The Langfield Brothers: Box Set

42. Millie

FORTY-TWO

MILLIE

Gavin’s fever broke around three, and once we were all up and Vivi was fed, we boarded his private plane to head back to Boston. The rest of the team returned after the game. Even before Gavin got sick, we’d planned to return separately so Vivi wasn’t up all night traveling.

By the time we walk into his apartment, I’m dead on my feet. Between checking on Gavin all night and dealing with a teething Vivi, I don’t think I got more than an hour of sleep.

Gavin is still sick, and someone needs to watch the baby, so sleep is the last thing I’ll be getting right now.

“Go lay in bed. I’ll place an order for soup and more meds.”

He slumps, his head hanging. “You’ve got to be exhausted. Let me check with my brothers and Ava. Maybe one of them is available to watch her.”

I press a kiss to Vivi’s soft head, irrationally annoyed that he sees me as nothing but her sitter. Easily replaced by anyone he knows. “It’s fine,” I say, keeping my tone even. “No sense in potentially exposing anyone else to the flu.”

“You think—” His brows pinch. “You think she’ll get sick?”

My heart softens. He is such a good dad. “If she does, we got this.” I give him a small smile. “I want to take care of her. I wouldn’t be able to sleep if someone other than you or me is with her.”

Gavin nods and thumbs over his shoulder. “Okay, I’m just going to—” With that, he disappears down the hall.

“Okay, Vivi girl. How about we order some groceries? Then maybe you’ll want to take a nap.”

Vivi had zero interest in napping, so once the grocery order is placed, we head out for a walk. As I enter the hallway, a flash of pink appears next door.

“ Psst , c’mere!” Lennox is peeking out into the hall, her eyes darting left and right comically.

I can’t help but laugh at her theatrics. “It’s just us.”

“Come in!” She steps back, leaving the door open, clearly assuming I’ll obey. And because I’ve got no real plan and a heck of a lot on my mind, I do.

In hot-pink spandex, Lennox crouches in front of the stroller and smiles at Vivi. “How are things with Hockey Daddy?” she asks, pulling herself up again.

I roll my eyes even as my heart sinks. “The same.”

She eyes me, and my cheeks burn under her perusal. “Nope. Something happened.”

I snort. “Nothing happened. Promise.”

My pink-haired friend shakes her head. “Nope. You saw him naked.” She taps her finger to her cheek. “Water was involved.”

My mouth falls open. “How do you do that?”

With a squeal of laughter, she claps. “It’s my superpower.” She snags an oversized water bottle off the counter and starts toward the door. “Come on. We’re going to the gym, and you’re going to tell me why, even after seeing Hockey Daddy’s cock again, you’re all frowny faced.”

“I’m frowny faced because I haven’t slept in like forty-eight hours.”

“A workout will do you good, then,” she says without even the slightest bit of remorse.

I follow her because I’m too tired to argue.

As we approach the gym, she steps to the side and juts her chin at the door. “You go in first and make sure the coast is clear.”

I laugh. “Sara really is awesome. I don’t think you have to continue hiding from her.”

She purses her lips and hits me with a glare. “Go.”

Smirking, I slip into the empty gym. “All clear,” I sing, not at all surprised that the facility is empty. It’s the guys’ first day home in ten days. They’re probably taking it easy.

She stalks in, eyes narrowed and peering over her shoulder. While she sets her water down and tightens her ponytail, I lay a blanket out on a mat, lift Vivi out of her stroller, and settle the both of us on the floor. Immediately, Vivi reaches for her toes and pulls them to her mouth. I grasp her hands and gently pry them off, then hand her a teething toy. “Don’t eat your toes, bestie. I got you.”

“You’re so good with her,” Lennox says, clipping her shoes into the stationary bike.

I shrug and look down at Vivi, who’s gurgling and cooing at her toy now. “She makes it easy.”

Lennox shakes her head. “No, babe. She’s a baby. Even if she’s the cutest one I’ve ever seen, I’d be losing my mind. You haven’t slept in two days, and her father has been an ass to you, yet you’re so chill and serene when you’re with her. You’re everything she needs.”

My throat closes up, and I have to blink to stave off tears threatening to spill over.

Everything she needs. Just me.

The idea—that I could ever be enough for someone—slices through me.

The door to the gym swings open, startling me. I wipe at my face, even though I haven’t shed a tear, and turn at the sound.

“Hey, Baby Hall,” War hollers, stepping into the room. His eyes are bright and his smile is wide. Apparently, he’s over the flu. Hopefully that means Gavin will be feeling better soon too. “Yo, Sar,” he calls over his shoulder. “Your new bestie is here!”

Lennox squeaks and wiggles one foot, then the other, trying to dislodge herself from the bike. Frantic, she gets one free, then practically falls off the bike in one very un-fluid motion. “Shit, shit, shit,” she mutters as she rushes past me and darts into the storage closet.

Sara appears then, scanning the space. “I swear I saw someone wearing bright pink on a bike when we passed the window a second ago.” She shakes her head. “Am I losing it?”

Shrugging, I scoop Vivi off the floor. I’m a terrible liar, so looking away as I do is my best bet. “Just Vivi and me here right now.” Not exactly a lie.

Brooks follows behind her, his size immediately making the room feel smaller. He kneels beside me and offers a fist to Vivi, even though she doesn’t have the coordination for fist bumps just yet. “Hey, Vivi girl. How’s it going?”

I sigh but smile at the baby. “She’s teething, and her daddy is still sick.”

“Oh, that’s fun,” Sara mutters.

Brooks smiles. He’s always smiling. “Hiding from him?”

I snort. “What gave that away?”

He squeezes my wrist, then runs a finger along Vivi’s cheek. “He’s trying,” he says as my eyes catch on the friendship bracelets circling his wrist. Best Uncle , Saint , and Crazy Girl .

I take a steadying breath when a flash of Gavin’s bracelets hits me, specifically the one with my nickname on it. But before I get too lost in the memory, I remember that Lennox is still hiding in the closet. “Hey, any chance you guys can help me really quick?”

They all eagerly agree as I rack my brain for an excuse to get them out of here. I blink at Brooks, then Sara, then War, searching for inspiration, but my mind is blank.

“You need something?” Brooks says slowly, brow furrowed.

“What the girl needs is sleep,” War says. “Come on, Baby Hall.” He looms over me and holds out his hand. “Let’s go up to my place. We can watch Vivi while you take a little nap.”

I put my hand in his and hold tight to Vivi, letting him help me up. Now that sounds like a plan.

After spending the afternoon at War’s, I return to the apartment, feeling marginally better. According to her text, Lennox made it back to Sara’s apartment without being spotted. I promised to catch up with her later, then pocketed my phone to ensure Sara didn’t see the messages. When she discovered I’d never seen Dawson’s Creek , she just about lost it and forced me to sit through the first four episodes.

I get Vivi set up in her baby swing, and while she’s cooing and smiling at the spinning butterflies above her, I heat up a bowl of soup, then take it and another dose of meds with me down the hall. “Gavin.” I knock on his door. He doesn’t answer, but I figure he’s sleeping, so I press inside. “Hey, Gavin?—”

The words die on my lips as I come face to face with a soaking wet Gavin who is stepping out of the bathroom in nothing but a towel. His head shoots up, and his brown eyes settle on me.

Rivulets of water travel down his shoulders and between his pecs, then disappear where the towel clings to his waist. I can’t look away from the V that leads to the most perfect cock. One that is very clearly growing hard the longer I stand here ogling him.

“Fuck,” Gavin mutters.

Caught in the act, I tear my eyes away and instead zero in on his face, which is etched in severe lines.

Lip caught between my teeth, I wince. “Sorry—I, uh—” I point to the door. “I’ll just leave the soup here and get out of your way.”

“Millie, wait.” Gavin takes a single step closer, his expression easing. His damp hair is a mess, but his skin looks less pale. “Let me get dressed, and I’ll take over with the baby.”

“You’re sick.”

“I’m feeling a lot better. Sleeping the day away will do that.”

I smile. “I’m glad you’re feeling better, but seriously, rest. You can take over tomorrow.”

He sighs. “You sure?”

“Yes. Vivi and I are going to eat. Then I’ll give her a bath before we both crash for the night.”

He nods and swallows audibly. “I really appreciate it. I’ll be out in a bit to say good night to her, at least.”

“Okay.” We watch one another again. There’s so much to say, but neither of us dares to interrupt this ceasefire we seemed to have entered. I catch a glimpse of the bracelets on his wrist again and feel another swell of certainty that we’re going to be all right.

Then I book it out the door before I launch myself into his arms.

“Please, Vivi.” We’re both crying now. She’s been up every hour since midnight, drooling and gnawing on her hand. This damn tooth is so close to breaking through. Every time she falls asleep, I collapse into bed and set the monitor beside my head on the pillow. I’m so delirious from lack of sleep, I worry I won’t wake up the next time she cries.

But I do. And every freaking time, I fling myself up too quickly and bang my head on the top bunk.

I pace back and forth in her room in the moonlight. “We both need sleep, baby girl. Please.”

Viviane’s whole body shudders with each sob, pitiful and heartbreaking. I continue rubbing soft circles on her back and murmuring soothing words. When her cries grow louder, I try singing. At this point, I have to do something to keep myself awake. The exhaustion is so bone deep I’m not even sure what time it is or how many times I’ve been woken up.

After several minutes, her cries quiet, and she drifts off. “Oh, thank god,” I murmur into the top of her head, holding her close.

After setting her back in her crib and begging her silently not to wake up again, I hurry back to my room, praying for sleep. My head throbs from exhaustion, and continuously banging it on the top bunk has only exacerbated it. So I grab a pillow and blankets, then trudge back to Viviane’s room and curl up on the floor, determined to get some rest.