CHAPTER ELEVEN
After the yoga and nap were over, Sebastian stood and held out a hand to Brie to help her to her feet.
“Ugh, I think I should have taken them up on the nap,” she said with a yawn. “I could use one.”
“I bet.” Sebastian made a mental note to watch Harper for an afternoon or maybe even an overnight sometime in the near future so Brie could have a little bit of a break.
Harper helped Dakota put away her mat and blanket, then let Crawford carry her out into the hallway.
“Are you ready for lunch now?” he asked.
“Yes, I’m starvvving,” she said.
Luke laughed. “Just like a hockey player.”
It wasn’t long before Sebastian found himself sitting at a table eating with Crawford and the rest of the team.
The food was amazing. Well-prepared and there was a ton of variety. Everything from kid-friendly foods to fancier offerings like grilled steak, plus a variety of healthy sides.
While Crawford shoveled in food and listened intently while Harper showed him her drawings, Connor O’Shea leaned forward and looked at Brie. “I don’t wanna pry, but I understand your ex-husband left you two in the lurch. Is there anything we can do to help you out?”
Brie looked startled. “Oh, no. That’s very kind of you, but no. My brother and I have it pretty well covered.”
Which isn’t entirely true, Sebastian thought. But he understood why Brie had said they were fine. The organization had done more than enough.
This was a day Harper would never forget.
“It’s a lot of work raising kids,” Connor said doubtfully. “I wouldn’t have been able to do it without my ma after my ex-wife and I split.”
“Oh man, she is great too,” Jesse said, his face lighting up. “You would love Catherine. She’s the heart and soul of this organization when it comes down to it. And the best mother-in-law a guy could ask for.”
Brie smiled. “Aww. You two are married? I knew you were dating but I didn’t realize that you’d tied the knot already.”
“Uhh, no,” Connor said. “Not officially. But it’s pretty much only because we haven’t had any fucking time to plan anything.”
Jesse nodded.
“Well, if you ever decide you need a florist, call this guy,” Brie said. “My brother is amazing with flowers. He just opened a shop in Beacon Hill.”
Crawford’s gaze slid toward Sebastian, then away.
“Yeah?” Connor said. “Well then, you should really talk to my ma. She works with the Harriers Charity Foundation and they’re always hosting events. I’m sure she could use a good florist. Do you have a card?”
Sebastian smiled at the Boston pronunciation of “card”.
“Yeah, I have a couple in my wallet,” he said.
Brie gave him a little look as he dug it out from his jacket pocket but fuck, if he wanted this Boston shop to take off, getting his name in front of someone as well-connected as it sounded like Catherine O’Shea was would pretty much be guaranteed to do it.
He handed the card to Connor, who studied it for a moment, then tucked it into his phone case with a promise to pass it along.
Sebastian thanked him. If nothing came of it, oh well, but Sebastian wasn’t going to turn down an opportunity like that.
A couple of years ago, his ex-boyfriend, Maxwell, had called him ambitious when he was describing his dreams for his floral business. Sebastian hadn’t particularly thought of himself that way but since then, he’d come to realize it was true.
He’d also realized that a lot of guys were intimidated by that. Guys like Max who were happy with their desk jobs, showing up to work on time every morning and clocking out the moment the day was over, not thinking about work again until the next day.
They didn’t get what being a small business owner was like.
What it was like to pour your entire heart and soul into something.
Where every early morning, late night, and long weekend felt worth it.
Even when he was tired and overwhelmed and questioning if he’d made the right decision about expanding to another location or growing his online shop, he’d known deep in his gut he couldn’t imagine doing anything different.
He dreamed of his work being featured in magazines and at wedding events. He wasn’t content to do the same thing over and over again. He wanted to grow, to expand, to see what else would come of his work.
So okay, he was ambitious. What was wrong with that? What was wrong with having a dream and going after it?
Only Max had always felt slighted. Had felt that Sebastian prioritized his work over their relationship. And Sebastian wasn’t blaming Max for it or anything, but he didn’t get half as much satisfaction out of a day spent with him as he did from his success at work.
That was the part he’d never told Brie—never told anyone, really.
That maybe he wasn’t sure he was cut out for a normal relationship. He had no fear of commitment, he liked being in love, liked being with someone, but when it came down to it, he was probably always going to put his career ahead of his personal life.
He’d realized that unless he found the kind of guy who was okay with that, he’d probably stay single. And he was comfortable with that.
Crawford laughed at something Brie said and Sebastian glanced over to see Harper on his lap, pointing at one of his tattoos, and he thought as weird as it was, maybe what he and Crawford were doing was exactly what he needed right now.
He didn’t need someone to fall in love with. But great sex? A chance to blow off steam with someone who wouldn’t be hurt if he said he needed to work or put Harper first?
Yeah, that was honestly kinda perfect.
After lunch, Sebastian rose to his feet and watched as Luke helped Harper off his lap, then stood and held out a hand.
“Our day’s almost over,” he said. “But we have a couple more fun things for you. Do you want to go meet our general manager? His name is Gavin.”
“Sure!”
Crawford pointed at the cameraman who was still recording everything. “That’s this guy’s twin brother, actually.”
“Ohh,” Harper said, turning to look at him. “Do you look just like each other?”
Thad smiled, though he didn’t lower his camera. “We look a little bit alike. But we’re not identical.”
“Oh, that’s boring. It would be more fun to play pranks and stuff if you looked alike.”
Thad laughed. “We did do that sometimes when we were little.”
“I always wanted a brother,” she said with a sigh.
Connor snorted. “You’d change your mind if you had one. I have three and they’re a pain in my—uh, you know what.”
“No. What?” Harper asked.
“Ear,” Jesse said with a grin. “A pain in the ear.”
Harper giggled.
They took the elevator up to the second floor, cameras still in tow, and a guy who did look quite a lot like the cameraman, but who was dressed in a sharp black suit, came out of his office.
Sebastian watched with a smile as he introduced himself to Harper and shook her hand.
She asked to be let down, and Crawford set her on her feet so she could follow Gavin into his office. He let her sit down in his chair at his desk and pretend to make an important phone call and then he showed her the balcony where he watched practices.
“Did you watch us today?” she said, craning her neck to look up at him.
“For a little bit. I had some meetings to go to but I am glad I got to see you for a little while today. We’re really excited to have you on the team.”
After that, he presented her with a little certificate and some more Harriers merch. Plus, three tickets to a home game next week, for Harper, Brie, and Sebastian where they’d be seated right behind the bench.
Brie bit her lip like she wanted to protest about the expense, but Sebastian elbowed her, trying to silently remind her that this was about Harper.
She gave him a look but stayed quiet.
“And we’ll do a whole tour of the arena before,” Gavin added. “How does that sound?”
Harper twirled. “Like the best! I wanna be a Harrier forever.”
By the end of the day, Luke had more or less managed to tune out Sebastian being there. Until they all reached the hallway and it came time to say goodbye.
Luke cleared his throat as they stared awkwardly at each other. He thrust out a hand and they shook, quickly letting go.
“So,” Thad said, still recording. “How did it feel to spend the day with your biggest hater, Crawford?”
Sebastian let out a choked laugh.
Luke glared at the cameraman. “No comment.”
After that, Luke got a long hug from Harper and a shorter one from Brie. But when she pulled back, she looked up at him, grabbing his forearm and holding on.
“Thank you all for being so wonderful today. Harper was just so incredibly happy to be here, and you really went out of your way.” Brie let go of his arm to wipe at her eyes.
Luke cleared his throat again. “It was, uh, our pleasure. She seems like a great kid. Sorry to hear things have been so rough for you two.”
“Do you have kids?” she asked.
Luke shook his head. “No.”
“Well, you’re great with them. You’re going to make a wonderful dad someday.”
He winced. “Uhh, that’s quite a compliment. Thanks.”
Honestly, he didn’t think it would ever happen and he was tired of people assuming it would. He liked kids but the idea of being in the kind of relationship that would allow him to do that had never felt right. He’d always figured it was enough to spend time with Connors’ kids and stuff.
But man, Harper sure tugged at his heartstrings.
She was over with some of the other guys now, taking part in an impromptu dance party with Jesse, Kady, and Tanner that had broken out in the lobby.
Thad was still recording. And, thankfully, far enough away he wouldn’t pick up what Luke wanted to say next.
“I’m fuckin’ sorry to hear about your ex,” Luke told Brie quietly. “If you ever need to have the guy punched in the nose, let me know. I’d be happy to do the job. I can’t fuckin’ imagine what was going through his head.”
She gave him a rueful smile. “That is tempting. Thanks for not punching my brother today.”
A few feet away, Sebastian made a sputtering noise.
“I’m just saying,” Brie said with laugh. “After the stuff he’s said at games, I can understand it if you wanted to.”
Luke chuckled. “Your brother is, uh, creative, I’ll give him that. But hey, today was for Harper and the chirping, well, it’s all part of the game. I don’t take it too personally.”
“True. I suppose that makes sense. Seb used to be a hockey player after all.”
With that little information bomb, she said goodbye again and the three of them left after Harper gave Luke one last hug.
“Sooo,” Tanner said after they stepped through the doors and out into the parking lot. “Did you ask for her number?”
“Huh?” Luke said, turning away from the wall of windows at the front of the building. “Whose number?”
“Brie. The hot mom.”
“Uhh, no,” Luke said with a frown. “Why would I?”
“Because she’s a hot mom who was flirting with you and you totally hit it off with her kid. Duh.”
“She wasn’t fucking flirting with me,” Luke said with a scowl. “She was just … being nice.”
“Suuure she was,” Tanner said doubtfully.
“Well, I don’t fucking want to date her,” Luke said with a roll of his eyes. “So quit your fuckin’ matchmaking.”
What he did want to know was exactly what kind of hockey Sebastian had played.