It's Our Time (Carolina Rebels 3)
“Thank you!” She hugs him.
“Welcome, Savannah.”
They both look at me. “What’d you get, Mommy?”
Right. Ian probably doesn’t even realize how sweet what he just did is. With a deep breath to clear away my emotions, I pull out a smaller jewelry box. My heart hammers. Either there’s a ring inside or earrings. There’s plenty of relief when I see a pair of diamond earrin
gs. They’re beautiful.
For some reason, the only thing I can think about is how the only jewelry left to buy is a ring, and what is he going to buy me after that. Jewelry is Ian’s go-to gift. When I questioned him about it after he gave me the bracelet, which was the third piece of jewelry, he tried to say he didn’t know why at first. A minute later, he confessed it was because hehoped I wore them all the time and it was like a part of him was with me even when he wasn’t. Which was the exact reason I never took them off.
“Babe?” I lift my head. “Do you like them?”
“Yeah, they’re beautiful. Thank you.”
He pushes my hair behind my ear. “You going to wear them?”
“Of course.” Once I remove them from the box, they are in my ears.
“Pretty, pretty, Mommy,” Savannah says.
“Thanks, buttercup.” I lean over and kiss Ian on the cheek. “Thank you.”
“Totally worth it. Have you decided on what we’re doing?”
“A little shopping and dinner. I have to work tonight.”
There’s a curse just waiting on his lips, but he holds it back. He must have forgotten. “I’ll be glad when you’re done. Let’s go then.”
Ian takes us out and treats us like queens. We go to dinner to a kid-focused place where Savannah is able to play, go out for ice cream, and he stops by a toy store, so Savannah can pick out a toy. It’s nice, even if it does mean we get back later than I’d like. But when we do return to the apartment, he tells me to take a nap and he keeps Savannah quiet and in the living room for me to get some sleep since I’ll be up for most of the night.
I’m a bit ashamed of myself for not giving him his second chance sooner. We’re two people who can’t manage to stay away from one another. That should be a pretty big and obvious sign that I should try. I’ve been so worried about getting hurt. That’s what held me back. Things have been so good so far. If this is what life with Ian is like, then I’m so excited about what’s to come.
This week has been insanely busy. I feel like I’ve barely spent time with Sydney and definitely not a lot of time with Savannah. There was a home game Tuesday. We flew out Wednesday for a game Thursday. Turned around and came home early this morning. I’m at home resting before I get to head back to the rink because we have a game tonight.
Tomorrow will probably be busy too because Sydney’s mom, Janet, and stepdad, Chris, are coming into town today and we’re spending the day with them then. Sunday I have another game. I don’t know why this week seems so much more exhausting than usual, but damn. I’m tired. Sounds like a good reason to take a longer than usual pregame nap.
My mistake is that I fall asleep on the couch.
“Daddy!” The shout wakes me up a split second before she jumps on me, kneeing me in the stomach.
“Savannah! I told you to be quiet and not to bother him if he was sleeping,” Sydney chides. “Sorry, Ian.”
“It’s okay. Did you miss me, little Miss?” I ask her.
“Yep!” She plants a kiss on my cheek, giggling as my beard tickles her skin.
“Good. I missed you, too.” I hold her while sitting up, so Sydney can take a seat next to us. Savannah starts playing with my beard, which is pretty much her favorite thing to do whenever she sits with me. “Did you miss me, babe?”
She tries not to smile. “Only a little.”
“No kiss for you then. When are your parents coming in?”
“They’re already here and over at Logan’s. We’re actually supposed to be on our way over there. I somehow left my wallet here, so I was stopping by to get it.”
Hearing that they aren’t here to see me makes me frown. “What are the plans for the night?”
“Dinner. And, well, Mom and Chris want to see you play, so if you still want us to, then I guess we’re all going to the game.”