Literally.
“And I will find him on my own time.”
“You’re killing me, child.”
I swear she says that to me about six times a week. When my phone sounds, I look down to see a text from Aviva.
SistaFromAnotherMista: No, I haven’t forgotten about you. Things are a little spotty. Kirby got thrown a curve ball, so now they are moving things around. These two new players, who are twins, are coming in and they were supposed to stay with Kirby, but something happened. So now, everyone is trying to move them, but Nico doesn’t want them here because he thinks Callie will get gangbanged by them or some shit, so it’s a hot mess.
My brow perks as my mother bitches about how I don’t have any need for a man and this is her fault. I don’t have to agree with her for her to know she’s right. She is. She has raised me to be so independent that I don’t understand why she thinks I can just settle for some random dude and be happy. While I do want that, as of now, I won’t settle for anyone but the best. I deserve it.
I lift my phone up and text Aviva back.
Me: What happened?
SistaFromAnotherMista: Baby momma drama that I can’t talk about. It’s not good.
My stomach drops. Maybe I should call? That would be weird, though, and would completely throw Aviva under the bus. But what could have happened?
Me: Did they break up?
SistaFromAnotherMista: Jay, they’ve been broken up. It’s about their daughter.
Talk about being kicked in the stomach. I don’t even know the child, but the fact that she was made from Kirby’s genes, I feel she’s probably spectacular. Just like he’s spectacular… I really miss him. I’m a bit embarrassed by the spark of excitement at the thought of him being single and ready to mingle, but what if he is…
First, though…
Me: Is she okay!!!!!!
SistaFromAnotherMista: Yes, she’s perfectly healthy. Give me some time. I’ll get back to you.
Me: Oh, thank goodness. On a totally unrelated note, is he looking for some company?
SistaFromAnotherMista: Jaylin Renee Raventorn. First, that is the same note, and second, NO! Get it together.
Me: Geez, I was just asking.
When she sends me the side-eyed emoji, I make a face before setting down my phone. I’m so consumed with thoughts and worries, I completely forget that I’m still on the phone with my mom. She’s so far into her rant, she hasn’t even noticed I’m not listening or even contributing to the conversation. It’s quite pathetic.
“I have another friend. Her son is in the music industry. He has a music house or something. He helped with the last Taylor Swift album, and he’s got the most gorgeous skin. Y’all two’s babies would be such a gorgeous ebony.”
I literally drop my face into my keyboard. Softly. I’m not trying to mess up my face. “Mom, I’m good.”
“He makes over seven figures a year.”
“Bye, Mom.”
With my face still on my keyboard, I somehow hang up as I groan loudly. I don’t think she’s ever going to quit. Not that I’m surprised. My mom isn’t a quitter, which is where I get it. My dad, though, he’s perfect. He doesn’t push me at all. He is a firm believer in being in love with someone before you marry them. Mom wants money and babies. I don’t know how they got together, honestly. But they make it work, and they love me. Even if my mom is exhausting, my dad’s kindness and support balance it all out.
And I ignore my mom a lot.
I lift my face off the keyboard on an exhale before focusing on my computer. I have a million things to do and even to think about, but of course, Kirby is a one-man show in my head. The super-nosy part of me wants to know what is going on. The caring, fixing part of me wants to solve it all for him and make sure he is okay. It may be nothing, but I’m concerned. I just want him to be happy.
Happy with me would be awesome, but I know that ship has sailed.
I wanted to be his Stanley Cup. But nope, we couldn’t even make the play-offs.
Man. Nico would be so proud of that analogy!
However, it’s understood that no one, and I mean no one, speaks of the loss against that Nashville team. To say Nico and his friends are super in their feelings about losing the last series is putting it mildly. I’ve never seen a grown man cry the way some of the guys did. Super crazy-pants, but then, I don’t get hockey. I mean, the knocking into one another is really hot, but I don’t have the patience to chase around a puck. Plus, I can’t skate, so that’s a thing too.
I sit back, crossing my legs as my high heel hangs off the tip of my toe. I bounce my shoe as I read through a contract that is due to my client today. I start to bring my water bottle straw to my lips and sip, but something catches my attention. I furrow my brows in as I move my eyes from my computer to the tall, beautiful man standing at reception with a baby in his arms. I know that back—and that ass.
Kirby.
I promptly start choking as I drop the bottle to the floor and hurry out of my chair…and promptly fall face first on the carpet of my office. I let out a little scream, and once more, I hate that my office walls are glass. If it were a real office with real walls, no one would have seen or heard me. I just hope that Kirby didn’t hear or see it. Alas, karma is out to get me for talking back to my mom. When I look up to where he was standing, he has turned, his blazing amber gaze right on me. Never in my life have I seen eyes like his. They’re stunning, beautiful, and rare. Just like his smile. He seems shocked to see me—I’m sure I’m quite the image to take in—but then his lips curve up crookedly.
I forgot what the combination of eyes and smile does to me.
How they make me feel.
Like a bumbling buffoon.
Maybe it’s best that I stay right here and act like I didn’t see him.
But for that to work, I need to break eye contact.
And that’s impossible.
Chapter Four
Kirby
* * *
Jaylin.
Jesus.
When you don’t see someone for a long time, you start to make up how gorgeous they are in your head. With Jaylin, though, I didn’t do that. I didn’t have to. Her level of beauty isn’t even describable. Fuck me, she’s gorgeous. I will never ever forget the first time I saw her. As soon as she walked into the bar, my eyes narrowed in on her. She has a classic, pure beauty I’ve never witnessed before a day in my life. I’ve been around the block, I’ve seen and been with some gorgeous women, my ex included, but there is something about Jaylin that sends me to the ultimate limit. She gives me the feeling as if my toes are on a ledge and I’m fighting for balance not to fall. She’s powerful. Stunning. And too smart for her own good. Not locking her down is my biggest regret in my life, and I’ve done some suspect things. I know I had to try with my ex for Celeste’s sake, but man, I’m pretty sure I’d give up a pinkie to have stayed with Jaylin.
I don’t need a pinkie to play hockey, I don’t think.
It’s just tragic. I didn’t even get to taste her. I didn’t get to hold her. I didn’t get to wake up beside her. We kept it friendly, mainly because I was still dealing with shit with Lilly. She wasn’t completely out of my life, and Jaylin isn’t a side dish. She’s the whole fucking meal. Even with her lying on the floor, her wild curls all in her face as her dark caramel eyes stay locked with mine, I seriously can’t even think of a more beautiful woman.