The Langfield Brothers: Box Set

37. Gavin

THIRTY-SEVEN

GAVIN

Me: Anyone want to grab dinner?

Aiden: Is Millie coming? I have more questions about Lennox.

Brooks: Dude. This is getting concerning.

Beckett: I’m with Brooks, and I’m not even there.

Me: Dinner?

Aiden: Baby Hall?

Me: Don’t fucking call her that.

Brooks: He didn’t even use ducking. You’re screwed.

Aiden: Peaches?

I grit my teeth and squeeze my phone, resisting the urge to throw it across the room. Motherfucker.

Brooks: What are you smoking?

Beckett: Aiden, tread really fucking carefully right now.

Me: Do you all fucking know?

Brooks: Know what?

Aiden: side-eye emoji

Brooks: Wait, you told Aiden and Beckett a secret and not me?

Beckett: You don’t want to know this secret.

Me: Fuck it. I could use the advice.

Beckett: No you couldn’t, because nothing is going to happen.

Brooks: Sara says I’m an idiot.

Brooks: Does she know the secret too?

Brooks: Holy shit! Millie IS Peaches! Princess Peaches?

Me: She’s not Princess Peaches. That’s just what Finn calls her.

Beckett: Don’t blame this insanity on my son.

Me: Okay, Papa Bear, calm down. You know what I mean.

Beckett: The only papa bear you should be worried about is Ford. Keep Gavin away from Millie, boys. That’s your only job this week.

Aiden: Jeez, I thought I was here to score goals.

Me: Your job is also to score goals.

Brooks: Also?

Me: Dammit. No one needs to babysit me. SHE’S the babysitter. Is anyone going to join me for fucking dinner?

Brooks: This is Sara. Secret’s safe with us. We’ll meet you downstairs at Cru. Is Millie coming?

Me: No. She went out to dinner with Daniel.

Aiden: See ya in ten.

Beckett: I’m serious, Gavin. Do not ducking touch Princess Peaches.

Somehow, even when I’m ready to crack a tooth over my aggravation with these idiots, they make me laugh. I heave out an unsteady breath and watch Vivi, who’s lying on the bed with her legs scrunched up, pulling at her toes, lost in her own little world.

Twenty minutes ago, Millie texted to say she was going to grab dinner and could be back in an hour if I needed her. She didn’t even knock on the bedroom door to tell me. When I responded, I told her to take the whole night.

Needless to say, I’m an asshole. I don’t have a choice, because when I’m kind, she gets comfortable and acts like the Millie I used to know, and I can’t resist her.

I can’t see her smile. Can’t hear her laugh.

I almost told her she could never be just the help. That if I had my way, she’d be my everything. Thank fuck the phone rang before I could lay my heart on the line and beg her to love me. Beg her to forgive me for being such a goddamn dick to her all the time.

She made it clear months ago that’s not what she wants. She never loved me that way— if she loved me at all —and I need to keep reminding myself of that.

At least when she’s pissed at me, she stays away. It’s better like this. It has to be this way. Even if I hate every fucking second of it.

Vivi squeals, and I turn to her and smile. “Hey, Vivi girl. You want to go have dinner with the fam?”

Another squeal.

Scooping her into my arm, I press a kiss to her cheek. “Daddy loves that sound.”

She does it again, as if she knows how happy it makes me. Fuck, she really is the perfect kid.

Vivi’s rocking a blue sweater dress tonight, along with a ridiculous pair of fur-lined boots. This outfit is one of many Sara and Lennox picked out for her. I threw on a navy sweater and a pair of dark jeans, and for the first time in a while, I’m feeling like I’ve got this.

We’re going to be okay.

I can’t help but grin the whole way through the lobby. Every person we pass smiles and waves at Vivi or stops to tell me what an adorable little girl I have.

As I step past the hostess stand, my stomach sinks and the smile falls from my face.

“Just the person I wanted to see,” Sebastian Lukov says as he saunters up to me.

For most of my life, I looked up to the man. I was a teenager when he married my aunt. Back then, he played for the Bolts, and I practically worshipped him. Then I considered him a friend. For ten years, we worked together to create and foster a program that allowed us to win the cup. Not once did I ever imagine he could be such a liar and a cheat.

Swallowing past the lump in my throat, I hold Vivi tighter. “Hate to disappoint you, but the feeling isn’t mutual. So if you don’t mind?—”

I step to the side to pass him, but as I do, he grabs hold of Vivi’s hand.

Instantly, ice runs through my veins and my entire body goes rigid.

“And who is this?” he asks, focus fixed on her.

“Don’t touch her,” I grit out.

Even Vivi senses the inherent evil inside this man. My always happy, friendly girl curls her body into my chest and rubs her face against my sweater, as if she doesn’t want to look at him.

“Where’s the girl’s mother?” He tilts to one side, as if he’s waiting for someone to miraculously appear behind me.

“Not in the picture.”

“Heard she was left outside my old apartment door,” he muses, one brow lifted.

With a hand on Vivi’s back, I rub comforting circles. The move is just as much for me as it is for her.

“Better you than me.” His steely blue eyes meet mine. “Though you seem to have everything now. My old job, a mysterious child who just so happened to be delivered to you at my old door.” He pauses as he lets that sink in. “Sign the papers, Gavin. All I’m asking is for my fair share. No need for things to turn nasty.”

“They turned nasty when you cheated on my aunt, you piece of shit,” I hiss, my anger getting the best of me.

Sebastian’s lips tip in an amused grin, his gaze going to Vivi again. “We both know there is way more at stake. I’m sure you’d hate for that little girl to be the one who suffers.”

I nearly swallow my tongue. “What the hell are you insinuating?”

“Sign the amended contract. I get my bonus. I get what I’m owed. You shouldn’t keep things that don’t belong to you.” He zeroes in on Vivi again.

I suck in a harsh breath, frozen to the spot, unable to speak. Not that I’d have the first clue about what to say.

He doesn’t wait for a response, though. With one more sneering smile, he stalks off.

What the actual fuck was that?

Rattled and also fucking pissed off that Sebastian had the audacity to touch Vivi, I slog my way into the restaurant and to the table where my brothers and Sara who are all laughing and chatting.

Sara stands and smiles as we approach. “Hey, Vivi girl. Come to Auntie Sar. Daddy looks like he needs a drink.”

I cough out an annoyed laugh as she takes Vivi. “That obvious?”

“What happened?” Brooks asks, pushing a glass of whiskey toward me. “I ordered it for you. I’m drinking water.”

I drop into the empty seat and take a big gulp of the alcohol. “I saw Seb.”

Brooks’s jaw goes rigid, and he lifts up, scanning the restaurant.

“He’s gone.”

Aiden hisses and rubs at his eyes. “Tomorrow is going to suck. I can’t believe they hired the slimeball.”

Brooks leans back in his chair and crosses his arms. “He’ll fit right in with all those jerks.”

Sara keeps an arm wrapped around Vivi’s midsection and rests her free hand on his arm. “This has got to be hard on all of you.”

Can’t be easy for her either. The last time we played New York, Brooks found out that Seb had been running his mouth about his affair with Sara to his nephew. Vincent Lukov plays defense for New York, and he’s always stirring shit up on the ice. When he asked if he could have a shot with Sara since she’d already been passed around the family, Brooks left the ice in the middle of the game and beat the shit out of Seb in front of the whole arena. It was a shit show and a night we all wish we could forget.

“Feeling good. I’ve got my head on straight. I won’t let Lukov get to me.” Brooks squeezes Sara’s hand. “You still okay?”

Sara gives him a soft smile and snuggles Vivi closer.

“Duckhole,” Aiden grumbles.

Vivi breaks into a smile at the sound of his voice, causing us all to laugh.

“I gotta be honest. Using duck really doesn’t hit the same.”

I chuckle and take another sip of whiskey. Then I roll my shoulders back. Seb is a duckhole. He doesn’t know anything. He’s making threats because he wants his money. I blow out a breath and will my nerves to settle. I’m glad I asked my brothers and Sara to join me for dinner. I need time with my favorite people to help me feel a little like the old Gavin. Gavin 2.0 kinda sucks. I need to be a better version of myself for Vivi, not worse.

Once we’ve ordered and the server walks away, Aiden arches a brow. “We gonna talk about the elephant in the room?”

“You want to talk about Lennox again?” I tease.

“Hey!” Sara cries, feigning annoyance.

I hold up my hands. “He’s the one who won’t shut up about her.”

Unfortunately, my youngest brother won’t be distracted. He sits forward and rests his forearms on the table. “No. The peach elephant.”

My stomach sinks, but I keep my expression bland. “Nothing to talk about.”

“Sure about that?” he counters, a little too confident.

“Easy.” Brooks lays a hand on the table. “Why don’t we talk about tomorrow’s game?”

“Because I think if Gavin talks about this, he’ll feel better,” Aiden counters.

I grunt. “People in glass houses shouldn’t throw hockey pucks.”

Sara’s laugh is light and her smile is wide. “This family. I swear you can make anything about hockey.”

Vivi sticks her bottom lip out and fusses. Before I can grab her diaper bag and search for her binky, it turns into a full-on cry.

As much as I hate when she does, I can’t be mad about the excuse to avoid the conversation. “Looks like I’m on daddy duty, Aiden. No time to chat.” I stand and snatch her out of Sara’s arms. I’ve just pulled her to my chest when she makes a gurgling noise. “Hey, Vivi girl,” I coo. “Say bye-b?—”

My words are cut off when I’m splattered by baby goo.

“Oh shit.” I grasp her a little tighter, fighting my instinct to recoil, and wipe my face on my shoulder to get the vomit away from my mouth. As I turn back to her, there’s another gurgle, and this time, the explosion hits my hand. The hand holding Vivi under her bum. The liquid that coats my skin is warm and foul, and suddenly, everyone at the table is groaning and backing away.

Sara claps a hand to her mouth. “Holy shit. Is that?—”

“Oh my god,” Aiden shouts. “Gav, you really are on daddy duty. Only it’s doody covering the daddy!”

I scan the restaurant, taking in the horrified faces watching us and then look back at Sara. “I’m gonna go.” I back away, ignoring the mess left behind, trying like hell to hold my breath and not puke.

Sara follows me back to the room, the two of us gagging all the way, and helps me give Vivi a quick wipe-down. Once we’ve used half a pack of baby wipes on the poor kid, I wave Sara off, then take the screaming baby straight to the shower.

“This is so not how I saw my life going,” I tell my poor girl. A single dad spending my night in a hotel shower with my baby girl covered in shit. Doesn’t get more glamorous than this. I’ve just gotten Vivi in a fresh diaper when my phone rings on the bathroom counter.

I scoop her up, wrap the towel around her to keep her warm, and rush to pick it up. “Can’t they just leave me the duck alone?”

When Ford’s name flashes on the screen, I hit accept and put it on speaker. “In the middle of something. Can I call you back?”

“What is Millie doing out with your hockey players?”

Guess that’s a no.

“What are you talking about?”

“Lake said she saw a picture online of Millie sitting on Camden Snow’s lap.”

The fuck? Could this night get any worse?

I keep my tone calm, even as my anger spikes. “Why are you calling me?”

“Because you’re supposed to be watching over her.”

“No, Ford. She’s supposed to be watching my child.” I peer down at my baby girl who’s gumming her towel, happy again. “The child I’m currently bathing because she just shit all over me and probably the table at the restaurant we just left.”

“Oh shit.” Ford coughs out a laugh.

“Literally. So how about I worry about my baby, and you can figure out yours?”

“Yeah. Um, sorry. That guy?—”

“Hit on Lake. I know. You got jealous. I remember the night very well. It feels fucked-up that he’s now hanging out with your daughter, but I seriously can’t wrap my head around this shit right now because, once again, I was covered in literal shit ten minutes ago, and I’m still trying to come to terms with it.”

“I’m sorry, Gav. I’ll let you go.”

I sigh. I don’t mean to take my frustrations out on him. “It’s fine. She said she was going out with Daniel, so for what it’s worth, I’m sure he’s watching out for her. And I’ve told the guys she’s off-limits.”

“You’re the best.”

Gritting my teeth, I squeeze my eyes shut. He wouldn’t think that if he knew that the reason she’s off-limits to them is because she belongs to me. Even if I can’t have her.