Wild Tendy (IceCats Book 2) Read online

  Thank God. I really want to kiss her some more.

  My hands are full as I look around her room. It’s a soft blue with gray accents. Her headboard is white, and her bed has gray sheets. I like the contrast of it. I walk over to her dresser that has a mirror attached to it and set everything down. She doesn’t have much in here, just a bed, a night table, a chair, and the dresser. There is a bathroom that’s attached and then a closet, but the door’s closed. The box from Lacey’s Lace is in the corner, while the pieces are laid out on the chaise. I open my sub as I take in all the pictures that are tucked into the sides of the mirror. They are mostly of Callie, but there are also a lot of her and her mom. The only reason I assume it’s her mom is because it’s like looking at an older version of Aviva. Same eyes, same smile, and same hair. Stunning.

  When she comes out of the bathroom, she throws her washcloth in the laundry basket. I point to the pictures. “This is your mom?”

  She comes to me, grabbing a soda and nodding. “Yup, that’s her.”

  “She’s beautiful.”

  “She is,” she agrees, taking a long drink of her soda.

  “Do you not have any other family?”

  She shakes her head. “My mom’s parents were older when they had her, so they passed before I was even born. We grew up with my dad’s parents, but when Dad went rogue, they blamed us, saying we didn’t love him enough to help him. Total bullshit, so we haven’t seen or spoken to them in years.”

  “That’s crap.”

  “Yup, cancer tore this family to shit,” she says softly, leaning into me. I wrap my arm around her back as I take another bite of my sub. “Do you have grandparents?”

  “I do. My mom’s parents. Don’t know my dad’s.”

  She shakes her head. “I knew that.”

  “Yeah,” I laugh, and she smiles up at me as she slides her hands under my shirt, holding me close.

  “When do you have to leave again?”

  I exhale loudly. “I have two home games, then leave for two, and then come back for two.”

  “Hockey plays a lot of games.”

  I nod. “We do.”

  She pouts up at me. “I don’t want you to leave again. I’ve missed you.”

  I gather her in my arms. “Same here, baby.”

  She kisses my jaw and cuddles into my chest. “Did you have a nice flight?”

  “I did,” I answer, Chandler’s confession heavy on my mind. “Actually, I’m gonna need your date services again.”

  She perks her brow as she looks up at me. “What am I, an escort?”

  I laugh loudly. “My bad. No. I mean I want you to go somewhere with me.”

  She eyes me playfully, sending my heart into fits. “Oh, really? Where?”

  “Chandler and Amelia are getting married. I’m doing the best man thing.”

  Aviva’s face lights up. “Aw, how sweet. Where?”

  “Oh, the beach by my house, actually. It’s not for a month, but I need to lock you in. Make sure you don’t get any other dates,” I tease, and she grins.

  “I’m yours.”

  “Damn right, you are,” I say, pressing my lips to hers. She leans into the kiss, her fingers stroking my collarbone.

  When she pulls back, I kiss her bottom lip before going back to my sub. “I’m jealous of the attention you’re showing that sub.”

  I smirk. “Don’t worry. I’m going between your legs next.” She beams up at me as I hold her close to my side. Around my bite, I say, “They’re going to Barcelona.”

  “Who?” she asks, drawing her brows in.

  “Amelia and Chandler.”

  “Oh, don’t tell Callie,” she says dryly. “I’d never hear the end of it.”

  “Well, I was going to see if you wanted to go.”

  She shakes her head. “I can’t leave the shop.”

  “Sure, for a weekend. Leave late Thursday, come home Sunday.”

  “I can’t,” she says simply. “This summer, I will try. I gotta get ahead.”

  I bite my lip. “Can I take Callie?”

  She gives me a serious look. I suspected her to yell no or even snap at me, but her eyes just look so sad. “I really want to go with her.”

  “Then we’ll wait,” I say automatically. “I’m sorry. I didn’t think that through.”

  “I know. You just want to make Callie happy.”

  “I do, but I want the same thing with you.”

  She moves her hand up to my mouth, wiping away some mayo.

  “Don’t be mad.”

  She shakes her head. “I’m not. Promise. I just really wanna go, and maybe with whoever paid Callie’s gym bill, I can catch up. I actually had a great two weeks, and when I add in the IceCats money, I’ve been able to refill Callie’s savings—” She pauses, and then she presses her lips together.

  “What?”

  “I forgot to tell you.”

  “What?” I ask, a little on edge. I don’t like the look on her face. “What’s wrong?”

  “We went to the doctor for Callie. They said they’ll do the total mastectomy if she wants it now, which is crazy because they usually want the patient to be eighteen. But I think the doctor knows Callie is freaking out.”

  “Wow. Is she going to do it?”

  She nods. “Yeah, after competition season.”

  My stomach aches for her. “All right. Are you okay?”

  “I just wish I could have saved her from this.”

  “You’re doing everything to make her the best version of herself, and I really think the conference in Baybridge is gonna be great for both of you.”

  She slowly nods her head as she smiles up at me. “Jaylin is going to go with us.”

  “That’s awesome. I feel dumb. I should have invited her.”

  She waves me off. “Don’t you worry. She invited herself.”

  I chuckle, and then I remember something. “Did you tell her about Kirby?”

  She shakes her head. “Not at all. That’s not my business to tell.”

  “Good. Don’t. He’s pretty worked up about it.”

  “I wouldn’t doubt it. That’s a lot to deal with,” she says, unbuttoning my shirt.

  I set my sub down, and without much thought, I ask, “Do you want kids?”

  She meets my gaze. “I do.” She takes in a deep breath, looking a little embarrassed. “It’s funny you ask, because when we went to Amelia’s and I saw her feeding the babies formula, it actually made me feel better about having kids.”

  I raise my brow. “I’m confused.”

  She points to her chest. “I can’t feed a baby, and I thought, how could I have a kid and not be able to give them a mother’s milk? It would make me a bad mom, I thought. But Amelia couldn’t, and she is an amazing mom. I hope I can be like that.”

  I cup her face, kissing her nose. “Boobs or not, you’ll be a great mom. Look at Callie.”

  She curves her lips. “She is pretty wonderful.”

  “Perfection.”

  She beams up at me, covering my hand with hers. “Do you want kids?”

  “I do,” I admit, and I’m surprised I was so open with that statement. I’ve always wanted them, and having them with Aviva would be so damn cool. I’m scared that when I tell her my diagnosis, she won’t want to have them with me. Not that we’re doing that now. That’s crazy talk, but still, just saying.

  “You’re so good with Carter and Hannah. I don’t even know why I asked.”

  I shrug. “Because we’re getting to know each other.”

  Something flashes in her eyes, and it sends desire straight to my gut. I want to know everything about this girl. The insides and outs. Every nook and cranny. I want it all. “Are you done yet?”

  She then pushes my shirt and suit jacket down my arms. I allow them to fall to the floor before gathering her in my arms once more. “I can be.”

  “Good, because we have over two weeks to make up for.”

  “We absolutely do.”

  Ch