Page 138 of Pucked Up Plans
“That’s what I called it in my head.” My shoulders lift. “Seemed fitting.”
He tries it out. “Babygate. Yeah, okay. Catchy and sensible. And not nearly as offensive as the Keeley cockcycle.” Walsh spits the words out, embarrassed.
I lean in closer. “I very much enjoyed my ride on the Keeley cockcycle today. And as long as I’m the only one riding, it’s kind of growing on me.” Which is a total lie, the part about it growing on me. Walsh promptly calls me out on my bullshit.
He points a disapproving finger in my direction. “Growing on you, my ass.”
“It’s awful. It makes you out to be a total whore.”
“We call them ‘players’ when they’re of the male variety.”
“My bad.” I glance at the clock. “Shit. It’s almost time to get the girls.”
“I’ll grab them.” He stands up. “Wait. Will Aubrey be okay with that?”
I smile, his kind gesture touching my heart. “Yeah, I think she just might,” I say with a snicker.
“Cool.” He leans down for a kiss. A spine-tingling, over-the-top kiss to keep me satisfied while he’s gone. However, I’m not complaining. All things considered, I’ll take all the kisses he wants when we’re alone. These moments happen few and far between. “You want me to see what Millie’s making for dinner?”
“No,” I protest. “I’ll make us dinner.” Damn, I jumped too fast on that one, not wanting to put Millie out. The more I consider it, the more I should have agreed. One less meal to make.
Again, Walsh reads me like the open book I am. “You can cook another day for us. I’ll clean up.”
Once he leaves to pick up the girls, as I tidy up the kitchen, I can’t wipe the smile off my face.
Thank goodness Babygate was short-lived.
He’s all mine. I don’t have to share him with anyone new, exactly the way it should be.
EPILOGUE
WALSH
SIX MONTHS LATER
Liliana
Any chance Lennon’s free to skate today? I can get ice time at the Aspenridge practice rink
You too of course
My girl snoozes on the couch. Because she refused to sleep last night, she crashed hard after a morning of swimming at the town pool with Aubrey and Tate. If I wake her, she’ll be a bear. As much as I shouldn’t reward her with skating, if I wake her with the promise of skating with Liliana, she’ll be excited, tire herself out more, and sleep will claim her. Hopefully, all night.
Sure. What time?
Uh, thirty minutes?
See you then.
Gathering our skate bags, I message Tate.
Can I interest you in free skate at Aspenridge in thirty minutes? No sticks involved
*shudder*
A cackle jumps free. With a little—a lot—of bribery, I convinced her to watch one of my games. Who could have predicted there’d be an all-out brawl? Not your average hockey fight, but a wrestling match on the ice? I wasn’t involved, but she was so spooked, she didn’t talk to me for twenty-four hours, pissed at me though I had not an iota of blame. Totes unfair to have suffered the hellish twenty-four hours.
Just a small group skating for fun. No fights. Come for Lennon
