Chapter 27
Chapter Twenty-Seven
MARCUS
“ H ard to believe the holidays are coming up,” Noah tells me.
These last few weeks have flown by. It’s gone by in a blur of events with the girls, nights with Harper, and hockey games.
So many games.
With the holiday season upon us, my mom will be home soon and it will be time to break the news to her that Harper and I are together. I’m surprised the girls haven’t told her yet on their calls. But with chess being Sadie’s thing, she loves talking about that more.
Thank God.
If Emma isn’t with the girls, it’s Harper. I even gave her extra booster seats for the girls so she could have them in case of an emergency.
Harper’s done more than just have them in case of an emergency. She’s taken them to pottery classes on the weekend when I have games. Movies when I have an extra practice. Tucking them in and reading them books .
At this point, I’m not sure who they love more—me or Harper.
“Are you heading back home to Denver?” I ask Noah.
“Nah. Family is coming here. We wanted to spend our first Christmas together in our new place. What about you?”
“We’ll be spending it here before the girls visit Dan’s parents.”
“That’ll be fun for them.”
“They always have a good time.”
A few times throughout the year, the girls will take a week or two and go visit my brother-in-law’s parents. I hate that they live in Washington, but with them being older, it’s harder for them to come visit the girls. I wish they could see them more, but the girls still love them. I know they’re looking forward to another Christmas with them. Especially because they have a new dog.
One of these days, I’m going to cave and get them a dog. It’s only a matter of time.
“You boys ready for warm-ups?” Bode asks, walking by us to head out to the rink.
“Just finishing up.”
Grabbing my phone, I see one last text from Harper. Since it’s an early afternoon game, she’s bringing the girls with her.
A photo of all three of them in front of the arena awaits me—with each of them wearing my jersey. The girls are wearing their Knights hats and look fucking adorable.
Harper
Good luck! We’ll be cheering loud for you
The girls said if you score a goal, they get a dog
I shake my head laughing.
“The girls?” Jasper asks as he and I head out.
“Yeah. Apparently if I score tonight, they get a dog.”
Jasper chuckles as we hit the ice. “I’ll score for you then.”
“What a martyr you are.”
We’re still a good hour away from the puck dropping, but the arena is packed. With the Black Diamonds in town, tickets were at a premium. Both teams are playing well this year, and it could be an indicator of the playoffs.
“Are you really not going to say hi to me?” the familiar voice calls out on the ice during warm-ups.
Skating over to the Colorado zone, I see my best friend from my college playing days, Troy Hollins, standing there shaking his head.
“Hey, I’m not getting in between any man and his pregame rituals.”
Troy pulls me in for a quick hug. “I can’t believe you didn’t tell me.”
“I’m surprised I didn’t get a call chewing me out.”
“And miss ripping you a new one in person? Why didn’t you tell me?”
Troy was one of my closest friends in college. His wife, Angie? Harper’s best friend. When shit hit the fan, I cut off all contact. It doesn’t surprise me that he now knows the truth about what happened.
“Wasn’t exactly something I was proud of.”
“You know I would have been there for you, right?” Troy tells me. Hurt laces his voice .
“I could barely be there for the girls. I’m sorry, man. If I could take it back, I would.” I bump him on the shoulder. “But I know congratulations are in order for you. I hear Angie is due anytime?”
“Guess I’ll be calling you for parenting advice.”
“I don’t know. The girls said they get a dog if I score tonight.” I laugh.
Troy skates away from me. “I’ll make sure you don’t get a dog then.”
“Are you trying to goad me into scoring?”
“Not with Nick on goal!”
I go back to my end of the ice, watching as Noah chats with a few of the guys. Since he used to play for Colorado before he got traded, he knows the guys better.
If there’s one thing I want tonight, it’s to wipe the ice with the Black Diamonds. We beat them last season, and I’d love to do it again. They’re one of the best teams in the league, and with our schedule this year, it would prove that we’re not a circled win anymore. That teams won’t look at the schedule before the season starts and assume they’re winning against us.
All niceties between the teams are forgotten as soon as the puck drops. Colorado skates hard during the first period to put two points on the scoreboard.
With Brooks-Young in goal, he’s stopping everything we’re sending his way. But by the time the second period starts, we finally get our shot.
Dax takes off down the ice and I’m right behind him. The only person in our way is one of their defensemen. With some quick stick work, Dax fires the puck back to me and I’m sending it sailing into the back of the net.
I’m laughing as the guys come over to congratulate me. I can hear the cheers now. We’re getting a dog !
“Why are you shaking your head that you scored?” Bode asks as we skate back to the bench.
“Two little girls think they’re getting a dog now.”
Bode cackles. Full on cackles at that, the fucker. “They are so getting a dog.”
“They are not.”
I take my seat on the bench and swig from my water bottle as the game starts up again.
“Cap, you are whipped. You would do anything for them. Whether it’s now or in a few months, the girls are getting a dog.”
Damn it. They really are.
I can’t say no to them. And if they get Harper on their side? It’s a done deal.
I turn my focus back to the game. We’ve tied it up by the time we get into the third period, but then Bode gets a lucky shot through the goalie’s legs.
When the final horn sounds, we put Colorado away, 3-2.
“Sorry, man,” I tell Troy as we shake hands after the game.
“I feel sorry for you. Good luck with that dog.” He laughs.
“I’m going to get two and send one your way.”
“If it means you bring it out and come see us, I’m all for it.”
I nod at him. “You got it.”
“I’m serious.” Troy pulls me in for a hug. “Once the baby comes, come visit. I miss you, man.”
“I miss you too.”
For playing against him through the years, he did a good job ignoring me on the ice. Not that I sought him out either .
“Have a safe trip home,” I tell him.
“See ya, man.”
I head back to the locker room for the usual post-game routine.
Talking with media and recapping the game. A quick shower and changing back into my gameday suit.
A text is waiting for me.
I’m supposed to tell you that you scored and you know what that means
It doesn’t mean anything
Do you really want to disappoint these faces?
A picture of both girls eating hot dogs comes through. Ketchup rings their mouths. I smile at their happy faces.
Don’t encourage them
They are planning on discussing this with you when you get home
About that
Yeah?
Want to spend the night together?
What about the girls ?
“Hey.” I elbow Noah in the side as he’s getting ready to leave. “Any chance you and Graham would want to spend the night with the girls?”
“What’s in it for us?” Graham asks before Noah can even respond.
“Hanging with two girls that love you?”
“They’d love us regardless.”
“Fine,” I groan. “I’ll buy the next round of drinks when we go out.”
“Done,” Graham agrees.
“You’re lucky I love you,” Noah tells him. “We’ll be there in an hour. Does that work?”
“Perfect.”
Noah and Graham are going to watch them.
I’ll order dinner and pick it up once I drop the girls off
Hopefully Noah and Graham won’t take too long
I’ll just be waiting for you all sad and lonely at my place
Whatever shall I do to pass the time
“I appreciate you guys.”
“You won’t when we’re drinking on your tab.” Noah slaps me on the shoulder as he and Graham head out.
It’s a balancing act, life as a single dad. Between the girls and hockey, and now Harper, it feels like someone is always going to get the short end of the stick. Learning to lean on people has never been easy for me. But these guys? I guess I can learn to trust people .
Getting to show up for Harper? I want to be that man for her. To let her know that she can trust me. That I won’t run this time.
That I’m here for good.