Page 8 of Power Play

“Hi, I’m Cari,” she says, holding out a hand for Riley to shake. “You’re the woman trying to baby trap my brother?”

Riley’s eyebrows shoot sky high. “Brother?”

“Yeah. So what’s the deal here?” She glances between us. “Don’t tell me you fell for it.”

“We just got back from the lab. The baby’s mine.” As stunned as I am, I can’t deny the bubble of happiness ready to burst inside me. “Cari, I have a kid.”

Her eyes widen and her mouth drops open. “Are you shitting me?”

“One hundred percent factual.”

Still stunned, my sister tugs me into a hug. I lean into her silent support. But I should have known the quiet wouldn’t last long.

“Is this what you want?”

I’ve been over the hookup scene for a while. I want a relationship, a family of my own. Well, it may be unconventional, but I’m getting part of what I wanted. Even though I still want a great love in my life, maybe that can come in the form of a daughter rather than a romantic partner.

I can have my happily ever after. I can have good things in my life. I’m worthy of it, damn it.

“It absolutely is,” I tell my sister, but my eyes meet Riley’s.

“And you’re the baby mama?” Cari asks.

“I’m Riley.” Her face crumples, and her eyes well with tears. “Her mother was my sister. She passed away last week.”

Cari’s smile drops. “I’m so sorry.”

“Yeah. It was… well, I’m still processing.” She blinks a few times, no doubt trying to prevent the tears from falling. “But I knew that Alberto deserves to know his daughter.”

“Call me Al,” I interrupt. “Everyone does.”

My sister’s eyes gleam with mischief. “And who is this little one?”

“This is Emmy,” I tell her proudly. “Emilia.”

Riley gives me a subtle nod, and I lift my baby from her arms, cuddling her against my chest, facing outward.

Emmy babbles happily, and my heart twists at the look on my sister’s face. She’s already in love with her, that much is obvious. It’s not hard. Emmy’s pretty damn-near perfect. I already know I’d commit murder to protect her, and I only met her a few hours ago.

“This is my daughter.”

Cari gives a little shriek, then makes grabby hands for the baby. I settle my daughter in her arms, and as Cari’s eyes flutter closed, I swear I see a tear escape.

“Are you okay?” I whisper, my hand on Emmy’s back. Ready to snatch her back if I have to.

“Al, you have a kid,” she whispers back. “I never thought this would happen.”

I swallow. “Me neither.”

“Fuck knows Tony won’t give me a baby to play with anytime soon.” She laughs. “Crap. I probably shouldn’t say fuck around a baby.”

“She can’t talk yet, but she’s definitely aware of her surroundings,” Riley says, a smile on her face. “Do you, um, live here?”

“No, I live across town with some of my teammates,” Cari says.

“She’s on the Boston Revolution rugby team,” I say, ruffling her damp hair while smiling from ear to ear. My sister scowls at me, but then her gaze drops to my daughter in her arms, and she grins again. “Our brother, Tony, lives in Denver.”

“And your parents?”