21. Liam
CHAPTER 21
liam
Arriving at Hannah’s apartment, I let myself in, juggling the bag in my hand, so damn excited to surprise my girls. Hannah has been wanting to do this since their inaugural season, but we haven’t been able to make it happen. Charlie’s at the perfect age to enjoy it with us and I can’t wait to see her face when we get there.
“Where are my girls at?” I yell through the kitchen. Charlie wastes no time barreling through the apartment to get to me. Hiding the bag behind my back, I drop down to my knees just in time to accept her hug, arms wrapping around my neck.
“I haven’t seen you in two days, bear! Two! Where’s Garbage? Aww, he’s not here with you! Where is my puppy?”
“ Billy is with Uncle Carter tonight, isn’t he lucky?” She makes a face of disgust, and I can’t help the laugh that bursts from me. She’s not wrong.
“I promise, he loves Uncle Carter, and they have so much fun together, he loves to help out with him. Where’ s your momma?”
“She’s folding laundry,” she says, dramatically rolling her eyes into the back of her head.
“Where did you learn to do that?”
“Do what?”
“Roll your eyes. You’re too young to be rolling your eyes at us, I’m not ready for it.”
“Eliza does it after Ms. Katie tells us to stop chitchatting. It’s funny!”
“Well, we’re going to have to talk about that, okay? Let’s go find your momma, I’ve got surprises!”
She gasps loudly, her hands flying to her mouth in excitement. “Surprises! I loooooove surprises!” Charlie turns and bolts from the kitchen yelling as she races. “Mumma! Bear’s got surprises!”
I follow her into the living room, finding Hannah in nothing but an oversized Carrie T-shirt, her long legs on full display, covered only by the knee-high fluffy socks she has on. She meets my eyes, arching a brow as she watches me check her out. God, I’m obsessed with this woman.
“Surprises, huh?”
“Yep. But, I don’t know, you seem like you’re not really feeling surprises. Plus, you probably won’t like this one. This one may just be for me and Charlie.”
“Yeah, yeah. We’ll see about that. Spill.”
Setting the plain brown bag on the coffee table, I pull out both jerseys and quickly toss each one into their faces. Hannah gasps, grabbing it and holding it out in front of her, taking in the dark blue with the light blue S in the center. She turns it around, seeing the name of the Kraken goalie at the top and smiling so big.
Charlie looks at her matching one, and looks at me slightly confused, which is the cutest thing ever because what freshly turned four-year-old really wants a hockey jersey for a surprise ?
“Thank you, bear! This is amazing. We’ll wear them tonight while we watch them on TV. Want to stay up late tonight, munchkin?”
“Funny you should say that, beauty. We’re not watching them on the TV tonight.”
Her face lights up as she sucks in a quick breath of air, holding it in and waiting in anticipation.
“We’re going to go watch them at Climate Pledge Arena!” I yell, throwing my hands in the air.
“Ohmygod!” Hannah screeches, jumping up and down, Charlie following suit.
“We’re going to see them in person, bear?” Charlie asks.
“We are, and we need to hit the road, so go get changed, and wear a long-sleeved shirt under your jersey please because the arena is pretty cold, okay?”
Charlie jogs off to her bedroom and Hannah stands still, looking at me with an expression I can’t read. Walking up to her, I trail the back of my fingers down the length of her bare arms, loving the scatter of goosebumps that follow my touch.
“Have you eaten?”
“Yes, I’m good, I promise.”
“You excited, baby?”
“How did you manage this?”
“Crazy turn of events actually. The GM called me, looking for a specific rare year of our whiskey for a gift, and I hunted it down for him. To thank me, he offered me tickets. They arrived a few days ago, and it’s been killing me to keep it from you. It was well worth it to see your reaction though.”
“Don’t you feel special, huh?”
“I do now. How about a kiss to show your husband thanks, huh?”
Her lips lift in a smile before she raises up on her tiptoes and kisses me. My hands find their home at her waist, holding her gently to me and letting her lead. She kisses me softly, just pressing her lips to mine, and I relish in the feel of her softness against me.
“Aww!”
Hannah pulls away from me, but I don’t remove my hands from her waist. Waiting to see how Charlotte reacts.
“Aww? Don’t most kids say eww?” I tease.
“Nope! I loooove it! You’re sooooo cuuuuute! Now that you’re kissing, can we move in with you, bear? Garbage wants me there, I know he misses me ’cause I can hear him crying, remember? And then we’d be able to sleep together every single night and then Mumma wouldn’t be alone ’cause she’s happy when you’re here, bear, ’cause you’re fun.”
My face falls, knowing the weight those words will have on Hannah. She hasn’t moved from my arms, her body relaxed, shoulders slumping forward slightly as she stares at her daughter. Instead of letting Hannah fumble, I release her and move toward Charlotte, bending down to my knees to talk on her level.
“I’m pretty cool, huh?”
“The best!”
“You know your momma is happy when she’s alone, too, right?”
“Yep. But Evangeline said my mom must be sad ’cause she doesn’t have a husband. Then she said I’m weird ’cause I don’t have a dad. But I told her it’s just me and my mom and we’re besties and that sometimes we have bear and Garbage. But I want to live at your house and then we can have you and Garbage all the time and Evangeline won’t call me names.”
I sigh, my head falling forward for a moment, unsure how to proceed and explain things to her.
“Evangeline isn’t being very kind and accepting of everyone, because every family looks different. Some kids only have one mommy, just like you.” The words taste like ash on my tongue because, fuck, I’ve been an honorary dad to this girl since the day I pulled her from her mother. “Other kids have only a daddy, or two daddies, or two mommies, or they’re raised by their grandparents and have no mom or dad at home. There are even families who have one parent at home, and the other parent is gone for a long time with the military, or with their job. Each one is okay and doesn’t define you as long as you have love.”
“Can I have two daddies?”
I look up at Hannah and raise my eyebrows at her in question, her hand flies up to cover the smile creeping up on her face and I have to stifle my laugh. I’d kill a fucker before I shared Hannah.
“Does what I’m saying make sense, munchkin?”
“Yep. It does. Evangeline should be nice ’cause it’s okay that everyone is different.”
“That’s right. Are you happy?”
She bites her little lip and squints her face like she’s deep in thought, my smile unrestrained as I watch her work through it. She’s the cutest fucking thing ever created, and I’m obsessed with this kid.
“Yep. I’m happy. Buuuuuuut,” she says, pointing her little finger at me, “I’d be happier if I could be with Garbage every day.”
I laugh at her. “Noted. I’ll take it up with the boss, sound good, munchkin?”
“Yep! Now, can we go to the hockey game? I want to see the goalie! Cause he’s just like you!”
My heart swells with pride. I love these two so fucking much it hurts.
The arena hums with energy as Hannah, Charlotte, and I weave through the maze of people walking around. It’s both of my girls’ first big hockey game, and their contagious excitement buzzes through my body, even though I’ve been to more games than I can count. There’s nothing in the world quite like your first NHL game, and now I get to experience it through their eyes, which is honestly better. The cold air bites, and I reach down to pull Charlotte’s sweatshirt hood over her head. Her jersey is worn on the outside of it so she can rock our team proudly.
Getting in line for popcorn and sodas, I’m angsty, ready to find our seats and hear the familiar noise of the fans that will swallow you whole, the cracks of sticks, the skates cutting into the ice. It’s an energy unlike anything else. Fuck, I miss playing but watching is such a good time.
After grabbing snacks, we head to find our seats, which is fairly easy when the GM gives you rinkside tickets—right next to the penalty box. Charlie takes in the enormous rink stretching out before us, her excitement written all over her sweet little face as she sees it all for the first time. Sure, I’ve been taking her to the high school rink since she could walk, determined for her to know how to skate, but this is different.
The Zamboni makes its slow passes around the ice, and she watches it with rapt attention while she munches on her popcorn. I take my seat between Hannah and Charlie, my hand moving to Hannah’s thigh and squeezing to get her attention. The bright smile that I love so much fills her face, her cheeks pink, the gorgeous lavender of her hair reflecting the light and giving her a little halo. A knot forms in the center of my chest, aching, and I rub my fist against it. She’s so goddamn beautiful, and I love this woman more than anything.
Leaning into her ear so she can hear me more easily, I whisper, “You miss watching me play?”
“You know I lived for those games, I think I only missed a few. Minus the ones you missed because of your suspension, those were pointless for me to go to.”
“Worth it.”
She gives me a little laugh, slapping my chest playfully. Grabbing her wrist, I bring her hand to my mouth, placing a kiss on the delicate skin on the inside of it. Threading my fingers through hers, I hold her hand with the back of mine resting on her thigh, my thumb rubbing back and forth slowly against her, giving her the touch I know she craves.
“This is seriously awesome. Thank you for bringing us, bear.”
There’s a sharp pinch in my chest when she uses that nickname, but it’s slowly getting easier, especially after I know she’ll moan out my name later when she’s coming for me. I can be both for her. As long as we’re together.
My phone buzzes in my pocket, and even though I don’t want to, I take it out to check.
Dallas: How the fuck did you end up with Seattle tickets?
Sawyer: Why are we looking at your ugly mug on the TV? RINKSIDE
Carter: Total bullshit
Dallas: You’ve got no room to complain. Weren’t you the one invited to use the vacation home of some Washington elite asshole this coming summer?
Sawyer: Yeah, fuck off, Casanova. Whose dick did you have to suck to get that shit?
Carter: Fuck off. Not my problem I’m personable and people actually like me over you growly fuckers
A laugh bursts from my lips, and I lean into Hannah to show her my phone.
“You didn’t tell them? You’re so bad.”
“No way, they would have tried to make me take them. And then I’d have to choose between the three of them.”
“Or they would have tied you down and gone just the three of them.”
“Psh, not without one helluva fight. They’d be rolling in here with busted lips and shiners.”
“So violent. Maybe that’s what Lo and I need. A good brawl. I’d love to punch her in the nose one of these days.”
“A little knockaround in a ring might do Harlow some good. And you,” I tell her, bringing my attention back to my family chat.
Me: Ya snooze ya lose, fuckers. GM called looking for a needle in a haystack and guess who found it for him?
Sawyer: Those should have gone to the CEO
Dallas: And there he goes again. Reminding us that big bad Sawyer is the boss.
Carter: And you’re all pissed at me. Be pissed at Sawyer or Liam
Kinsey: Remind me again why I’m a part of this family?
Me: Blood?
Dallas: Birth?
Sawyer: DNA?
Carter: Genetics?
Me: Games about to start. Have fun watching from your TV
The massive scoreboard flashes above center ice, and the crowd goes wild as the players are introduced and enter the rink. Charlie sits up on her knees, cheering as the goalie takes his place in the crease. My heart swells some more knowing that she loves goalies because I used to play that position in high school and college.
The game starts and it’s chaos from the moment the puck hits the ice, Seattle coming in hot, which pumps up the crowd, everyone cheering and yelling. Charlotte covers her ears when it gets overly loud, but after a little while, she opens up and screams at the players with the crowd right behind her. When a two-minute penalty for slashing is called on Boston, Charlotte screams, “Get in the box!” and I about die right in my seat. Hannah and I lose it, our laughter drowned out by the crowd’s roars over receiving a power play so early on in the first period.
Any hockey game that I’ve watched prior to tonight has nothing on watching it with Charlotte. The game goes into double overtime, the three of us on the edge of our seats. This is where the goalies can really shine. We watch our player and hold our breath, Hannah and Charlotte repeating, “Don’t blink, don’t blink,” over and over under their breath. One of the best Boston players takes the ice, and Hannah’s hand squeezes mine tightly.
“He’s got this,” I reassure my girls. And thank fuck, the shot on goal is expertly deflected. The three rounds are quick, Boston getting one goal in, Seattle scoring two, delivering us the win on home ice. Charlotte bounds into my arms, squealing and screaming her excitement and joy, and I don’t think I’ve ever been happier than right now.
I hold Charlotte, standing and cheering as our players line up to show thanks to the goalie, and catch Hannah watching me instead, a look of pure awe on her face. C’mon, baby, see me. I’m it for you.