Make Your Shot (Aston Archers Hockey #5)

Chapter 1

CHAPTER ONE

CALEB

My lungs constrict, emotion spilling into my veins as a heavy sorrow settles inside my chest. Standing outside of the arena, I stare at the building before my eyes look past it. Our preseason games are in a few weeks and this will be the sixth season without her here with me.

I stare at the moon until it becomes blurry.

My eyelids fall shut and I inhale deeply, breathing in the scent of the wet, rain laden pavement beneath my feet.

I imagine the warmth of her hand, sliding into mine, fingers weaving through the empty spaces.

The scent of the floral perfume she used to wear, lacing with the smell of rain.

“What are you doing?”

I pinch my eyelids shut, hanging on to the fading memory of her, hoping that if I ignore him long enough, Rowan will disappear. He’s silent and I let my mind drift back to her. Back to my late wife.

The last five years have felt like a time warp without Amelia. At times, it feels like it’s been an eternity since I lost her and others, it feels like I blinked at her funeral and now it’s years later.

“Caleb.” Rowan’s voice is a bit softer. “Are you okay?”

The thought of her hand in mine begins to dissipate and I slowly peel my eyes open, turning my head slightly to the side as I stare at our goalie. “I’m fine,” I tell him, clearing my throat.

I think she would be proud of me. Proud of Estella. It’s been challenging without her—raising our daughter alone—but I know I wouldn’t have been able to do it without the support system I have in place.

And Rowan Taylor just so happens to be part of that support system.

“Your brother said that Estella is staying at his house tonight.” He tilts his head to the side, his hair falling across his forehead. “Do you have any plans tonight?”

Biting on the inside of my cheek, I shake my head from side to side. “I just planned on going home.”

I’m a widower. A professional hockey player. A single dad. My time is either spent on the ice or with Tella. I don’t have time to reacquaint myself with the world outside of the safe little bubble I live in. I wouldn’t even know where to start, if that were something I wanted to do.

“Why don’t you come over?” he offers, an eager smile on his lips.

“I don’t know, man,” I start, my voice dropping as I shake my head and run my fingers through my locks.

“Come on,” Rowan persists, urging me. “Just come hang out for a little bit.”

I stare at him for a moment, pursing my lips. It’s a tempting offer. I’ve become comfortable with my own company and just settling into the silence, but there are times where it’s lonely. Sometimes, I’ll go out to the bar by myself, but I usually never stay for more than one drink.

“Okay, fine.”

Rowan’s eyes widen. “Really? That was easier than I thought it would be.” He pulls out his phone, tapping on the screen. “Carson owes me fifty bucks now.”

I roll my eyes at him and snort. I’m not surprised, My brother Carson and him are always betting on stupid shit. “I’ll meet you at your place,” I tell him, nodding my head before turning my back on the arena and Rowan.

I head over to the car, slipping behind the driver’s wheel as I look back at the arena once more. Emotion wells inside my throat and I swallow hard over the lump. The image of the last time I was here with her—Amelia sitting in the passenger’s side floods my mind.

Midnight colored hair falling down her back as she tipped her head back. Her lips spread wide open, the sound of her laughter filling the car.

“What are you laughing at?” I questioned, my voice light as I tilted my head to the side, absolutely mesmerized by her.

“I’m sorry, baby,” she said, reaching for my hand as she regained herself. Her warmth wrapped around me, seeping through my pores as she gave me a gentle squeeze. “Sometimes you are just too serious.”

My eyebrows pulled together. “No I’m not,” I argued.

“Caleb Ford, yes you are,” she half scolded me before her words turned to laughter again. “You almost backed your car into Lincoln and you didn’t even laugh about it.”

I stared at her with a look that questioned her sanity. “What part of hitting someone with my car is funny?”

“You didn’t hit him,” she pointed out, shaking her head at me. “It’s just the chain of events and the way you didn’t even crack a smile. You just apologized and waved it off like nothing happened.”

The corners of my mouth twitched. Not from the situation, but from the amused look on Amelia’s face. “Should I have done something differently?”

“Nope,” she said, shaking her head at me.

“You’re just you and that’s what I love about you.

” She paused, the corners of her eyes crinkling.

“I just think there’s a benefit in relaxing sometimes.

In letting yourself feel the silly, goofy parts of life.

It’s too short to be so serious all the time, you know? ”

A chuckle rumbled in my chest. “Am I not silly enough for you, Amelia?” I reached for her seatbelt, unbuckling it before reaching over to her.

I grabbed her hips, hauling her across the center console and onto my lap.

Her lips parted but her words were drowned out by her laughter as soon as I began to dig my fingers against her ribs.

“Ohmygod, Caleb, stop!” Amelia exclaimed, her breathing labored as she fought against my hard tickles. “Okay, you win. You’re silly and goofy and not serious at all.”

My own laughter mixed with hers as I slowly removed my fingers from her ribs. Amelia cupped the sides of my head, her chest heaving with shallow breaths, lips parted and cheeks tinted pink. She leaned forward and pressed her lips to my forehead.

“I love you just the way you are, Caleb.” She pulled away, her blue eyes settling on mine. “Just remember to always find the joy in life. Laugh and love, always.”

My hands slid up her arms, along her collarbones and neck before resting on her face. Her eyelids fluttered shut as she leaned into me, the smell of orange blossoms invading my senses. “Always.”

Amelia begins to fade from my mind, the entire memory vanishing into thin air as I find myself sitting in my car alone once more.

There’s a conflicting contentment that ripples through me.

Grief is such a weird fucking thing. One moment you’re feeling guilty for being here while they’re gone and then next, you’re wanting to keep moving on, knowing they would hate to see you upset.

Amelia wouldn’t want me sitting here alone. She would want me surrounded by love and light.

But how do I achieve that when the only love and the brightest light I’ve ever known ceased to exist?

When I pull up to Rowan’s house, I park in the driveway behind a dark colored sedan and head to the front door. The front porch light shines bright overhead and I lift my hand to knock on the screen door when Rowan’s voice comes from somewhere inside.

“Come in!”

With one final deep breath, I reach for the handle, pulling it open to let myself inside. Muffled voices come from the kitchen. I kick my shoes off in the entryway and follow the sounds.

As I step into the threshold, I find Rowan standing on one side of the counter talking to a woman whose back is to me. My eyebrows pull together in confusion. I immediately know it’s not Hadley. Her hair isn’t dirty blonde and she’s a little taller, a little fuller.

She glances over her shoulder, her long hair swaying as her brown eyes meet mine. Recognition shimmers in her irises, her soft pink lips lifting as she takes me in. She looks away and tucks her hair behind her ears. Is she nervous? “Hey, Caleb.”

I clear my throat awkwardly. “Hey, Mia.”

Mia Landry. Coach Landry’s daughter.

I don’t know her well, but enough to know that she’s been helping some of the families with any babysitting needs. Mia interned with the Aston Archers marketing department last season. I’m not sure what happened, but it doesn’t look like she’s pursuing it as a career, currently.

To be in my early twenties again, without a single care in the world. I’m a bit envious.

“Thanks again for watching Lucy on such short notice,” Rowan says to her, nodding his head. He moves over to the fridge, pulling open the doors. “You’re a lifesaver.”

“Lucy is so sweet and always so good,” she tells him, her soft voice soothing.

“I’m just glad I was free and able to help you guys out.

” Mia lifts her bag from the floor, slinging it over her shoulder.

“Have a good night.” She turns, and her gaze collides with mine.

Her lips part, as if she’s going to say something, but instead she dips her chin at me and walks past.

“Goodnight, Mia!” Rowan calls after her with two beers in his hand as he pushes the fridge doors shut. He walks across the kitchen to me and hands me one of the bottles. The front door softly closes behind me. “Do you wanna sit or should we just stand here awkwardly?”

I lift my hand, giving him the middle finger before stepping farther into the kitchen. I set my beer down, pulling out a stool at the island and plop onto it. “Better?”

Rowan smiles. “Much.”

“So,” I start as I twist off the top of my beer. “Where’s Hadley?”

“She had to go visit her grandmother. She should be back tomorrow.” He pauses, taking a swig of his drink. “Have you figured out what you’re going to be doing this season?”

My forehead creases. “What do you mean?”

“Have you found a replacement for Gloria?”

Oh, yes, that.

My nanny, Gloria, broke the news to me at the end of last season.

She’s friends with my parents and kindly stepped in to help me after my parents decided to go traveling.

But Gloria is getting older and decided it’s time for her to retire.

Her arthritis has been bad with the humidity here and her doctor recommended she move somewhere drier.

She’s leaving next week for her new chapter in New Mexico.

And I still haven’t found someone else to watch Tella for me.

“Umm—” I pause, chewing on the inside of my cheek again. “No, not yet.”

Rowan stares at me. “We’re traveling in two weeks. What are you planning on doing with Tella?”

My hand rakes through my hair, and I clutch the back of my head. “I don’t know.” I pause, letting out a ragged breath. “The off-season flew by and I haven’t really thought much about it.”

Emotion passes through Rowan’s eyes. “I can’t pretend to know what it’s like to be you, but you have to figure something out.” He pauses, rolling his lips between his teeth. “Have you asked Mia? She’s great with kids, man. I would recommend her to anyone.”

I shake my head. “I didn’t really think about her.”

“You should ask her, I’m sure she’ll help if she can.”

“I don’t know, Rowan.” My voice is low, heavy with defeat. The thought of having to find another nanny is overwhelming. Mia would be the easiest solution. She’s familiar and if the guys all trust her, then there’s no reason why I can’t.

“Just think about it, okay?” He insists with a shrug.

There’s a soft knock on the front door and it slowly opens. I watch Rowan turn around, confusion passing over his expression. “Mia. Is everything okay?”

“Oh, yes.” She smiles brightly, nodding before looking at me. My breath catches in my throat and I immediately push whatever the fuck that was away. “You’re parked behind me, Caleb.”

“Oh.”

Why the hell is my brain short-circuiting?

She stares at me, her smile fading when I don’t hop up and shifts her weight on her feet. “Um. Are you able to move your car?”

Rowan half glares at me. “Ford.”

Him saying my name knocks me from my stupor. I shake my head, blowing out a breath as I climb to my feet. “Yes, of course.”

“What the fuck was that?” Rowan mutters under his breath, raising an eyebrow. I lift my eyebrows and shoulders simultaneously before following Mia out through the front door.

She’s well over a foot shorter than me and her dirty blonde hair is pulled back in a clip now. My eyes travel down her petite frame, to her waist and ass before moving back to her shoulders.

I may have lost my wife, but I didn’t lose my vision. Mia Landry is beautiful. And off-limits. And luckily for both of us, I have no plans on ever getting involved with anyone else again.

“I’m so sorry to bother you,” Mia says softly, as she slows her stride to fall in step beside me. A hint of vanilla and lavender infiltrates my senses. “I tried to see if I could get around you somehow, but I couldn't.”

“It’s okay,” I tell her, my voice low. “I didn’t realize it was your car that I parked behind.”

“Well, either way,” she says, a smile lifting her lips as she glances at me. “I appreciate you coming out to move it.”

“No problem,” I reply in a gruff voice as I stop beside my car.

Mia walks to hers, turning to look at me once more over her shoulder before lowering herself into the driver’s seat.

I follow suit, getting into mine to back out of the driveway.

I move my car in front of the house, parking it along the side of the street.

As I get out and shut my door, Mia pauses beside me and her window slides down. “Thanks again, Caleb,” she says, leaning forward to see me. There’s just enough of a glow from the porch light to make out her brown eyes, a lighter shade almost like dark honey.

“Of course,” I tell her, my voice barely audible. My throat bobs with a rough swallow.

I could ask her right now. I should ask her before she leaves, but the thought of burdening her stops me. Mia might help all the guys out, but that is just for a night here and there. I don’t need a babysitter for me to go out to dinner. I need someone I can depend on for the entire season.

Someone who can stay at my house with Tella when I’m not there.

And I know I can’t ask that of her.

“Have a good night, Mia,” I finally say, bobbing my head at her.

A gentle smile caresses her lips. “You too, Caleb.”

I stay beside my car and watch as she pulls away. I don’t move until her tail lights fade in the distance and I’m left wondering what the hell I’m actually going to do.

The season is about to start and I need to figure my shit out.

I need to find a nanny—and fast.