Page 140 of Unrivaled Love
"That's a good question, Tilly.” I laugh. “I'm not really sure."
She wiggles out of Harper's arms and runs back to her mom. No further explanation needed.
"Jo! It is so good to meet you." Danielle comes over and wraps me up in a hug. I'm caught a little off guard and the woman is shorter than I am so all I can do is bend at the elbows and pat her back. "Glad you met Tilly. This is T.B.D.." She rubs her tummy. "If it's a boy I might name him Stanley."
"Please do! Topo here was born before they won the cup so I couldn't jinx it." Ivanna says as she turns to us. "Hello Jo Hamilton. I hear you're good with balls."
"What?" I ask in a laugh looking at Harper for help. She just hangs her head with a little chuckle.
"With the football, or soccer, or whatever you American’s call it. You're good with the balls."
"Ohmygod Ivanna, you act like you're fresh off the boat. You speak better English than I do." Danielle says as she slides into an oversized chair. "Jo, she's messing with you. But we've all become big fans."
"Of my ball work." I add and the girls laugh.
"We've heard no complaints from Bryson!" Ivanna says.
"Wait, he talks to you about that?" How close is this team?
"Ha, no, but sometimes the boys complain or brag to each other and it gets back to us. Vlad can't lie to me so I'll know if something fishy is going on."
"Give the girl a break." Harper says. "C'mon the boys are getting on the ice."
I turn to see them skating out for practice and Bryson is one of the first out there. He warms up and then starts doing some stick handling drills while the rest of the team makes their way too.
"Mike is going to push them extra hard today." Danielle says.
"Really? Why?" Harper asks.
"They got sloppy in the last game, tired towards the end and it led to some intercepted passes and missed opportunities." I say without thinking.
"Yeah, exactly." Danielle says looking up at me from her seat. "Is that a casual observation from a fan or insight from an athlete?"
"Definitely more athlete insight. Hockey is great, don't get me wrong, but it isn't my first choice to watch. I knew Bryson would want to talk about his game afterwards so I taped it and watched it back, skipping the commercials."
"That's genius." Ivanna says.
"Thanks."
"I'm still learning the game so I can't really offer any advice to Aiden." Harper says. "But I've learned how to handle him after losses."
"That right there is an invaluable skill." Ivanna says. "Vlad can be so pissy after a loss. I told him he couldn't come inside unless he was ready to kiss me, smile, and help take care of the kids because a mopey man is worse than no man."
"How'd he take that?" Danielle asks.
"Great. Once he realized he wouldn't get his post loss blowie if he wasn’t inside the house. He fixed his attitude right up."
"You give blowies after losses?" I ask. "Doesn't that feel more like a victory sort of thing."
"Nothing makes a sad man happier than getting is dick sucked. And sad men are the worst so he can feel bad for himself on the drive home but then he has to move on. It's a game and losses happen." She shrugs which stirs the baby on her chest. He lets out a little cry but then rolls his head and settles back in for sleep.
"How are you settling in?" Harper asks me, steering us off the subject of blow jobs.
"Good. I mean it’s only been one night but so far, good." I feel my cheeks flush thinking about how we role played the lady pirate and prince last night and how Bryson let me tie him up.
"When does the national team start to practice?" Danielle asks.
"We pick up after Thanksgiv-"
