“Congratulations,” Alec says, giving me a hug. “Is paternity leave over yet? You ready to come back to work?” he asks, making everyone laugh. I took time off to get to know Hazel and to also deal with her custody, but I’m definitely ready to get back to work. Georgia has offered to keep her while I’m at work since she works from home, so it’ll work out well.
“Yeah, I’ll be back at work Monday.”
“Dada!” Hazel yells to get my attention. I glance over at my mom, who’s holding her, and smile.
When Hazel wiggles for her to set her down, Mom does so. Hazel steadies herself on her feet and then with a huge smile, takes one step and then another, until she’s over to me.
“Finally!” Georgia laughs. “I got it on video!” Every time she’s taken a few steps, neither of us has had our phones on us. She’s been determined to catch it on video.
“You’re such a good walker,” Georgia says to Hazel, tickling her belly. “Pretty soon you’ll be running circles around your daddy.”
“Dada!” Hazel says, pointing at me. Fuck, I’m a dad. To the most precious little girl in the world.
Georgia beams. “Yep! That’s your daddy.”
“Dow! Dow!” Hazel says, wiggling her tiny butt to get down.
“I can’t believe she’s going to be one soon,” I say to Georgia as we watch Hazel walk like a cute little drunk person over to Lexi, who scoops her up into her arms for a hug.
“It’ll be a Harry Potter party,” she says with a laugh. We showed her a dozen different baby shows, but she had no desire to watch any of them. It wasn’t until we were watching a Harry Potter marathon on TV one night that she stopped and watched like her eyes were transfixed to the television. We thought it was a one-time thing, but every time we put it on, she’ll sit and watch the movies for hours.
“Did someone say Harry Potter?” Mason asks.
“It’s Hazel’s favorite,” Georgia tells him with an eye roll.
“I knew that little girl was special,” he says. “Harry Potter is the shit.” He clasps my shoulder. “Congratulations, Chase.”
“Thank you.”
After everyone leaves—Charlie refusing to leave until the condo is cleaned up—and it’s only Georgia, Hazel, and me, we settle onto the couch to watch a Harry Potter movie for the millionth time. Hazel snuggles up between Georgia and me and, within minutes, is snoring softly.
“I’m exhausted,” Georgia says with a tired, happy smile on her face. “Today was a good day.”
“It was.” I lean over and kiss her. “Why don’t you go take a bath and I’ll put her to bed.”
Her eyes sparkle. “Only if you join me.” She winks, and my dick swells in my pants at the thought of fucking her inside the spa tub.
“Deal.”
I lay Hazel down in bed, kissing her good night and turning the monitor on, then go in search for Georgia, finding her exactly where she said she would be—in the tub with bubbles filled halfway up her torso.
The lights are dimmed a bit and she’s leaning against the edge with her head dipped back, her eyes closed. I take a second to take her in. The last few months she’s come to mean so much to me. Every bump in the road, every obstacle, she’s been there at my side. The positive in my negative. The light in my dark. The beautiful in my ugly. The fucking perfect in my way too imperfect world.
“Are you going to join me or just stare at me all night?” She lifts her head and her gorgeous green eyes meet mine.
I strip out of my clothes and, when she moves forward so I can situate myself behind her, her perky tits splash in the water slightly. The water is hot and she fits perfectly between my thighs. She backs up, her soft body using my front to get comfortable, and her head lulls to the side, resting on my shoulder.
“If I could, I would freeze this moment,” she says softly.
“In the bathtub?” I joke. Absentmindedly, I run my fingers along the underside of her breasts. She’s soft to the touch, and I know if I were to taste her she would be sweet. Fucking perfect.
She laughs and it sounds lazy and content. “Maybe not exactly right here. I just mean in general.” She takes my hand in hers and guides it to the top of her breast, indicating she wants me to massage her breast.
“I never imagined my life like this… With you and Hazel. I’m just so happy,” she says with a sigh. “And it’s because of you. Because you pulled me out of my room, refusing to let me hide.”
I pinch her nipple between my finger and thumb and she moans softly. “I don’t know what our future holds,” she continues, “but right here, right now, it feels like I’ve finally found my perfect path.”