asked, and he realised he hadn’t listened to her at all.
“Sorry, what?”
“I said give that darling niece of mine a hug for me, won’t you?” she repeated, and he nodded, distracted again by the scene in the corner of his office.
“I will. Love you,” AJ finished up, and Bailey turned his head to look his way with an eyebrow raised. After he pressed the little red ‘end call’ button on his screen, AJ felt the inexplicable need to explain, “My sister.”
Bailey’s expression went from something AJ couldn’t quite interpret to something more relaxed and understanding. “Ah. Gotcha.” He cocked his head. “Do you guys wanna join me for dinner tonight? My shout.”
“You’re still on your mid-season meal plan,” AJ reminded him, narrowing his eyes. “No cheat days.”
Bailey smirked and nodded. “There’s this awesome vegan place in Broadbeach that is totally nutritionist approved.”
AJ wanted to groan.Vegan. Shoot me now.
“Daddy,” Ava queried in her high-pitched little voice, “what’s vee-gun?”
“It’s a magic kind of cooking that turns veggies into delicious treats,” Bailey answered, likely sensing (correctly so) that AJ’s response might be less enthusiastic.
Ava still scrunched up her nose. “Ick. I hate veggies.”
“Not true. I saw you munching on a carrot just yesterday,” Bailey argued. “And you scarfed down that mashed potato the other night, too.”
She pouted. “Yeah, well, Daddy said I couldn’t have pudding if I didn’t eat my veggies. I don’t like them.”
“C’mon, princess,” Bailey cajoled, and AJ wondered which of the two was going to win this battle of wills, “can’t you at leasttrymy new favourite restaurant before declaring that you hate everything in it?”
Ava was silent for a moment before she narrowed her eyes at Bailey. “It’s really your favourite?”
He nodded. “It is. And you don’t think I’d like it if it was gross, do you?”
Ava bit her lip, clearly flummoxed by the logic. “But…it’s veggies?”
