Chapter 11
Jeremiah
Charlie hadn’t fully regained her appetite since being sent home from school, but she had insisted on going to her game today. I’d done my best to fill her up with peanut butter toast and fruit that would be light on her stomach, but still give her energy.
The Sharks were currently giving the Puffins a run for their money.
While Charlie had been a brick wall, she was starting to tire out.
She stayed on the ground longer, as if taking a breather, before getting back up slower than normal.
Zoe must have noticed as well, because the second the whistle blew for the end of the half, she started helping Zack get on his goalie gear.
All the while, she made sure everyone drank their water.
Then suddenly Zoe’s eyes met mine. She held them for a moment before her gaze flicked to Charlie and back to me. I registered her lips moving, but couldn’t process what she was trying to say.
Picture? No. Pick… pickle!
Even from across the rink, I could see how red Charlie’s cheeks were now that she’d removed her mask.
While it was nothing too out of the ordinary when she was pushing to do her best, it was the faraway look in her eyes that made my stomach turn.
She wasn’t paying any attention to Zoe as she explained the positions and plays for the next half to the rest of the team, and Charlie’s breathing hadn’t calmed down.
It had been a hard period, with the Puffins on defense more often than not, and Charlie would never give anything less than her all.
Even if that meant pushing herself to her limits for forty minutes straight with barely any fuel in her body.
Unfortunately, a trait that she got from me.
Without a second thought, I hurdled over the two rows of empty bleachers in front of me and hurried to the concession stand.
The teenagers that ran the stand stared at me in confusion, but my attention was locked on one thing.
Thankfully, we had restocked earlier in the week, so there were plenty of pickles.
Just as quick as I had barged in, I was out.
I didn’t care if parents weren’t allowed on the ice, let alone anyone in their street shoes—it was my rink anyway. I was in full protective Dad mode and had tunnel vision for Charlie and Charlie alone.
Zoe barely opened the door in time for me. I had been fully prepared to just hop over the boards and pray that a kid wasn’t on the other side.
Kneeling down in front of Charlie, my chest tightened when her half-lidded eyes met mine. I could tell she wanted to smile, but even that was too much effort right now.
“Here, Tot. Nibble on this and I’m gonna get your gear off so you can cool down, okay?”
Her head bobbed once.
I pulled her jersey over her head first, followed by her elbow and shoulder pads. The rest I could work around her eating to get off. I ripped open the package and held it out to her, wincing at how clammy her little hand was against mine. She’d completely sweated through her undershirt.
I was in the midst of undoing the tape around her socks when Zoe appeared at my side.
“Here, Charlie girl.” She draped a wet cooling towel around Charlie’s neck, adjusting her braids. “Just take a breather. You were playing hard out there saving all those goals.”
I gave Charlie’s knee an affectionate squeeze and did my best to smile up at her. “Absolutely killing it out there, Tot,” I agreed.
That at least got a bigger smile out of her. “Thanks, Daddy. Did you see the one I blocked with my toe?”
“I sure did. Quick reflexes on that one.” I nodded towards the pickle. “Keep eating.”
She did as I asked, having eaten half by the time I got her skates and shin guards off. The red in her cheeks had noticeably faded, and she was far more responsive, eyes tracking the puck now as play began. The knot in my chest loosened.
There was no returning to the parents’ side now, and while I could have joined Zoe at the boards, I forced myself to sit on the bench next to Charlie instead.
Standing next to Zoe would mean talking to her, and I had promised to keep that to a minimum.
So, I did my best to focus on the game instead of her.
When the Sharks got the puck out of the scrum and their center made a breakaway, I didn’t think to stop myself from yelling out to Zack.
“Eyes on the puck, Zack! Track it!”
The center tried to fake to the left, but Zack did exactly as I asked and slid over just in time to catch the puck in his glove. All of the Puffin parents cheered for him. Even Charlie beat her stick against the boards in front of us.
Zoe turned to the bench and started prepping the next line to switch out. Her eyes caught mine and I quickly shifted to face Charlie more, keeping my back to Zoe.
“How are you feeling?” I asked, brushing the now dry strands of hair from her face.
“I’m okay.”
She’d finished off the pickle, so I took the juice-filled pouch from her to throw away later.
“I’m sorry,” she mumbled.
“What on earth are you sorry for?”
“I scared you. Again.”
I wrapped my arm around her shoulder and bent down to press a kiss to the top of her head. “Not the first time, and it won’t be the last,” I said before chuckling softly. “You’ve been scaring me ever since you first came into this world.”
Her eyebrows crinkled together. “I have?”
I nodded. “But I know you’re a tough cookie.” I raised my brows at her and booped her on the nose. “Doesn’t mean you can’t tap out every now and then if you’re getting tired, though.”
She scrunched her nose and giggled, making me smile.
“Okay, Daddy.”
She sunk into my side with a tired sigh, and I just held her closer. Was she going to take my advice? Probably not. But who was I to judge?
The Puffins pulled out the win, and Charlie had regained enough energy to cheer for her teammates and exchange fist bumps as they returned to the bench. She put her skates back on to get across the rink, leaving me to gather all of her gear in my arms and carefully pick my way across.
“Daddy, I need to ask Coach Zo about baking,” Charlie reminded me as I tucked her things away into the bag.
I glanced around for Zoe’s blue baseball cap, but the bleachers were currently a mess of parents and players packing up. Then Zack’s family stood up to leave, and I spotted her chatting with a couple of the moms. Charlie and I stepped closer to wait our turn.
“I can’t believe you’ve already had that many players sign up. This is going to be an actual league!” Jane said.
Zoe’s eyes met mine over the woman’s shoulder. “Well, it’s not all me. This guy here is largely responsible for our success.”
I forced a smile onto my face as the two other women turned to look at me. “It’s a joint effort.”
Zoe’s smile softened, and I ignored the way that made my heart jump.
“Either way. We can’t wait for the start of the season,” Jane gushed.
The moms bid their goodbyes, and then Zoe turned her full attention to us. Thankfully, Charlie stepped forward and took center stage.
“Coach Zo, I have a question.”
“Shoot.”
“My school is having a bake sale next week, and I was hoping you could help me.” She waved her hand over her shoulder in my direction. “Daddy’s not very good at baking.”
I scoffed at the slight, and Zoe laughed softly. She tried once more to meet my gaze, but I kept my focus on Charlie.
“Of course, I can,” she answered.
Charlie bounced on her toes excitedly, more energy running through her body now than I’d seen in the last couple of days. “I’m going to have the best baked goods.”
“It’s not a competition, Tot. It’s a fundraiser,” I reminded her.
“She’s not wrong, though.” Zoe grinned. “How about Friday? I’m free after work, and then the cupcakes will be nice and fresh for the bake sale.”
“You can just come to our house, if that works,” I said.
“Yeah. That works.”
Charlie threw her arms around Zoe in a tight hug. “You’re the best!”
Zoe hugged her back and then ruffled her already messy hair. “I could never say no to baking with my Charlie girl.”
I was just grateful to see Charlie smiling again. I doubted Zoe realized how much this meant to Charlie. To both of us, honestly. She was saving my little girl from a lot of heartbreak.
“Thank you,” I said sincerely, finally allowing myself to look at Zoe.
She gave me a soft smile. “Of course.”