Textbook Defense (Hockey Ever After #5)

Pregame

JORDY GRUNTED as he did his final push-up of the morning and, after a brief consideration of the merits of burpees, decided to transition into his cool-down instead. He wasn’t hungover, as he’d stuck to his beer-and-wine-only limit. Still, he had gotten in much later than he anticipated—he’d lost track of time at the café thanks to Rowan’s engaging conversation, and it had been pushing midnight by the time he got home—and he could hear Kaira stirring upstairs, so it seemed like a good morning to cut things short.

Sighing into the stretch, Jordy leaned toward his toes and thought about the night before. Dinner had actually been enjoyable. Rowan had made it almost fun—he had a true talent for talking with anyone and everyone. He’d bonded with one of the women at their table, and the two of them had chattered enough to carry the entire table through the three courses.

And then Rowan suggested they round out the evening with a proper dessert, and Jordy had surprised himself by saying yes. For the most part, Jordy spent his free time with Kaira, Sanna, and his teammates and their families. He didn’t go for cupcakes with almost-strangers. It had been nice, though, to talk with Rowan, to make friends with someone outside the world of hockey.

Jordy headed for the kitchen and rustled up a protein shake. He was chugging it when Kaira shuffled into the kitchen. “Good morning, peanut.”

“Hi, Daddy.” Kaira walked into his legs and hugged his thigh. The first few minutes of her morning—when he could get them—were some of Jordy’s favorites. She was always a cuddlebug before she woke up properly.

He scooped her up for a snuggle. She looped her arms around his neck and sighed, and for a few minutes they stood together enjoying the quiet.

When she started to pull away, Jordy hummed and asked, “Pancakes this morning?”

“Pancakes?” Kaira chirped.

“Pancakes.”

Jordy put her down, and she skittered off to fetch her stepstool so they could cook together.

Several minutes later, Kaira happily made her way through a stack of pancakes loaded with fresh strawberries and whipped cream while Jordy indulged and ate his with raspberry jam and cream. He’d have extra protein with his lunch.

“Pancakes are the best,” Kaira told her plate and shoved more into her mouth. She had whipped cream on her nose.

Cleanup and clothes were first up on the after-breakfast to-do list. Jordy was contemplating their moves for the day when his phone pinged with a message from Sully.

LOL Looks like you had fun last night. ;) It’s all over the blogs. Tell me you got laid. It ended with a string of eggplant and peach emojis.

No one would ever accuse Sully of being classy. What are you talking about?

Twitter is all abuzz about your new pretty boy. He looks pretty cute on your arm. ;) Another text appeared. Been a while since you took anyone out. You getting back in the game?

Why is Twitter talking about Rowan?

Jordy’s phone rang in response.

“Good morning, sweetheart,” Sully bellowed. He was a man who enjoyed annoying people. He also liked fucking with guys who were “too steeped in toxic masculinity, man.” Jordy didn’t know if he was like this before Adrianna—they’d started dating before Sully got traded here—but Jordy would bet that she helped him build his team-needling vocabulary. She was a graduate in gender studies, after all.

Most days, Jordy didn’t know how Sully had convinced someone that smart to fall in love with him.

“Good morning.” Jordy refrained from one of his usual nicknames for Sully since Kaira still sat opposite him.

“Shall I take it from your curt tone that Mr. Twitter did not, in fact, put out last night? Does that mean he’s not your new beau? Too bad. You could do with some lovin’.”

Jordy scowled at the wall. Sully knew full well that he wouldn’t be finding out about Jordy dating anyone from Twitter. He was playing dumb on purpose to avoid answering Jordy’s question, just to annoy him.

“The charity posted some photos,” Sully admitted since he couldn’t bear an unfilled silence, “and hockey Twitter immediately had an orgasm over the pictures with you and Mr. Adorable. They’re all wild with speculation, what with you never bringing dates to these sorts of things. Well, none that you don’t play hockey with. Or that you didn’t marry.”

Jordy sighed. “Sully.”

“Fine. I won’t say anything about your pathetically dry dating spell since the birth of your adorable daughter.”

That was rude. Jordy had dated… a little.

“All done!” Kaira announced as she pushed her plate away.

“Just a sec.” Jordy pulled the phone away from his face and turned to his daughter. “Can you go clean up? You have cream on your nose, peanut.”

“Okay!” Kaira skipped off to the bathroom. Jordy called after her to get dressed too, and she shouted back another okay.

Jordy put the phone back to his ear. “Back.”

“Anyway, no one knows who he is yet, and it’s driving them all nuts.”

“He’s a librarian.”

Silence filled the line. “You’re dating a librarian?”

“No,” Jordy said exasperatedly. Except—did that sound like it was just sex, because… “Yes. No.”

“Wow. That was very clear. I’m going to need more words there, bud.”

“I met him when I picked up Kaira. Then I ran into him last night. Since both of us were without dates and trying to avoid awkward conversations….”

“Who were you trying to avoid?”

“Alana Woodruff.”

Sully hooted. “Did you pretend to date a cute boy to avoid a socialite?”

“Maybe,” Jordy admitted.

Sully laughed harder. “Babe!” he called, his mouth pulled away from the phone. “Babe, you gotta hear this.”

Jordy sighed again. Great.

At least Adrianna provided a cooler head. She thought Jordy and Rowan’s solution logical, if unorthodox.

“Unorthodox?” Sully cut in. “Babe, it’s right out of a Hallmark movie. Jordy, please tell me you’re going to keep fake dating until you combust from unresolved sexual tension and pining.”

Jordy pinched the bridge of his nose. “I knew Adrianna letting you watch those movies would come back to bite us in the ass.”

“I’m flattered that you think I have any sort of control over this lunatic,” Adrianna said dryly.

“You should bring him to the team charity fund dinner next month. Please. I’ve been good. I deserve this.”

“Good’s debatable,” Adrianna grumbled playfully.

“Not what you said this morning,” Sully jibed back.

“Can you please not,” Jordy begged. He had no desire to know anything about Sully’s sex life. It was like knowing about a sibling.

“So,” Adrianna cut in, “are you going to see him again? He sounds nice.”

“I’m not sure nice is the right word. He told Alana her personality was ugly.”

“My boy,” Sully crowed, at the same time Adrianna said, “Well, now I have to meet him too.”

“Besides, it’s not like we’re actually dating. Or that we want to.” Rowan hadn’t expressed any interest, and even thirty seconds in the man’s company made it apparent that he was the sort to say exactly what he wanted. Possibly whether he intended to or not.

Adrianna made a noise. Sully chuckled. “I’m pretty sure that meant ‘if the man has eyes and is into dudes, you’re his type.’”

Jordy digested that. “Did you just imply that your wife thinks I’m hot?”

“Implied nothing,” Sully dismissed. “You’re hot and you know it, my wife knows it, the city of Toronto knows it.”

“ Anyway ,” Jordy said to get off that topic, “I’m pretty sure he’s not interested, I’m not looking to date, and besides, he runs story time at the library. That would be awkward.”

“Only if you disappoint him,” Sully said. Jordy could hear the eyebrow waggle.

Fortunately, Jordy was saved when an elephant came running down the stairs. “My kid is dressed and clean now, which means it’s time to say goodbye, Sully.”

“Bye, Sully,” Sully said, because he loved terrible dad jokes, even if he wouldn’t be a dad for a few weeks yet.

“Bye, Jordy,” Adrianna added. “Have fun with Kaira. And let us know if you do see Rowan again.”

“You know I would,” Jordy admitted. Adrianna was just as much of a sibling figure as Sully. “Bye.”

He hung up and set his phone on the table, just in time to grab the ball of limbs and mismatched patterns climbing into his lap. He had to be quick; Kaira was bony and a little awkward, and she’d kneed him in the crotch more than once. “What are we going to do next, Daddy?”

“Excellent question. What would you like to do today?”

“Excellent question,” Kaira parroted, her expression serious. As she contemplated, Janice wandered in and waved. Even though she had the day off while Kaira and Jordy hung out, she was still dressed and apparently going out today, or so Jordy surmised based on her immaculate wardrobe.

“Good morning.” Janice poured herself a cup of coffee.

“Morning!” Kaira hopped out of Jordy’s lap and rushed to Janice for a hug.

“How are you today?”

“Good! We made pancakes!”

Janice smiled and brushed a hand over Kaira’s head. “Did you, now? Sounds like a great start to the day.”

“It was.”

“And what are you up to today?”

“I don’t know,” Kaira admitted with a frown. “I haven’t decided yet.”

“Well, what are the options?” Janice settled into a seat at the table.

Jordy watched in amusement as Janice and Kaira debated the day’s schedule before Kaira settled on her plan—they would go to the science museum. Janice suggested that Kaira go pack a bag and fetch everything Jordy would need to style her hair for the day.

With the child out of the room, they both took a moment to enjoy their coffee in the quiet.

“Thanks for that.”

“My pleasure,” Janice said with such sincerity that Jordy didn’t doubt it.

“Any plans for your day off?”

Janice rubbed a hand over her face and sighed. “I’ve got to call my mom.” Her smile looked weary, which Jordy hadn’t expected.

“Everything okay?”

“Yeah. She’s been having a rough time of it lately. She still lives in her own home, and the upkeep isn’t easy for her. My sister was helping out, but her husband got a two-year posting a year ago, and managing without Sarah has been harder than she thought.” She sighed. “My daughter has been doing her best to step in, but she and her husband work full-time.”

“I’m sorry,” Jordy said. He could understand the pain of living so far from family. “You’ll let me know if there is anything I can do to help.”

“You’re doing it, dear.” She smiled. “I just needed a sympathetic ear to brace myself for the phone call.”

“Well, if that changes….” He would do almost anything for Janice. “I’m serious. Kaira and I would be lost without you. You are probably the only reason either of us have made it through the past five years.”

“That’s probably true,” Janice joked.

She had arrived like an angel from heaven when Kaira was a week old. She’d taken the screaming newborn from Jordy’s sleep-deprived arms and shooed him off to bed. When he’d woken from his nap, he’d found Kaira asleep in her crib, a load of laundry in the washer and another in the dryer, the dishwasher running, and the garbage taken out. Jordy had nearly cried. He had hugged her and told her to never leave. Janice had laughed and asked which room was hers.

“Definitely true. I’m serious, Janice, anything.”

“I know, dear. And I won’t forget.” She stood and patted his shoulder on her way to the coffee machine for a refill. When Kaira barreled back into the kitchen clutching a brush and hair ties, Janice wished them fun and waved goodbye.

“Right,” Jordy said, focusing on the task at hand. Judging by the number of ties and clips, Kaira had serious hair plans. “What are we doing?”

“PLEASE TELL me this hellhole has a bottle opener,” Gem said, holding up a bottle of pinot noir as she kicked off her shoes.

“Hey, my flat resembles that remark,” Rowan said dryly. His place had a few perks, like location and not-horrifying rent, but reliable landlord was not among them. He’d been waiting for his dishwasher to get fixed for about six months now. “Also, what kind of heathen do you take me for? Of course I have a bottle opener—for corks and caps.” He led the way into the kitchen and pulled the opener from the wine cupboard, passed it to her, and then grabbed two glasses.

“Of course. How could I have doubted you.” She opened the bottle.

“You should be ashamed of yourself. So what’s brought you to my humble abode with vino tonight?”

“Your accidental date with Jordy Shaw, of course.” She followed him to the living room, and they settled on the couch.

“It wasn’t a date,” Rowan said and tried not to choke on his own bitterness about that.

Gem studied his face, then held up the bottle. “I’m guessing we’re not letting this breathe first.”

Rowan held the glasses out to her.

Once they both had full glasses and were curled up in opposite corners, Gem motioned for him to continue. “So what happened?”

“You mean aside from the fact that he’s a total DILF with an edible ass and an adorable daughter and I want to climb him like a tree but he’s not interested in me?”

Gem arched an eyebrow. “There’s a lot of unpack there, but sure.”

“You were wrong—he doesn’t date men. Or women. Or anyone.” Rowan pulled deeply from his glass. “As we were leaving the gala, I asked him out. I mean, I thought I asked him out. We went for hot drinks and dessert. He insisted on paying—which in hindsight probably has more to do with our income disparity—but I thought, ‘This is going great.’”

“That does sound promising,” Gem conceded.

“Then he tells me that he doesn’t actually date anyone because who has the time between sporting and parenting.”

Gem winced. “The man usually has more tact.”

That called for more wine. “Oh, he does. He didn’t look the least bit apologetic. He wasn’t trying to give me a hint. So not only did I strike out, but I did so with a man who’s so uninterested that he didn’t even notice I made a pass.”

“Wow. It sounds like the lack of regular sex has damaged his brain.”

Rowan snickered into his cup. He’d defend Jordy, but, well, Rowan wasn’t exactly known for his subtlety. “That must be it.” Rowan would get over it. The lack of opportunity to sleep with Jordy wouldn’t kill him, even if the lack of blood flow to his brain did knock off a few IQ points.

Gem refilled his glass. Rowan had hardly noticed himself emptying it. “My condolences. Just promise me this won’t send you running into the arms of the next unwashed underachiever to cross your path.”

Rowan pouted. “But how else will I recover my sense of self?”

“Yoga? Therapy?” Gem sipped her wine. “Pole-dancing lessons?”

“Oooh.” That did sound like fun. Rowan would have to ask if Taylor wanted to come with, because Gem certainly wouldn’t. And who knew—the instructor might be cute. “A pole-dancing teacher wouldn’t count as an underachiever, surely?”

“I see you’re not too broken up about the rejection.”

“I’m crying on the inside,” Rowan said with dignity.

“Well, at least you put on a good act for your friend Louis. His happiness on your behalf made him very generous.”

“I’d send you my bill, but I think it’s been paid, even if sadly no orgasms were involved.”

“Hmm.” She glanced around and arched one elegant eyebrow. “Perhaps you should bill me. Then you can vacate this roach motel.”

“I do not have roaches,” Rowan said indignantly. Abnormally large spiders, questionable water pressure, and windows that had to be jimmied open with a crowbar, certainly, but no roaches. The garden out back was really cute, though. “And I don’t need your money.” The trust his grandparents had set up for him had dwindled to a few months’ emergency fund, but the library job did pay his rent, as long as he didn’t expect lavish accommodations, and even let Rowan save a bit so he could buy something nicer one day.

Perhaps it was silly. If he picked a side and sucked up to one of his parents, they’d probably send him money for a down payment. But they’d also take that as a sign that the expense they’d put toward his education had been as wasted as they claimed it would be. Bollocks to that. Maybe Rowan hadn’t become a tech-bro billionaire or a venture capitalist, but he had a respectable job that he liked and that let him put down roots in a place he loved.

Or at least it would eventually let him do that, if he ever managed to get a permanent position at the library.

“What about a loan, then?” Gem tapped her nails on her wineglass. “I know you’re saving up to get your own place. I’ll float you the down payment—”

“Gem—”

“—you pay the mortgage, and you can pay me back afterward.”

For a moment Rowan was honestly tempted. That was a reasonable offer. It would get him out of his admittedly terrible apartment sooner rather than later.

But it negated half the point of the exercise, which was to prove to the ghost of his parents—okay, to himself—that he didn’t need anyone’s help. That he could be successful as a librarian .

God damn it.

He sighed. “I know you’re worried about me, but I’m honestly fine. I might not be living the lifestyle Young Rowan was accustomed to, but there are plenty of people worse off than me, and they get by fine.” For varying degrees of fine , some of which were, admittedly, not. “If I were that fussed about it, I’d look for somewhere with a roommate. Then I could afford to live aboveground for the same price.”