Chapter 21
TWENTY ONE
Grey
Well, this is uncomfortable.
I look over at Landon. I think we’ve said maybe three words to each other since he picked me up, and I know one of those three was hello.
I hate awkward silences, but Alyssa had asked if I wanted to go with Landon to take Lianna to her hockey practice, and she did it with that wide-eyed “you better say yes” look.
This sucks. “So uh, what do you do at practice?”
“You know, skate with them. Teach them some things. It’s fun.” Landon turns his head, smiling as Lianna looks out the car window. “We have a future PWHL champion on our hands.”
I will say it’s nice that Alyssa is with someone who plays. Even if he is a second-string goalie who broke the one damn rule I had for players on my team.
I do love sharing my world with my niece, though. I had her on skates as soon as she could walk. While we drive down to the training rink where practices for kids in camp are held, I know there’s something I need to say to him, but the words choke me.
When Alyssa came over last night and asked if I wanted to go with Landon and Lianna while she’s at practice, I said no. Felix gave me a look. After she left, he told me it might be a nice bonding experience. Bonding. I rolled my eyes. He will be my brother-in-law one day, though.
I just can’t help it. Some days it’s hard to remember my sister is twenty-four, and not still a sixteen-year-old girl scared out of her mind with a newborn baby and a boyfriend who failed them both.
I’d been in the NHL for a couple of years by that point. There was no way I would let her struggle. In her mind, though, she had this idea of what their little life would look like. Her ex ripped the rug right out from under her.
For the longest time, it’s been just us three.
Now it’s them.
I look over at Landon driving, and I can feel he’s nervous as well.
I know he’s afraid of me, and maybe I haven’t done a damn thing to ease his nerves.
I guess I owe him that, though. This is a bit overdo.
I give him shit, I know I do. “Daddy, are we almost there?” she asks from the back seat, and I watch Landon’s face split into a soft smile.
“Yeah, we are, Bug.” He glances back at her quickly. “Stay away from Marla today. Got it?” I watch her scowl in the rearview.
“I’m going to slam her into the boards.” She tucks her fists under her arms.
I bark out a laugh. “That’s my girl. Looks like you created a monster.”
“You know how rivalry is. Marla’s going to get what’s coming to her. She tripped Lianna during practice. She picks her out because she’s smaller.” He lowers his voice. “Just means she’s feistier.”
“Thank you,” I cough.
“What’s that?” He smirks, leaning toward me and cupping his ear. “Didn’t get that.”
“Shut up.” I sigh.
“I get it. You told us to stay away from your sister, and I didn’t respect that.” He pulls into the parking lot. “I will always respect her, though, and Lianna. I love them both so much. I hope you can trust me in that. I know what you all went through with your father. I’m not like that.”
It’s always something I thought about growing up. What if my sister finds herself in the same situation as our mother? It was a nightmare in my mind. Part of me knows Landon isn’t like that. Still, it’s hard to let go sometimes.
He shuts the car off, his voice softer. “I’ll do whatever I need to, to protect them. I’d never hurt either of them. I know you don’t want to hear this, but I fuc . . . dging love your sister. And I don’t care about DNA.” He lowers his voice. “She’s my daughter.”
Words choke in my throat, pride strangling what I really want to say. I trust him. “I guess if I had to choose one of you shitheads, I’m glad it’s you,” I whisper.
He chuckles. “I’m going to propose.” He looks behind at Lianna, who’s focusing on putting her arm pads on. He lowers his voice. “When we go to the wedding.”
My heart speeds up a bit. I don’t like this feeling.
Emotion chokes my throat. Everyone is moving on and it’s time I do the same.
My phone is on me just in case that asshole shows up, and Felix knows not to answer the door while I’m gone.
I’m a bit on edge with him being home alone.
We’re leaving tomorrow morning, and then we’re finishing this when we get back.
We both deserve to move on.
“You have my permission.”
He laughs, smoothing his hand through his beard. “I wasn’t asking for permission. I’m going to marry her if she’ll have me.”
“She seems happy,” I say quietly. “That’s good enough for me.”
“Seems like you’re pretty happy yourself?” He smirks. “Quite the show at the playoff game. Felix is pretty cute.”
“Shut up.” I shake my head. “We’re not having a bro moment right now.” I get out of the car and open the back seat to grab Lianna’s gear. She looks adorable with her pads and little jersey. “Come on, let’s go shove Marla into the boards.”
“Lianna!” I’m going to lose my fucking hair, holy shit. “Hey.” She skates over to me, unimpressed with my rising blood pressure. “What do you think you’re doing?”
“Dayton tripped me, but I tripped him back.”
“With your hands?” I look at her.
She throws her arms out. “It was an accident.”
I bend over a little as she skates to me. “We’re not calling any ambulances, so take it easy.”
“What’s the matter, Grampa Grey?” Landon skates over to us with ease. I have a pair myself, but I hate to admit how nervous I am. I have Landon here if I fall. Still, I’m hesitant.
The traitor looks up at her dad. “Uncle Grey said I’m being too harsh.”
“Dayton tripped her, so she tripped him back.” Landon shrugs.
“With her hands?!”
Landon shrugs again, adjusting Lianna’s helmet. “Go ahead, Bug. Go play.” She skates off and Landon looks to me. “They’re kids, they’re fine. They’re very bouncy at this age.” He looks around, lowering his voice. “Honestly, Dayton could use a shove into the boards now and then.”
“Horrible influence.”
“Says the professional defenseman.” He looks at my skates. “Come on. Let’s see if you still have it.” I look down at my skates. Skating’s as easy as breathing, and I shouldn’t be this frightened. Felix warned me to be careful, though. “Come on. I’ll help you onto the ice.”
Sitting down, I toe off my shoes and grab the skates and slip them on.
For a moment I sit with them, then I stand, careful of my knee.
I will say, most days now the stiffness is minimal.
The pain is a ghost of itself compared to even a month ago.
Felix always makes sure I rest each day.
More and more I’ve been enjoying the outdoors, and it’s getting easier to take short walks in the woods or work a little on projects in my garage.
Landon reaches for me, then snaps his hand back at my glower.
“I got it.” I step out onto the ice and take my time as tiny humans practice shooting.
I see Lianna up ahead, facing off with another player.
I feel stable, which I didn’t the last time I did this.
Taking a few laps around, I watch all the kids play. It’s fucking adorable.
Up ahead I see a child sitting on the ice. No one’s around him. I skate up to him and he looks up. “You have to stand on the ice. You’ll get hurt sitting here.” He’s not crying now, but I can see how red his eyes are. “What’s wrong?”
I reach out a hand to him, helping him up. He can’t be more than six or seven. “I keep missing shots and everyone keeps yelling at me.”
I look out at the ice. “Come on, grab your stick.”
“What?”
“Come.” I wave him over, skating toward the line of children waiting to get their shots in on the miniature goalie. We get in line with a couple of kids, and when it’s his turn I stand next to him. “The trick is not to focus so much on getting it in.”
He cranes his neck to look at me. I can see the scowl through his face shield. “That’s terrible advice.”
I laugh. “Aim for the net, but don’t think about it.
Drive it as hard as you can. You can get a clean shot all you want, but if you can’t make it past the goalie, good luck.
You’re thinking so hard even he can hear you.
” Their goalie’s hunched over, waiting for this kid’s shot.
“The trick is to shoot fast so they can’t see where you’re shooting. ”
He nods, skating up to the line. I watch him hesitate, and so does the goalie.
His next movement’s clear. As predicted, he gets it blocked.
Frustrated, he goes back to the line. “Come on. Another. The only way we fail is if we quit.” He sets up another skate and drives it in.
Blocked. “Much better.” I notice the goalie is left-handed. “Try to aim lower, right.”
He takes a few shots that get blocked. When it comes back to his turn I pat him on the helmet.
“Don’t think. Drive it home. Make the shot.
” I watch him skate with more confidence than he’s had yet.
He skates up, slapping the puck, then pulls back.
The goalie flinches with the fake out, and I watch him slap it toward the left-hand corner, making it inside.
“Yay!” he shrieks. He skates to the back of the line, high-fiving my hand with his glove. “If you overthink, they’ll know your moves. Speed is the trick. You have to outsmart your goalie.”
“Did I just hear you say how smart goalies are?” Landon laughs. “Very smart.”
“He helped me get a goal.” He beams a gap-toothed smile.
“You did that all on your own.” I tap his helmet.
“Nathan?” we hear someone yell.
“That’s my mom. Gotta go.” He comes to me, hugging me around the knees, and I grimace with the pressure, then he skates off.
“Well, look at you making friends.” Landon smirks.
“I felt bad.” I shake my head. “It was painful to watch.”
“Maybe you could come down next practice. These guys are little, but there are some older kids too who I’m sure would love to hear some advice from you.” I roll my eyes. “You had fun with your brother-in-law today. Admit it.” He bumps my shoulder.