After giving your daughter a bath and changing into cozy white pajamas, you warm up some milk for her and make yourself some tea. Chamomile always calmed you down the best at night, helping you wind down from the day’s events. Monday’s were always tiring but walking in on your daughter, with her eyes glued to the tv, watching her daddy play always warmed your heart. Before you had her, you never missed a single one of Tom’s games. Even now, you watched every single one on TV. No matter what was going on at work or in life. Up until she was old enough to go to preschool, you took her to the games, but now she had to be up early, and that meant an earlier day for you as well. She’d start preschool around 8am, having her out at the games wasn’t an option anymore. Between the chaos of the crowd and driving home, it’d be impossible to get her to sleep before 2am, but knowing she loved watching them as much as you did, warmed your heart.
“Here you go baby. Drink up so we can get you to bed.”
You set the bottle in front of her and leaned back on the couch, feet up on your ottoman. You threw a throw blanket over yourself as you took a sip of your tea. The room was dimly lit by the lights on the Christmas tree you had yet to take down, and the warm fireplace underneath the TV.
You built a home with Tom. Created a family with him. No matter what else happened in life, they would be your biggest accomplishment. As long as you had him and your daughter, everything would be okay.
She grabbed her bottle, climbing up onto the couch and curling up into your side. Her eyes never leaving the TV. You wrapped your arm around her, covering her with the blanket as her small hand came up to hold your ear. It was a habit you had as a kid and somehow it got passed onto her. She’d hold the bottle in her hand and your ear in the other and it was the only way she’d fall asleep. It surprised you every time she did it, not understanding how she’d possible develop that same habit, but it made you smile.
Soon she fell asleep, you held her in your arms, debating the risk of moving her to her bed and waking her or just letting her sleep until the game was over. The latter of the two seemed like the best option at the moment. You loved the smell of her. Loved the way she rested so peacefully in your arms. Her breathing syncing with yours as she rested her head on your chest, your fingertips running gently up and down her back.
The Patriots ended up winning the game and you put your daughter in her bed before climbing into yours and going to sleep, your phone silenced as per usual on game days since it buzzed non stop with congratulatory texts from family and friends who’d been watching. Tom wasn’t expected home for a few hours afterwards. He’d be busy with the press and maybe going out for a drink with the team afterwards. You didn’t mind. You had your complete trust in him and he never broke it. You’d celebrate with him the next day.
The feel of soft lips being pressed against your bare shoulder, accompanied by the scent of an all too familiar aftershave woke you up in the morning. Slowly opening your eyes, you’re met with his bright baby blues. A sleepy smile played on your lips.
“Wake up, sleepyhead.”
He smiled, adoringly, at you as he sat on the edge of the bed.
“Good morning, champ.”
You sat up slowly and leaned in to meet his lips before your eyes wandered to the clock. Shit! 10:13. How had you over slept?!
In a panic, you throw the covers off of you.
“Oh my god, I missed my alarm! She’s so late!”
Tom chuckled as he watched you stumble off the bed and run towards the bathroom to get ready before he even had a chance to speak.
“She’s already at school, babe. I took her. Thought you could use the extra sleep.”
You stopped in the midst of brushing your teeth and peeked through the doorway at him.
“What?”
“I took her.” He repeated. “I was up early. Made her breakfast, packed lunch, and dropped her off. I don’t have practice till later so I thought we’d have some time to ourselves.”
You’ve never loved that man more than you did at that moment. You just didn’t know how he did it. How he could be such a good dad, such a good husband, and such a good athlete all at the same time.
Rinsing out your mouth, you ran out of the bathroom and jumped on top of him, legs on either side as he fell back on the bed.
“I love you so so so much! You know that?”