Rush: The Season (Austin Arrows Book 1)(138)
She pulls back and I drop my arms. “I shouldn’t have done it. It was stupid. I know my mom loves you and I know you love her. I’ve known it for a while.”
I fight my smile. I’m glad someone knows this, because until last night, I think Ellie and I were rather oblivious to that fact.
“But you made her cry and it made me mad.”
My heart squeezes. “I didn’t mean to make your mom cry.”
“It’s all my fault,” she continues on. “I found my dad and it messed everything up.”
Unable to help myself, I reach for her shoulders and lean down so I can look in her eyes. “Bianca, finding your dad didn’t mess anything up. I’m glad you found him. I’m not sure he even knows how lucky he is to get to be a part of your life. And if he doesn’t, he will. He’ll know because every second he’s around you he’s going to see how awesome you are.” I let go and take a step back as she stares up at me, tears still streaming down her cheeks. “But you can’t take the blame for what happened between me and your mom. But you’re right. I do love her. And I want to be a part of her life. And yours.”
“Are you gonna marry her?” Bianca wipes her eyes with the backs of her hands.
“One day. Yes. I’d like to.”
“You’d be a cool stepdad.”
I grin.
“It doesn’t bother you that my dad is around?”
I frown. “Of course not. He’s your dad.”
She nods, as though that answers all of her questions. “I really am sorry.”
“Thanks for the apology,” I say. “And I’m sorry if I made your mom cry. I honestly never meant to hurt her or you.”
“I know.” Bianca glances back down the hall. “I guess we need to go eat breakfast. Mom made bacon and eggs.”
“I heard.”
“Between you and me, you’re a much better cook.”
And with that parting shot, Bianca is down the hall and I’m following close behind, trying not to laugh.
“Can me and Gabby go with you to the game tonight?” Bianca asks her mother.
Ellie glances over at me when I step into the room. Her eyes rake down my body approvingly—which, I’m happy to say, is completely covered with the exception of my feet—before resting on my face once again.
“That should be fine,” Ellie tells Bianca. “But you better hurry ’cause Gabby’s mom’s gonna be here in a few minutes. You don’t want to miss the museum.”
Bianca shoves the bacon in her mouth. She runs around and hugs Ellie quickly, then gives me a knuckle-bump on her way to the door. “Y’all better behave today.”
Ellie gasps and I see her cheeks turn pink.
As soon as Bianca’s out the door, I grab Ellie, pull her into my arms, and hold her tightly. “That was a very low blow,” I tell her.
Of course, she laughs because she knows exactly what I’m talking about.
“Were you embarrassed?” she asks, her hands landing on my chest as she looks up at me.
“I was terrified.”
“Of my kid?”
“I was in your bed.”
Her eyes flare with heat. “I know. And it’s a shame you’re not there now.”
I glance at the clock. “If I didn’t need to get to morning skate, that’s exactly where I’d be headed right now.”
Ellie smiles. “Well, we’ll have to wait until tonight.”
I’m not sure I can wait that long. But if those are naughty promises I see in her eyes, I’ll damn sure do what I have to. “You’re a dirty girl,” I tell her.
“You have no idea. I was thinking maybe we could make a bet on tonight’s game.”
I lift my eyebrows, waiting to hear what she has in mind.
“If you get a shutout, then we’ll have some fun with a few more of those toys you bought.”
“A few more?” God, she’s going to kill me.
“Yep.” Ellie brushes her lips against mine. “After all, it is your job to kinkify me.”
“True.” I lick her bottom lip, then nibble it with my teeth.
“And”—her eyes sparkle with mischief—“I fully intend to hold you to it.”
“And, baby, I fully intend to deliver.”
Bianca
“I can’t believe he spent the night,” Gabby whispers as we follow her mom through the halls, looking at all the wax figures everywhere. She’s definitely more excited about coming to the wax museum than me and Gabby are. But it’s a trip to San Antonio, and since she promised to take us to eat on the River Walk, we agreed to go with her.
Not that Gabby would’ve had a choice.
“He loves her,” I tell Gabby.
“I know. And it’s cool. I’m sorry for your dad, though.”
“He’s not upset. We went to dinner last night and we talked about it. He told me that he wants my mom to be happy and Kingston obviously makes her happy. I told him about how Kingston made her cry.”
“What did he say?”
“He told me that sometimes love makes people cry. It’s not always bad.”
“That doesn’t make any sense. I only cry when I’m sad,” Gabby counters.