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Hard Hit (IceCats 3)

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But if I weren’t hung up on Jaylin, I’d holler at Jean. She’s a gorgeous girl. Long black hair, with the shiniest brown eyes I’ve ever seen. If she weren’t smiling all the time, I’d think she was crying with how shiny they are. She’s a bigger girl, but thick in all the right places. She’s stunning and so damn sweet to my girl. That’s probably my favorite thing about her, how much she loves my kid. But nothing compares with how I feel about Jaylin.

Jesus Almighty. Cheers to her parents ’cause, hot damn, she’s stunning.

Alas, everything is a shitshow. We go to court in a week, and when I told Lilly that, she didn’t seem to care. I don’t know if she’ll show up. If she doesn’t, we have to get another court date, and then another, before she gives up custody. I just want it done. I want it over, and I want Celeste to be only mine. I’m at the point now where I don’t even think Lilly deserves to be Celeste’s mother. Hell, I’ll be mom and dad. Whatever Celeste needs. Which is why I am standing in the newly decorated room for my nanny. With Aviva’s help, it’s perfect to me, but I still need their approval.

Aviva is grinning and that’s good, but Nico looks bored. “So, you’re living with this chick, and you’re not banging?”

Anyone else would be offended, but I know Nico has no filter whatsoever.

Aviva rolls her eyes. “Nico…”

I scoff before I say, “Yeah, I know it’s hard to believe, but I gotta make sure Celeste is solid.”

“I thought Henry and Merle wanted to watch CC?” he asks, speaking of my neighbors.

“They did, but my lawyer thinks this is the best solution to win custody since I travel so much.”

Aviva nods. “If Jay says it’s the best, it is. She knows what’s best.”

“I know, but I feel like CC needs someone she knows. I wouldn’t want our kid with some stranger,” he says skeptically as he rubs Aviva’s growing belly. It’s crazy that a year ago, we were both fucking whoever we wanted, and now, we’re dads. While he has it all, I know I’ll find that for myself.

Hopefully, she’s a sexy dark-skinned, curly ebony-haired boss of a babe in a pencil skirt.

It’s a long shot, especially after that email, but one can dream.

As always, I have to force myself to stop thinking of Jaylin and answer Nico. “Jean isn’t a stranger anymore. She’s come every day since I’ve hired her for three hours to play with CC. She loves her, and I think she’s great. She’s a good fit.”

He doesn’t seem convinced. “Maybe next time, don’t make a kid with a piece of shit.”

I give him a dry look. “I don’t regret that at all. Celeste is everything.”

He holds up his hands quickly, guilt filling his features. Since Nico doesn’t have a filter, he apologizes a lot. “My bad, bro. I didn’t mean that Celeste—”

I wave him off. I love this dude, even if he doesn’t think before he speaks. “It’s no problem, man. I know what you meant. And don’t worry, there won’t be a next time unless I am happily married.”

Aviva smiles brightly. “Or in a committed relationship with your forever.”

I point to Aviva, grinning. “What she said.”

We all chuckle a bit as we head out into the living room, where Celeste is in her pack ’n play, playing with some blocks as she watches Baby Einstein. I don’t care what anyone says, that show is legit, and I don’t mind that I had to buy a DVD player to play it. Celeste needs this. Aviva leans into her pack ’n play, rubbing her back as she smiles down at my girl. Aviva is good people. Strong gal and one hell of a provider. She loves hard, and I can’t wait to see her as a mother. She’s already one hell of a sister, so I can only imagine.

“When’s Callie leave?”

She looks up sadly. “Next month.”

I nod as Nico makes a face. “I don’t want her to leave, especially since I think Chandler is going to send those Adler boys my way.”

I chuckle as Aviva makes a face back at him. “Aren’t they Amelia’s cousins?”

Aviva nods. “Yes, but with the twins and the new baby she is having, she and Chandler are running out of room. Rumor has it as soon as camp is over and the Adlers know for sure if they are staying, they’ll get an apartment.”

“Yeah, so they need to make it or get out of here.”

“Nico, they are sweet guys.”

“That have penises.”

“Jesus—” she moans, but he cuts her off.

“Callie is too pretty, and I know they’ll fight over her.”

“And? She’s a smart girl.”

Nico isn’t convinced. “If she’s anything like you—and she is—she can’t resist a hot hockey player.”



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