Chapter 24
Gavin
We keep winning, and for the first time in my hockey career, I wish we weren’t.
I love the game with all my heart, but the more we win, the longer our season lasts, and Haddy needs me.
Her due date will be in July, which is kind of perfect. Even if we go to the championships, I should be finished by then, but I don’t want to be on the road if she goes into labor or has any issues or complications.
Still, I can’t let the guys down. Nobody wants to go home in April. So I fly around the rink, playing my best, putting pressure on the forwards, working with Mav on our signature plays.
He slaps another shot into the goal, and I’ll be damned. My best friend just scored a hat trick.
The arena is on their feet roaring, and I look up to where the girls are sitting. They’re jumping up and down hugging each other, big smiles on their faces.
Haddy is wearing my jersey, and she and Gigi wave in time to the beats of “Nokia” by Drake, which has somehow become one of our celebration songs. I think it started because of the part where he says Ice like Gretzky.
Even if I’m frustrated with her, I can’t stop a chuckle when I see the two of them shaking their cute butts and pumping their arms in celebration. I mean, hell, our roommate slash their cousin slash my best friend just pulled off a major score. Another win for the Champions.
Haddy’s been sending me little texts every day. Mostly they’re about how she’s feeling, the fact she’s officially in the second trimester, and the books are right. She’s feeling great, looking beautiful, and so far, still not showing.
Standing under the shower after the game, as the hot water runs down my face, I smile thinking about her. I won’t lie, I can’t wait for the day when her belly pops, and she’s walking around with that bump showing.
When I talked to Dad again, he told me to be patient. Security is important in relationships. Trust is the foundation. I need to fucking find Karen and make her confess the truth.
I’ve been turning that idea over in my head since that night in the kitchen. I lost track of her after college, but I imagine she wouldn’t be too hard to find on social media. She was one of those International Princess Women, after all.
I’m still thinking about it when I arrive for Haddy’s doctor’s appointment the next day.
My hood is over my head, and I’m wearing dark sunglasses. Even though I’m pretty sure no one is following me all the way out to Pasadena, I still make the driver let me out a block away. I’m being extra careful for my girl.
When I see her in the waiting room, she looks up at me with so much hope in her pretty blue eyes. She’s doing her best, and I want to pull her into my arms and kiss her. It was so hard to go straight to bed last night after the game. I wanted to go straight to her.
Still, I have to be strong. I don’t want a relationship where she thinks I’m capable of betraying her. I want her to believe in me.
Dr. Barry starts with the ultrasound, and like always, she’s peppy, telling us the baby is the size of an avocado now.
“A chip off the ole guac, you might say,” she teases.
“That’s terrible!” Haddy groans through a laugh as the doctor slides the wand over her belly.
“Just giving the big guy here some ideas for dad jokes.”
I lift my chin to the petite physician. “Appreciate it.”
“Well, everything looks great. All that’s left is the bloodwork.” She takes some tissues out of a box, handing some to Haddy and using the others to wipe off the tool. “Don’t be worried, it’s all standard procedure, and I’ll have the results back pretty quickly. You won’t have to obsess too long.”
We thank her, and I walk with Haddy to the phlebotomy station. The woman places six glass vials on the tray, and Haddy sticks out her tongue.
“That’s a lot of blood,” she mutters, not sounding happy.
My protective instincts kick in, and I take the seat beside her, pulling her hand into mine. “Squeeze my fingers if it hurts.”
“It shouldn’t hurt, but it will take a minute.” The dark-skinned nurse smiles, tying the rubber tourniquet around Haddy’s upper arm. “I’m pretty good at this.”
“I know, it’s all routine.” Haddy returns her smile, but I’ve gotten to where I can tell the difference between her confident smiles and her “putting on a brave face” smiles.
I hate thinking she’s nervous and doing her best to be strong. Fuck, I never want her to worry.
“It’s all going to be good.” My voice is quiet. “You’re young and healthy. We both are.”
“Scientifically speaking, the odds are very much in our favor.”
“Is The Hunger Games scientific?”
“Not really.” She blinks a few times, clearing her throat. “The game was so much fun last night. I think you and Mav will be sharing that billboard next season.”
She’s nervous-talking, but I won’t argue with her. “I think you might be right.”
“Oh, my goodness,” the nurse exclaims, looking up from where she’s switching out the vials. “You’re Gavin Knight! I had no idea you were expecting. Congratulations… both of you!”
“Ahh…” I clear my throat, catching the panicked look on Haddy’s face. She’s pale, and it’s not from loss of blood. “You know, we’re kind of trying to keep this quiet. The paparazzi and all are pretty relentless.”
“I get it.” She nods, removing the needle from Haddy’s arm and applying a Band-Aid. “And I expect this would be big news.”
“We really want it to be a special time just for us.” Haddy’s voice is quiet, and she smiles up at the young woman.
“Your secret is safe with me.”
I’ve got to get back to the arena for a game tonight, so I’m not able to stay with Haddy while she’s freaking out about me being recognized.
I know she’s freaking out, because I’ve also come to recognize the way she presses her lips together as she twists her fingers. Annoyed or not, I feel like a shit leaving her at the clinic, but I think she’ll be okay for a few hours.
We win again, and Mav is on me to go out with the team and celebrate.
“Bruh, you’ve only gone out with us twice this whole season.” Mav tries to snap me with his towel, but I catch it, pulling it out of his hand.
“Don’t even.”
“How are we supposed to bond if you go home?”
My shoulders are tense, and I can’t believe this guy hasn’t figured us out yet. I look down, trying to find a reason I haven’t been with anyone since October—as far as he knows.
When I glance up, mischief is in his eyes. “What are you not telling me?”
I pull the tweed blazer over my shoulders, thinking about how at Christmas, we’d decided to let our roommates know we’re dating. Then we’d gotten cross-ways with each other.
My hair is still damp, and I turn to face my friend who’s pulling on jeans and a hoodie to go out. “I’m going to tell you something, and I want you to be cool about it.”
He straightens, shoving both hands through his shaggy hair, pushing it out of his face. “What?”
“I’m really into your cousin. We’ve known each other since college, and I think she’s a great girl. She’s smart and obviously beautiful…”
Mav’s expression tightens, and I can’t tell if he’s going to pull that protective cousin shit on me or try to hit me or what. Instead, he completely surprises me.
“Dang, I’m sorry.” Shaking his head, he looks down. “I don’t know how to tell you this, but she’s not really into you. She’s got this wrong idea in her head, and I tried to tell her you’re a good guy, but I don’t know if she listened.”
My shoulders relax, and I huff a laugh. “Yeah, we talked about that. Her roommate…”
“Yeah, that Karen chick. She’s a real—” He stops himself, adjusting his reply. “She said some shit about you I know isn’t true.”
Nodding, I consider how to say this. “If I could change her mind, would you care if I dated Haddy?”
“Hell no!” He grabs my shoulder, giving it a shake. “Ask her to the gala. She’s really good at shit like that, and you can show her what a great guy you really are.”
“I like that.” I smile like I hadn’t already thought of asking her.
“So now I get why you’re headed home all the time.” He grins, giving me a shove. “You and Haddy. It’s good. It makes sense. Now get out of here.”
We clasp hands, and I slap him on the back. I’m headed to my waiting SUV, when I see the paparazzi waiting for us.
“Go, I’ll take care of them.” Mav steps in front of me as I steal around the back of the large black vehicle.
Looking out the window, I see him hamming it up with the female reporter as my driver slips us out the back way.
He waves his hand, and I’m sure he’s making some joke. She laughs, her eyes flashing with excitement, and I shake my head smiling.
My buddy has never met a camera that didn’t love him, and after meeting his uncle Garrett, I get the feeling it’s genetic.
I’m quiet on the drive from the stadium to our little cottage in Los Feliz. I gotta say, when my original housing fell through, and I saw where Mav was living, I thought I’d made a mistake. Now I really like the quaint, neighborly location.
The house is dark when I arrive, which I don’t expect. Granted, it’s a Friday, but Gina usually is sitting on the couch watching a dog movie. Haddy stays late at the lab during the week, but on Fridays, she’s usually home hanging with her cousin.
Or at least, that’s how it used to be. We haven’t been talking as much lately. Damn, I’m going to feel like a loser sitting here alone on a Friday night if they’ve gone out.
My phone is in my hand to text her as I jog up the stairs to drop my bag in my bedroom, and I skitter to a stop on the landing. The light is on under her door, and I hear noises coming from inside.
I step forward, hesitating before I knock, and my stomach drops. The door isn’t closed all the way, and I realize she’s crying. Without really thinking about it, I walk right in to find her sitting in the middle of the floor.
She’s dressed for bed in a thin, white tee and those mermaid pajama pants. Only, her legs are crossed, and her chin is tucked. Both her hands are in her lap, and her shoulders hunch forward, shuddering with every sob.