Clean up in Silas’s bathroom!
~ Two Days Later / January ~
Today is Dante’s birthday party, and Em and I weren’t sure about going with Gracie since she’s only been better since yesterday. But Cecilia assured us it was fine and that she wasn’t worried, so we’re making our way over to their place right now.
It’s just before noon, and even though the party ends at 4:00, I know we’ll most likely be there until way later. That’s always how it is when the whole gang gets together.
Gracie is dressed as a princess, per usual, and Emma is wearing one of her vintage dresses again. It’s a knee-length, sleeveless, navy-blue swing dress with large lapels and two rows of black buttons on the sides of her torso. There are also two strips of black and white polka dots on either side of the skirt and some covering her chest between the lapels.
Her hair is in big Hollywood curls with one side pinned up to her head, exposing her ear. Her eye makeup is light, but she has a dark red lipstick on, making them pop out.She’s so fucking beautiful.
We haven’t had our talk yet about where we stand or where we’d like things to go, but I think our kiss from when Gracie was sick sealed the deal for us. I’ve kissed her again since, and we’ve been touchier than ever.
Although we still haven’t had sex again, and I’m fine with that. As much as I want to sleep with Bunny, I also feel like we’re connecting on a deeper level by not having any.Something I haven’t wanted in a long time.
She told me about the picture taken of her and Gracie at our hockey game in Toronto after I had already seen it. She felt bad about it and wanted me to reach out to the photographer to fix the mistake, but I told her it was fine, that it didn’t bother me.
If I’m being honest, something settles in me every time I think of Emma as Gracie’s mom. I know it’s unfair to Stephanie, but Gracie still deserves to have a mother figure in her life.
We park the car in the Hayes’s enormous driveway that’s quickly filling up with cars, as well as along the street. Being captain of a hockey team means everyone shows up for your kid’s birthday.
I gather the pile of gifts for Dante from the covered bed of my truck and walk inside the house behind Emma and Gracie. Once our winter coats and boots are removed, we wander over to the rest of the partygoers.
“Oh, you guys are here! Hi, sweetheart. I heard you had a little bug this week.” Morgan comes up to us and takes Gracie into her arms.
“Yeah, it was a little scary seeing her so down, but she’s all better now. Aren’t you, Little Tulip?” Em coos.
Walking around the kitchen, I kiss all the women’s cheeks, including my sister and Ronnie, then head over to the living room where Silas’s parents are playing with Dante. I shake John’s hand, then kiss his mother's cheeks. “Hi, Mira. You look beautiful.”
“Greyson, how are you, my boy? How’s the little angel?”
“She’s wonderful. And I’m good,” I tell her.
“I heard Emma has been taking good care of her… and you.” She raises a brow and chuckles.
I shake my head with a smirk. “She’s been good to the both of us.” It’s the only information I give her.
“Good, I’m glad. It’s about time you found yourself someone to love.” She pats my cheek lovingly.I wouldn’t say we’re at the love stage, but I won’t correct her.
I bend down and pick up Dante in my arms.Jesus, this boy is heavy and growing like a weed. He’s definitely his father’s son.“Hey, little guy. I heard you’re one now, a couple more years and you’ll be joining us on the ice. What do you say?”
When he begins fighting out of my hold, I let him down before he hurts himself, then watch as he walks over to his hockey stick and brings it to me. “Key, key!” he says in that baby voice where you aren’t sure if it's actually a word or not while holding out the stick.
“We should have known one of his first words would be hockey,” John says, laughing.
The boy is clearly smart.I ruffle his hair and kneel down. “You want to play hockey, little bud? How about I go spend some timewith your mom and dad, and later you and I will play together, sound good?”
He takes back his stick and walks away to Milo, Silas and Cecilia’s Alaskan Klee Kai. He hits him in the leg with it like it’s a puck, and the dog endures the hits without even batting an eye.I’m guessing he’s used to it by now.
I walk back over to the group just as Gabe and Noah join in. “The favorite uncle is finally here,” Gabe declares, loving being the center of attention.
Noah elbows him hard in the ribs, making him fold over. “You might be the favorite uncle, but I’m the favorite player.” He looks over to the girls and winks.
“Player being the key word,” Ronnie mutters just loud enough for everyone to hear, causing us all to laugh.
“Oh! My little vixen is here. Good, I was starting to miss my girl.” Gabe walks over to Ronnie and places his arm over her shoulders. “By the way, you didn’t give me your number last time,” he tells her.
She takes his arm off her shoulder and lets it drop. “Yeah, and you’re not getting it now, either. Oh! And I’m not your girl.” She glares at him and steps aside, creating some distance.
