Although he’ll be pushing the limit if he ever says shit like that again to her.
Sienna answers the door before I’m done knocking. “Hey,” she says hesitantly while she bounces my daughter on her hip. From her expression, she obviously knows something just went down, but first things first.
I scoop up Poppy and hug her to me. “How’s my girl, huh?” I blow kisses into her neck, and she squeals. After loving up on the kid, I turn to Sienna. “Sorry I’m so late. This morning, uh, was crazy.”
“It’s barely nine. You’re fine.”
“How was her night?”
She catches me up on all the cute things Poppy did this morning when she woke up at ass-crack.
I reach into my back pocket and hand her an envelope of cash. “I’m sure I owe you more.”
I’ve started paying everyone something and keeping track so I can make up the difference when I have more money. Pretty sure my roommates won’t let me starve, but I can’t deny how humbling this is. Being this financially desperate reminds me of being a kid again, which I fucking can’t stand.
She tries to hand it back, but after I insist, she nods.
We stare at each other a second while I try to figure out what the hell I need to say when she chuckles. “Guess you wanna talk to Gabby?”
“Yes, please.”
She motions behind her. “I think she’s in the shower.”
Likely trying to avoid me. Can’t say I blame her. “I’ll wait.”
Sienna’s expression tells me that’s the right thing to say.
Poppy and I sit on the couch, and Sienna waves bye and disappears down the hall. I lean back and balance Poppy on my stomach, where she tries to stand. When she wobbles, I widen my eyes and go, “Whoa, baby! Daddy’s gonna catch ya.” The kid loses it, giggling until she can barely breathe.
After several minutes of this, she eventually gets tuckered out and rests her head on my chest. I pat her little butt. I have a shit ton of homework to do, but I’m determined to spend some quality time with my daughter today first. It’s not her fault my schedule is insane. I promise myself I’m gonna make it up to her when the season is over.
“Da. Da. Da. Dahhhh. Dee.”
I pause. “Did you just say Daddy?”
She lifts her head and gives me a slobbery grin and repeats the word that cracks my black heart wide open. Not prepared for how hearing that term would hit me, I close my eyes and give my wiggle worm a hug. “Love you, Poppy.”
When I open my eyes, Gabby is standing a few feet away in a robe. She gives me a soft smile. Her hair is wet, her face free of makeup. But it’s obvious she’s been crying, and that fucking wrecks me.
“Come here.” I pat the seat next to me. Surprisingly, she doesn’t put up a fuss, but she settles a good foot away from me.
“Aww, you can do better than that.” Leaning toward her, I sling an arm around her shoulders and drag her to me. The move gets me a laugh, and eventually she slides closer and drops her head to my chest, where she coos at Poppy.
My daughter makes grabby hands for Gabby, who takes her into her arms.
They obviously adore each other.
Briefly, I wonder if this could be my life. When I’m not playing football and there are no cameras or press or fans, if I could come home to this. Quiet evenings with my daughter and Gabby.
Except the thought makes me want to break out into a cold sweat.
Before I can freak out, I remind myself of the advice Tank shared with me before I came over. To take one step at a time. To not lose my shit thinking about ‘down the road.’
“You’re not asking the girl to marry you,” he warned. “She’d probably laugh in your face anyway. Just let her know she’s different.”
He didn’t need to explain what different meant.
The intimacy and connection I’ve always had with this woman only exploded when we had sex. I’ve never felt anything like I do with Gabby.
