Page 88 of Between Control and Chaos
He smirks and glances at Ashton. “His arms are free.” He grabs the handle of the duffel and hands it to Ashton.
“Gee, thanks,” Ashton says, but willingly obliges when I hand Wren to her father. “I’d rather carry the baby.”
“I wasn’t offering.” Luca cuddles Wren in his arms and kisses the top of her downy head. “I haven’t seen my baby girl all day. I didn’t realize how much more practice I’d have to endure playing pro.”
Ashton snorts. “Cry me a river. You’re making the big bucks now.”
Luca smirks, not denying it. “Oh, guess who I saw in the stands tonight.”
“Who?” Ashton and I both ask simultaneously.
“My parents,” Luca says. “Never thought in a million years I’d catch Dad at a hockey game.”
“Dante hates hockey,” Nova chimes and glances between the boys. “Right?”
We head outside into the cold winter air and hurry toward the parked vehicle. It’s late, most of the place has already cleared out except for the players and their families.
“He could have shown up to support you,” I say, not wanting to harp on Dante. He’s not my favorite person, but I don’t fear him or hate him. We’re on pleasant terms at the moment. I’ve actually gained a great deal of respect for him lately.
It doesn’t hurt that I’m also on an extended maternity leave, which means that I don’t have to return to working for him until after graduation. It’s part of the arrangement that we made when he found out I was having his grandchild.
He wanted me to be home with Wren when I’m not in class. He also offered to hire a nanny for us, but right now, we seem to be making it work.
Surprisingly, Dante showed no disappointment when I told him we were having a girl. I would have thought he wanted a boy, an heir, but he made it clear that it didn’t matter to him, a boy or a girl could rule over the family business if they were strong enough. Perhaps that’s what he intends for me to do after college.
“Dad has been pleasant. I think us giving him a grandchild might have triggered something inside of him,” Luca says as he opens the car door and gets Wren into her car seat.
“Almost like the guy has a heart,” Nova says with a laugh.
“I think it made him realize what’s most important,” I say. “Family.”
Epilogue 2
Nova
Barcelona is the most beautiful city I’ve ever been to, though it’s not like I have a full passport that I can compare it with to other foreign places.
This is the first time I’ve been out of the country. It’s summer break and my last year of college.
The concert Ashton took me to, he even seemed to enjoy. I saw him singing along, bopping to the music. He can’t pretend he wasn’t enjoying himself.
I’ve never seen him quite so happy.
And dinner, the food in Spain is some of the best food I’ve ever eaten in my entire life.
The trip, the place, all of it has been absolutely magical.
Ashton’s hand is in mine as we stroll through the old streets on an evening walk through town. “I could honestly live here,” I muse, glancing around, taking in the sights. Everyone has been so friendly and pleasant.
He chuckles, pulling me against him, his hand around my hip. “You’d move here without me?”
“Gosh, no!” I squeal, spinning around as I stop walking, taking all of it in. It’s our last night in Barcelona. The colors, the sights, the old buildings, all of it is breathtaking. I don’t want to leave. One week is nowhere near enough to explore all of Spain.
Ashton kisses my cheek and pulls me along to a nearby horse-drawn carriage. I eye him skeptically and am shocked when I find out he’s planned a private ride for just the two of us.
“How did I get so lucky?” I ask, climbing into the carriage.
Ashton scoots in to sit beside me, an arm around my shoulders. I turn, shifting to face him, letting my lips brush against his. “I think I’m the lucky one.”
