Chapter 10
LOCKE
“Fuck, that felt good.” Keller drops into the stall next to me, dragging his Serpents-branded towel across his face.
“It really did,” I agree, already working my gear off piece by piece.
We just won our last preseason game, the regular season is five short days away, and I cannot fucking wait.
I’m antsy for it in a way I haven’t been in a really long damn time, and I’m not entirely sure why.
Maybe it’s because I feel like I have something to prove this season.
Or maybe it was that electric crowd out there, telling me they’re already pumped for what’s to come.
Or maybe it’s something else entirely. Whatever the case, all I know is it’s felt damn good getting back out on the ice these last few games, and I can’t wait for it to count for real.
“Holy shit. Was that an actual positive thing you said?” Hayes smarts off.
I flip him my middle finger, even though he’s right. Anytime I’m off the ice, I’ve been in a pissy mood, and I suspect it has to do with a certain blonde I haven’t seen since I dropped her back off at her car after burgers and shakes.
It’s not for lack of wanting on my part, either.
It’s been hard as hell to stay away from Nessa, but I have.
I only slipped up once in the group and have only had to stop myself from parking in front of Top Shelf four times.
Sure, it probably wouldn’t be too weird to stop in since I go there regularly, but with her working there, it feels different.
It also doesn’t help that Keller is aware of our past. He hasn’t said anything about what happened at the bar, and neither have I, but there’s still this certain look he’s been giving me, one that says, I could ruin your life , and I’m not about to put that to the test. So, I’ve kept my mouth shut and my ass out of the bar.
“I’d ask if we’re all going to go out and celebrate the end of preseason, but I assume that’s a no since the baby still isn’t here,” Lawson says. “What the hell is that thing’s problem? Doesn’t it want to meet its uncle Lawson?”
“I don’t think the baby appreciates being called a thing or an it , so I can’t imagine they’re in a hurry to meet you,” Hayes says, eyes wide with bewilderment as if he is somehow actually surprised by Lawson’s general dumbassery.
“And I think if Hutch were in here, he would inform you that you are not the baby’s uncle. You’re just Rory’s boyfriend,” Keller adds.
“ Just Rory’s boyfriend? Just her boyfriend ? That’s all you think I am? We live together! We’re raising children together!”
“I don’t know how many times I have to say this, but pets are not children.”
Lawson pulls out his phone, then shoves it in Hayes’s face. “You’re going to look at this angel and tell me this isn’t my daughter? Look at her! Look at how damn adorable she is! That’s my baby girl!”
Hayes smacks the phone away, and I roll my eyes at their antics. Yep, it’s definitely hockey season again. The guys are bickering like brothers and annoying one another to no end.
“Where is Hutch anyway? I thought he was right behind me…” Fox says, stripping off his goalie equipment.
No matter how many times I’ve watched him take it off and put it on throughout the years, it will never cease to amaze me just how small he actually is underneath it all, and that’s saying something because Fox isn’t a tiny guy by any means.
“He’s in the hallway,” Dash, our second goaltender, answers.
“Saw him on the phone,” another teammate says.
Lawson rolls his eyes. “He’s probably checking in on Auden… again . He’s so obsessed with her.”
“Want to do the honors or me?” Hayes says to Keller.
“You know what? I’ll let you have this one.”
“Do what honors?” Lawson asks just as Hayes reaches up and slaps him on the back of the head. “Hey! What the fuck, man?”
“You know what you did” is all Hayes says.
“All right, fine. I’ll let you have that one. But I—yo, Hutchy? You okay?”
We all look toward our captain, who just walked into the locker room. His eyes are wide as he stares down at his phone, his skin at least two shades paler than just five minutes ago. I follow his gaze and see his hands trembling.
“Uh, Hutch?” Fox asks. “You good?”
“That was…” He swallows. “That was Vanessa. I… Auden…”
Oh shit. I launch to my feet. “Come on. Let’s go.”
“Go?” Lawson asks. “Where are we going?”
“ We aren’t going anywhere,” I say, quickly grabbing my sweats and yanking them on. “Hutch and I are.” I slip my feet into my shoes, forgoing my socks, then snatch my phone, wallet, and keys from my cubby. “Come on. I’m taking you to the hospital.”
“The hospital? Oh, fuck. It’s happening?”
“It’s happening,” I confirm, grabbing Hutch’s shoulder. He’s still staring down at his phone. I give him a shake, trying to snap him out of it. “Hey, man. Come on.”
Finally, he looks up at me, and there is absolutely no mistaking the fear in his gaze. I’ve seen it time and time again on my siblings’ and in-laws’ faces over the years.
“Locke, I…”
“I know. Let’s go, brother. I got you.”
There’s a brief flash of relief as he nods. “Okay, okay. I just have to change. I?—”
“Change in the car. I have clothes in there. We gotta move.”
Another nod. “Right. Okay. Thanks, man.”
“Any time,” I say as I steer him from the room and toward the parking garage.
As we make our way down the hall, I hear Lawson yell, “I can’t believe we’re having a baby!”
“I…I can’t breathe.”
“You can,” I say to Hutch as I push my AMG to speeds it has never reached within city limits. “Just in and out.”
“I think I’m having a heart attack.” He grabs the dashboard in front of him. It’s easily the most high-strung I’ve ever seen Hutch, and I’ve seen him in some pretty intense situations before.
“Dude, just breathe,” I say for the umpteenth time.
What am I thinking? Of course he can’t breathe. His entire world is about to change. That’s a lot to take in, and it’s even harder to take when you know the person you love the most in the world is hurting to make that happen.
“Did you talk to Auden? How is she doing?”
“No.” He shakes his head as he inhales and exhales once again. “Just Vanessa. But I heard her. She sounded… Fuck, Locke, she was in such pain.”
“I know, man. I know, but she’s going to be okay. I promise. I’ve been through this with my nieces and nephews. It might feel like it’s taking forever right now, but the baby’s going to be here before you know it, and you’re going to forget all about what you’re feeling right now. Auden too.”
He nods, another heavy inhale and exhale. I’m not sure if that helped at all, but at least he’s not complaining about a heart attack. My tires squeal as I pull into the hospital parking lot, and I skid to a stop at the front entrance.
Hutch doesn’t move.
“Hutch?”
Nothing.
“Hutchinson?”
Nothing again.
“Reed!”
His first name snaps him out of it, and he looks over at me, eyes wide. “I’m having a baby.”
I laugh. “Yeah, yeah, you fucking are. Get in there and go meet your kid.”
For the first time, he smiles, then leaps out of the car and bolts into the hospital. I chuckle as I watch him go, then drive around for ten full minutes looking for a parking spot. I’m not sure if he even wants me here, but I’m going to stick around for a while just in case.
I walk into the hospital far more casually than he did. Still, the receptionist at the desk stares up at me with surprise.
“Is the whole team here?” she asks.
I grin. “Fortunately for me, no. Can you point me toward the?—”
“Maternity ward?” she finishes for me, then relays the directions.
“Thanks so much,” I tell her.
“Anything for my favorite defenseman.” She throws me a wink before returning to her work, and I head toward where she directed me to go.
I settle into the back of the elevator as it takes me to the maternity floor, pulling my hat down low and pretending I don’t notice people tossing second glances my way. When the doors open and everyone else files out, I see her.
Nessa.
She’s sitting across the waiting room, her thumb in her mouth.
She nibbles on her nails, clearly frazzled.
Even in that state, I still want to cross the room and kiss her.
I can’t, though. Not just because Hutch could come around the corner any moment, but because we’re just friends.
That’s what we said. I can’t go back on that now, no matter how badly I want to.
I stand there staring at her for so long that the doors start to close again, and I barely catch them in time.
“Hey.”
She jumps at the simple word, and I hold my hands up.
“Sorry,” she mutters when she realizes it’s just me. “Sorry. It’s been a…day.”
I point to the empty chair beside her, and she nods.
“Thanks,” I say, settling into it. “How’s Auden?”
“A fucking trooper.” She winces. “I don’t know how she’s doing it. She was in so much pain from the contractions. I can’t imagine going through that.”
“No kids for you, then?”
“No. I mean, yes. I mean, I don’t know. I thought so with…” She sighs. “But now? I don’t know anymore. I guess if it happens, it happens.” She shrugs. “You?”
“Am I going to have a baby?”
She rolls her eyes. “Do you want kids?”
“Sure. Eventually.”
“Eventually?”
“After hockey,” I explain. “I’m not eager to drag them into this life.
It’s hard, and I’ve seen firsthand the strain it puts on a marriage.
I’ve watched a lot of teammates struggle through the years, so I promised myself a long time ago that if I ever settled down, it would be when I’m done with my career. ”
“I can understand that. It’s a hard life. Why force a kid into it?”
“Exactly.”
A comfortable silence falls between us, and I let my eyes linger over her as she continues picking at her nails.
Her hair is a bit wild, much less put together than it usually is.
She’s not wearing a stitch of makeup, and I’m pretty sure the socks she’s wearing don’t match.
She looks exhausted. Still absolutely gorgeous, but exhausted.
She reaches up, rubbing at her temples.