Chapter 30
THIRTY
JJ
Present
Last night was a turning point of sorts. Sitting on the roof with Adeline, celebrating in the way we used to, brought me clarity.
I respect that she doesn’t want to risk her career for a relationship.
The issue is similar to the one we faced that night four years ago.
But back then, I didn’t see it from her perspective.
I was so angry. So pissed. So goddamn hurt.
I did things I never should have done and I reacted in ways I’m not proud of.
Yet she took it all. She held her head high, walked away, and chased her dream. And she was right to do so.
I, on the other hand, sought revenge, married the revenge, and destroyed the last vestiges of our friendship.
I punch the pillow beside me. None of that matters anymore.
I’ll do things differently this time. I’ll listen when she asks for space.
I’ll be her friend and support her both at work and at home.
And while I’m doing that, I’ll get my life sorted.
That way when I go to her the next time, when I beg her to give us a shot once again, we’ll actually have a chance.
I jump out of bed, determined. The team is flying out this afternoon and then we’ll be on the road for three games.
Then we’ve got a full week in Boston. Thank god.
I hate leaving Avery. If Vivi wasn’t also taking care of Hope’s and Winnie’s kids, I’d have her traveling with us so my little girl could come as well.
But this is better for her. She needs routine, and it’s why I moved into the brownstone to begin with.
I snag a shirt from the dresser and throw it over my head, then I step into the hallway.
The house is quiet. Luckily, the kids all seem to be pretty good sleepers. The big ones, at least, and since they share a room, they often end up playing first thing in the morning rather than coming out in search of food.
Warmth blooms in my chest. That’s not a terrible way to grow up. Maybe I’m not doing such an awful job after all. I wish I could give her the mother she deserves, but we’re doing the best we can, and that has to count for something.
The floor creaks down the hall, catching my attention, and when I turn, Brayden is peeking out the door that leads to Vivi’s loft wearing last night’s suit, sans jacket.
The white button-down shirt is open, his sleeves rolled up.
And there’s a backward Bolts hat on his head.
That’s standard. The only time he’s not wearing a cap like that is when he’s on the ice.
His shoes are in one hand and his phone is in the other.
He’s typing away, head down, oblivious to my presence.
I lean against the wall, smirking. “Going somewhere?”
Cursing, he drops his phone. “Fucking A, JJ. Why the hell are you standing in the hall like a creep?”
I laugh. Loud. “Me? A creep? Did you or did you not just step out of the bedroom that belongs to our coach’s daughter? That’s much more creepy than sleeping with the coach.”
He scowls. “One, saying it like that implies said coach is Gavin. Gross. He’s sixty and like a second dad to me. Two, I didn’t sleep with anyone last night.”
Pushing off the wall, I open my mouth to retort.
Before I can, he shakes his head. “I’m not finished. Three, I’m here because I’m a good guy. I made sure our coach’s very young, very drunk daughter got home last night. Don’t compare that to you trying to romance your goalie coach.” He shakes his head. “We are not the same.”
“Fuck, you’re in a foul mood.”
“I didn’t sleep well. I was too busy watching a twenty-two-year-old breathe all night.”
I scratch my neck. “She was that drunk?” I eye the stairs, unease swirling inside me. Vivi has been really good with Avery. I’d hate to think I can’t trust her. Especially since I’m leaving in a matter of hours.
Sighing, Bray drops his shoes. “Fucking Bobby was feeding her shots,” he grouses as he shoves one foot in. “The girl didn’t know heads from tails by the end of the night. It wasn’t her fault.”
“So you drove her home?” I’m still confused about how he ended up being the one to take care of her.
“Bobby tried to leave with her. Something they’d both regret. Coach would literally skin him alive.”
I nod. He’s not wrong. “You need a ride home?”
He holds up his phone. “Just ordered an Uber.”
“Okay, I’ll walk you out.”
Halfway down the stairs, his phone blares loudly.
“Jesus,” I mutter.
Wincing, he answers.
So much for the kids sleeping in.
“Hey—”
“Why the fuck am I looking at a picture on my ring camera of you carrying my daughter into her goddamn house last night?”
Coach’s voice is so loud I can hear it from here. Shit.
Brayden’s eyes slide shut and he sighs. “It’s not what you think—”
“Good, because right now I’m thinking that my goddamn captain was carrying my intoxicated daughter into her home. So if that’s not what it looks like, then please enlighten me.”
“Well, I mean yes, that is exactly what it was, but—”
“Hawke, so help me god,” he grits out, “if you tell me you didn’t sleep with my daughter—
“Sir, I didn’t,” Bray stammers.
“You shouldn’t even have to fucking say it. Why the fuck did you allow her to get that drunk?”
Rather than tell Coach that it was Bobby, rather than stick up for himself, Brayden swallows and ducks his head. “I’m sorry, sir.”
“Where is she now?” Gavin grits out.
“She’s asleep.”
“You’re still in her goddamn room?”
“Nope,” I say, unable to stop myself. “Hawke’s with me. He stayed on the couch. Found him myself.”
My best friend shakes his head, jaw tight.
“Oh, hi, JJ,” Coach says, sounding a bit caught off guard. “Were you there when my daughter got obliterated?”
Brayden and I eye one another. Gavin is normally pretty rational, but right now I think he’d like to castrate us both. “No, sir. I left to get pizza with Adeline.”
“At least someone has some goddamn sense. Do me a favor, when my daughter wakes up, tell her to call me.”
“Of course,” I say quickly.
“And Hawke?”
“Yes, sir,” Brayden says, sounding tired.
“I’m really fucking disappointed in you.”
“I’m sorry, sir.”
“A lot of good that does me,” he snaps. “Stay away from my daughter. She’s twenty-one. And how old are you? Thirty-three? Thirty-four?” He doesn’t give Brayden a chance to answer. “She’s off limits. Do you understand?”
Brayden nods like Gavin can see him. “Of course.”
When the line goes dead, I stare at him. “That was so not good.”
He shakes his head. “Just make sure she takes the pain reliever I left beside her bed. And, uh, I’ll call Josie. See if she can come over and help with the kids before you have to leave.”
I blow out a breath. “Thanks, man. You better tell Bobby he owes you.”
“Yeah, he fucking does.” Grumbling, he slips his phone into his pocket. “Uber’s here. I’ll see you later.”
Three hours later, Vivi is cuddled up on the couch with all the monsters watching a movie. She looks like shit, and she winces every time the music gets loud. More than once, she’s muttered, “Fucking A, Uncle Beckett just had to spring for the best surround system.”
Chuckling, I drop my suitcase by my feet. Then I hold out my arms. “Come on, Avey girl. I gotta head out.”
My little girl runs toward me, throwing her arms around my neck and hugging me tight. “You’re going to call before bed, right?” Her sweet voice is insistent as she snuggles into me.
I pull back and look her in the eye. “Every night. And you’re going to be extra good for your aunties, right?”
She nods aggressively, making her blond hair float around her head.
Before I can ask her what she wants me to bring home—it’s a trick question because I bring her a key chain from every place I go; every airport, every arena, every city, if I see a keychain I bring it to her, the sparklier the better— my girl squeals in my ear and shoves away from me.
“Addie! You’re going with Daddy too?”
Adeline appears at the bottom of the stairs, suitcase in hand.
Today’s red suit makes my tongue feel heavy.
It’s form fitting and dips low between her breasts.
It’s sexy yet classy. Her chestnut hair is down and wavy against her shoulders and her lips are the same color as that suit. Sinful red. Fuck me.
“I am, Avey girl.” She crouches to Avery’s level.
She’s wearing black heels with the red bottoms. The same shoes she wore that night at the restaurant. Shit. I cannot have visions of those shoes on either side of my head right now, while my four-year-old grins up at her.
I’ll save those thoughts for later.
“Kick some hockey player butt like always.”
Avery launches herself into Adeline’s arms and hugs her just as tight as she did me. I have to look away. It’s painful, seeing what we could have had. What we could have been. If only Tabitha hadn’t been Avery’s mother. If only Adeline was.
Then again, Adeline didn’t want kids. Just the thought makes my chest burn.
“And you promise to call me every night?” Avery asks.
Head snapping up, I step forward, ready to explain to my daughter why she can’t ask for stuff like that. But before I can, Adeline nods, that soft smile she only gives my daughter on her lips. “Of course I will.”
“You can call with my dad.” She beams up at me like we’re in on a secret. If I’d thought of it, I’d have helped with the scheme, but this is all Avery.
Adeline peers at me over my little girl’s head wearing a wary look. “You can call me on my phone,” she says.
“I’ll call you with Daddy. I like it when you sleep in the same bed. Then my daddy isn’t lonely.”
Still curled up on the couch, Vivi squeaks out a “what?”
I glare at her. The girl has no room to talk. “We only did that because you were between us and having a bad dream, right?”
Avery shrugs her little shoulders.
This girl. Regardless of her motives, I’m not mad about it. I’d happily sleep with these two in my bed every night. God, it’d be a damn dream come true.
“We should go,” Adeline says, probably ready to put a stop to Avery’s off-the-cuff comments.