I walk over and open the door, and sure enough, Yami, Mav, and Darling are all standing there with hopeful grins.
“Sorry, I tried to tell them too many visitors would be a bad thing but they didn’t listen.”
Craning my neck around, I see Sadie walking up with two coffee cups. I reach for them, simultaneously glaring at the guys. “You are welcome, bringer of lifeblood. The rest of these yahoos can wait outside.”
“C’mon, Monty, we wanna meet our girl.”
Yami’s whining isn’t convincing me of shit. I let Sadie slip past me, but then my dad opens the door wider.
“We’re heading out, son. Lark said your friends can come in. Your mom and I will go to your apartment and tidy up. Let us know if you need anything.”
I pull him in for a hug. “Thanks, Dad.”
After hugging my mom as well, I turn to the guys, folding my arms across my chest. “You will be quiet. You will not swear. You will not make Lark laugh. And I swear to God, if one of you wakes up my daughter, I will beat your ass.”
They each nod, and I let them in. Lark is now sitting up, cradling her coffee in her hands. “Hey, guys,” she says as one by one, they make their way over to give her a hug. Don’t get me wrong, I love that my teammates all adore my girl and want to meet my daughter. But all I want right now is to go back to being alone with Lark and Stella in our own little bubble. Because when I see Willow hand my baby girl off to Yami, I have to clench my fists to prevent myself from taking her back.
“It’s scary shit, isn’t it? Seeing your kid, your flesh and blood, out there in the world.”
I turn at Sin’s quiet voice.
“Even when they’re with people you know and trust, some instinct kicks in.Must protect what’s mine.Makes you feel kinda caveman. But it gets easier when you remind yourself that the more people loving your kid, the better.”
I exhale slowly, letting his words sink in. “So you mean that feeling like I want to rip her out of Yami’s arms and kick everyone out is normal?”
Sin chuckles. “Yeah. Totally normal. And if you really want everyone out, I’ll make it happen. But everyone here loves you, loves Lark, and loves your little girl. Just remember that.”
I look at Lark, at the smile beaming across her face, as she talks with Sadie and Willow. Then at the guys who are all peering down at Stella, now cradled in Darling’s arms. They’ve got the goofiest grins on their faces.
And something settles in me. Sin’s right. More love is never a bad thing. Moving over to the bed, I sit down next to Lark again, lifting my arm so she can snuggle in.
I set my coffee down on the table next to the bed and use that hand to tilt her chin up to my face. “Thank you for making my dreams come true, Birdie. Even ones I didn’t know I had.”
Her hand comes up to cup my cheek. “I love you.”
I smile and press a kiss to her lips, feeling hers turn up in response.
“I know.”
Epilogue
Monty
3 years later
After I smile for the hundreds of cameras pointed my way, I hand off the trophy to Yami, who has just as many tears coming down his cheeks as I do.
“We did it, brother,” he says, hoisting it over his head. “Woo!”
Damn right, we did.
With three years left in my career, I finally made it. The Vancouver Tridents are the league champions. And everyone I love is here to celebrate. Well, almost everyone.
Unfortunately, our daughter Stella, who I still call baby bird, has the flu and had to miss the game. But I know Lark’s mom will have it on the TV.
Speaking of my wife, I finally get my eyes on her, winding her way through the crowd, a wide smile on her face. She was kept busy the entire game, as not a single one of us stubborn assholes wanted to sit out even a second of play, no matter how tired, sore, and bruised we were.
Closing the last few steps at a run, Lark leaps into my arms,wrapping her legs around my waist. “You did it!” she yells, only sort of into my ear. I spin her around before setting her down, grabbing her face in my hands and kissing her deeply.
