Juliet
Striker: Counting down the minutes, pixie. Sharing a room with a snoring goalkeeper has nothing on waking up with you in my arms.
Juliet: Is that why I woke up to a bunch of memes and reels this morning?
Striker: My way of showing I was thinking about you.
Juliet: Smooth, striker.
Striker: We just got on the bus. Two and a half hours until I get to see you.
Juliet: Are you going to tell me what we’re doing?
Striker:Nope.
Juliet: What should we wear?
Striker: Something comfortable.
Juliet: That doesn’t help.
Two hours later, while Tinsley plays in her room after an early lunch, I stand in front of my wardrobe feeling nervous. Not about Blake. I don’t have any doubts about him. But for the last eighteen months, it’s just been me and Tinsley. I don’t know how she’ll react to the idea of Blake spending more time with us.
Tinsley already knows him, and she likes him. But liking him as Everett’s friend is one thing. Understanding that he’s with me is another. She’s been through so much in her short life. I’m scared of how she’ll react to more change.
I settle on a pair of jeans and a lavender knit top, and when I’m dressed, I find Tinsley in her bedroom still in her pyjamas, playing with her dollhouse.
“Hey, princess,” I say, running my hand through her blonde curls. “Time to get dressed.”
“Why?” she asks, scrunching up her little button nose.
I lean down and press a kiss to the top of her head. “It’s a surprise.”
Her face lights up, warming my heart. “What can I wear?”
“Whatever you like, sweetheart. You can choose.”
She runs over to the chest of drawers Blake and Everett put together for her and starts rummaging. I smile as I lean against the doorframe and watch her hold up a pair of pink leggings with silver hearts and her favourite pair of jeanswith a rainbow trim around the ankles, assessing them both before looking over at me.
“Where are we going, Mama?”
“I’m not sure. It’s a surprise for me, too.”
She frowns, but doesn’t ask any more questions, turning back to her clothes. She selects the jeans and pulls out a white long-sleeved top with a unicorn print. As she’s changing, there’s a knock on the door, and anticipation bubbles in my stomach.
I smooth my hands over my hair as I cross the living room to open the front door. My heart stutters as I drink in a freshly showered Blake, dressed simply in black jeans and a light grey hoodie.
“Hey, pixie,” he says, a smirk playing on his lips.
I glance over my shoulder before stepping closer and hooking a hand around his neck, tugging him down to kiss me. His hands grip my hips, and my body heats all over. The sound of little feet coming down the hall causes me to step back just as Tinsley appears.
“Blake!” she squeals, running over to us and peering around him. “Is Rett here, too?”
“Sorry, Sprout,” he says, ruffling her hair. “Just me today.”
She blinks up at him. “Mama’s taking me for a surprise.”
He arches a brow as he crouches down in front of her. “She is? That sounds fun. Do you mind if I join you?”
