“And cleaning up toilets that overflowed. Because if it doesn’t flush the first four times, maybe it just needs a fifth, right?” Carter says.
“That too.” Suki walks over to us. “And then mediating another teenage girl fight about who clogged the toilet.”
“Can’t wait!” I say, taking Talia’s hand as we walk out the front door. “Take care, guys.”
When we get back to the car, Talia gives me a questioning look. “So that didn’t scare you away from having our own babies?”
“Nope. We’ll figure it out.” I start the car and begin our drive home. “And speaking of activities that lead to babies, I really hope you’re in the mood.”
“Why is that?” she asks, her tone teasing.
“Because I can’t exactly rail you while we’re trapped on a boat with your dad. We need to get it in while we can.”
“You’ve never had a problem getting it in, babe.”
I scoff, laughing. “Goddamn right.”
“Lucien?”
I look over at her.
“I love that a crying baby is scary to you and that you always laugh at my jokes. And that you lick my pussy like it’s your job.”
I grin at her. “It is my job, babe. I play hockey on the side, but licking your pussy is my primary vocation.”
“Let’s keep it that way for at least the next six decades.”
“Believe me, I plan to.”
I bring her hand to my lips and kiss the back of it. When she smiles back at me, I don’t just see the smile of my beautiful best friend and girlfriend. It’s the smile of my future wife. The mother of my future children. The smile I can’t imagine ever being without.
Epilogue
Noel
* * *
“I was so sorry to hear about you and Angie, Noel.” Vivian Davis puts her hand on my forearm, running it slowly upward. “Oh wow, I didn’t know a forearm could be so strong.”
I sigh inwardly, missing the quiet comfort of my home, where I don’t have to fend off divorcées and fortune seekers several times a day.
This trip has been fantastic. I needed the time to focus just on my kids. The divorce was tough for Chase and Chloe, and they’ve missed me since I moved out.
I’ve missed them too. My kids are everything to me. Even Audra, though our relationship is strained. I’m not angry at her, but if I could get away with it, I’d choke the life out of her husband. He’s a punk who took advantage of not just one, but two of my daughters. Their relationship will never be the same. Kyle Macintire is nothing to me but Audra’s partner. I’ll never call him my son-in-law.
Lucien, on the other hand, is well on his way. He makes Talia happier than I’ve ever seen her. The glow she has isn’t just from all the sun she’s gotten on this trip. It’s also from the confidence and happiness she’s found in a relationship with Lucien.
I never would’ve imagined them together. He’s a menace on the ice, telling our opponents he fucks their mothers in ways that would make a sailor blush. Lucien’s not just a great defender—he’s also my highest scoring one.
I’ve gotten to know him better on this trip. He took Chase out for a day of jet skiing and parasailing so I could take Talia and Chloe shopping. Chase basks in his attention; Lucien is like an older brother to him already.
At age forty-seven, my jet skiing days are behind me. I’d rather relax on the yacht’s deck with a drink and watch the sunset.
Talia comes over to me and Vivian, saving me from small talk with her.
“Dad, can you come help me with something?”
“Yeah, no problem.” I nod at Vivian. “Enjoy the rest of your trip.”
