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Twenty Two
“Are you nervous?”I ask. She’s sitting in the front seat of my truck, wearing a fitted tank and tight dark jeans that accentuate her waist, making my cock stir.
She shakes her head no, but I can see the way she’s fidgeting with her fingers, picking at the purple polish on her nails. Even though we haven’t made this a big deal… it is. It’s our first public outing together, and even though it’s just the team and their families, it still feels huge.
It’s a giant step in our relationship, which is still brand-new, but even still, I can’t wait for everyone to meet her and my Olive girl. Reaching over the console, I pick her hand up and lace my fingers through hers, then bring the back of her hand to my mouth and place my lips there gently.
“Don’t be nervous. They’re going to love you. Actually, everyone will probably just obsess over Olive, so I think we’re going to be off the hook.”
That makes her laugh. Low and feminine, I love the sound. So fucking much I want to hear it again, and again. I’ll never get tired of hearing it.
“That makes me feel slightly better,” she says quietly. The entire ride she’s been silent, but the way she clasps my hand tighter makes me feel better.
After a few more minutes, I pull off the highway into Reed’s gated driveway. He and Holland are hosting today, mostly because, out of all of us, Reed’s house is the largest, and Holland loves to be extra with his sister, Emery, when it comes to get-togethers and parties. Well, it’s mostly Emery, and she just makes Holland help her.
“Wow,” Maddison breathes once the heavy black iron gates swing open and the two and a half story Acadian-style home comes into view. Painted a bright white with black shutters and a wrap-around porch, it looks like something out of a magazine.
After Holland and Reed got married a few months back, they built this house together. Reed says for more kids, but Holland says it’s great for entertaining. We all know what the real truth is though. Reed is fucking obsessed with getting Holland pregnant, even though they have his nephew, Evan, who he adopted as his son.
I wasn't even a kid guy before Olive, but I love that little guy. He’s fucking adorable, and he has this obsession with sea animals.
“This house is bigger than my entire apartment complex.” Maddison’s eyes are wide as she takes it in. Her grip on my hand tightens slightly, so I pull her gently toward me, and drop a sweet kiss on her lips, until I can feel her relax against me.
“I promise it’s going to be okay. You’ll love the girls.”
Again, she nods, but says nothing. When she pulls her bottom lip into her mouth, a nervous habit, I use my thumb to pull it from her lip and swipe lightly across her plump lip. Arousal spikes inside of me, but I tamper it down, since walking into Reed’s house with a hard-on is the last thing any of us need.
I shut my truck off, open my door and hop out, before heading to Maddison’s door and helping her down. She runs her hands down her sweater, then smooths down her hair while I get Olive and her infant carrier from the back seat. Her eyes open just as I unhook the seat from the base. She yawns sleepily and stretches her little arms over her head. It’s so cute.
Damnit, everything she does is cute. She’s only two and a half months old, and already has me right where she wants me, without even knowing it.
Maddison grabs the diaper bag from the floorboard, and I turn toward her, extending my free hand for her to grab. “Ready?”
She nods, sliding her clammy palm in mind. Together, we walk through the gate that leads to the back yard, then through the small entryway. When we make it into the back yard, the second that Holland, Emery, and Juliet see us, there's a deafening squeal. They run over to where we’re standing and immediately start to talk to Olive.
“Maddison, this is Juliet, Liam’s wife. He was our coach a few years back.”
“Hi Maddison! I'm so happy to meet you. I can’t wait to hold your sweet girl, she’s so adorable,” Juliet exclaims, tickling the bottoms of Olive’s feet, earning a wide grin from her. She stands and pulls Maddison into a tight hug, not the least bit worried that she’s hugging a stranger.
Maddison looks a bit overwhelmed at first, but quickly plasters a smile to her face and hugs Juliet back after the initial shock has worn off. “Hi! It’s so nice to meet you, I’ve heard so many wonderful things about you.”
Juliet grins, then lets go to make room for Emery, who hugs Maddison and pulls back, holding her shoulders to look at her. “You are so hot. I told my brother that you’d be hot.”
Maddison’s cheeks tint with a blush with Emery’s compliment, and this time, I’m the one grinning.
She is hot. Hot as fuck, and all fucking mine.
“Er, thank you, you’re very pretty too.”
Emery smirks. “I’m Emery, Reed’s amazing sister. I’m so glad you came!”
“Emery!” Reed calls from across the courtyard, gesturing her over.
“Duty calls, but I’ll be back for all the baby snuggles.” She rolls her eyes before letting go of Maddison and sashaying over to him.
Holland shakes her head at the boisterous, over-the-top personality, that is her best friend. “Sorry about her. She’s a character.”
“It’s okay, I need to be pulled out of my shell.”
