Chapter 12
Twelve
Harper
Excitement bubbles in my chest, or maybe it’s Zeke who keeps blowing raspberries into me for attention.
Nova, Kensley, and I are seated in the front row. I have Zeke on my lap, and my hands keep repositioning his headphones to block the noise from the crowd.
Zeke doesn’t seem to understand he needs to keep the headphones on, and he keeps trying to push them off with his tiny hands.
Bringing a toddler to a hockey game wasn’t the best idea, but I want Zeke to see his daddy playing hockey.
Daddy.
Marriage.
It’s all still a weird, foreign concept.
It’s nearly been two weeks, and while Luca has let me finally climb into bed beside him, nothing has happened.
Since the pictures at his parents’ house, we’ve shared a bed, but he’s been adamant about putting a vast array of pillows between us, like he’s worried he might accidentally roll over and spoon me.
Oh, the horror.
I’m trying my best to give him as much time and space that he needs.
At least I’m not in the room with Zeke anymore, which has landed Zeke sneaking into our room on most nights. I manage to get him back to sleep and tuck him back into his big-boy bed.
But it’s been interrupting my sleep.
Luca hasn’t budged an inch when Zeke comes barreling into the bedroom in the middle of the night. He’s either a heavy sleeper or pretending not to notice. I don’t blame him. Zeke is my son.
“Look, there’s your daddy!” Nova points at Luca on the ice and then tickles Zeke to gain his attention.
Zeke watches with wide, curious eyes as the guys practice before the start of the first period.
“Dada.” Zeke points at Luca.
“That’s right!” Nova squeals.
She seems a bit more excited than I am, probably because I’ve heard Zeke refer to Luca as Dada more than once.
“Dada!” Zeke points at Ashton.
“Dada!” Zeke points at Liam.
Well, at least he’s recognizing the teammates who live with us.
“Not quite,” Nova says and sighs. “Luca is your daddy. Ashton is mine.”
My eyes widen, and I smack Nova on the shoulder.
“Ashton is not your—oh my God. Can we just not?” I shake my head, wanting to dispel all images of Ashton and Nova that I had previously walked in on and witnessed between the sheets.
Although, quite honestly, there weren’t many bedsheets covering anything.
Kensley giggles and shoots a look at Nova. “You two did hook up that night! I saw you making out with him at the party.”
Nova’s face reddens. “Quiet! Luca doesn’t know.”
“He can’t hear us.” Kensley gestures between the guys and us. “Relax, I’m not going to say anything. But why can’t Luca know?”
Nova blows a strand of hair out of her eyes. “Luca’s got big-brother energy. He will beat the pulp out of anyone I’m dating.”
“Why?” Kensley asks.
I grin. “Because he can.”
Nova and Kensley both laugh, which makes Zeke giggle. It’s the most adorable sound in the world. I kiss Zeke’s cheeks. “In all seriousness, Luca is going to find out.”
“I know.” Nova sighs heavily and folds her arms across her chest. She leans back, stretching her legs and then crossing them. “Ashton and I got into a fight about it a couple of nights ago.”
“Oh?” I can’t help but feel surprised that they’re fighting. There hadn’t been any sign of it while I’ve been home. No tension. No spats. If anything, they’ve been cuddling on the couch watching movies together at night.
It’s kind of crazy how Luca hasn’t noticed the cuddling, but he just sees Nova as his little sister and Ashton as his best friend. To him, they’re just two of his favorite people hanging out together.
“We worked things out. You weren’t home when it all went down.
” Nova waves her hand through the air and then her gaze locks on Ashton.
A wry grin crosses her features as she watches him on the ice.
“Liam was being a dick and, well, the whole relationship nearly went up in flames. It’s better now.
I just wish Ashton would find the courage to tell Luca. Not wait until the season is over.”
“It could be worse,” Kensley says, pointing at Zeke. “This little guy could spill all your secrets.”
“Give it another month or two and he just might,” I say. Zeke is already babbling a lot more, and while not all of it is decipherable, he is starting to learn to repeat words.
Nova groans. “Just great!”
Ashton skates over to the plexiglass, waving at Nova. “Hey, babe.”
“Dada!” Zeke points at Ashton.
Ashton glances over his shoulder, eyes wide, his face turning ghastly as he searches for Luca, who is still in the center of the ice warming up. “Kid nearly gave me a heart attack. Thought someone might be sneaking up on me.” Ashton is a bit breathless.
“Break a leg!” Kensley shouts at him.
Nova pales in her seat. “That’s for theater! Don’t shout that in here unless it’s at the other team.”
“Sorry! Sorry!” Kensley holds her arms up. “Just trying to cheer you guys on.”
“A little too enthusiastically.” Nova glares at Kensley, and I swear I see a bit of jealousy burn right through her.
Ashton glances over his shoulder once more, and when he realizes Luca isn’t watching, he blows Nova a kiss. “See you after the game, babe. Are you coming tonight to the after-party?”
“Wouldn’t miss it for the world,” Nova says.
Nova and Ashton are quite adorable together. While I know Luca won’t be happy with the news, maybe I can help smooth things over after they tell him they’re dating. It’s not like Nova is in high school anymore. She’s eighteen, an adult, and in college.
At least she’s making good choices. Ashton isn’t a bad option in terms of boyfriends, although I’m not sure I’d have thought that a few months ago.
Ashton points at Zeke. “Love the look,” he says, giving a wave at my son.
Zeke’s swimming in the child-sized jersey we managed to snatch up this afternoon. It’s over his winter clothes, and he’s still swimming in it.
“Catch you later.” Ashton skates backward, showing off as he heads back toward Luca, who is practicing shooting goals.
The team then returns to the locker room before entering the ice arena again, this time for the game.
I can’t help but feel butterflies in my stomach. I want Luca to do well, to win. Is this how he feels before every game? I also don’t dare admit to anyone that I’m disappointed Luca didn’t come over and say hi to Zeke or to me during practice. But we came here to support him, not make it about us.
The game ends with a final score of 1-3. The Narwhals win, and Luca is flying high, given that he scored two of the three goals tonight.
He skates over to us after the game, and my heart quickens, surprised he noticed us. He barely paid us any attention tonight, but maybe that’s what he needed to win.
“Hey.” Luca waves at Zeke, who just stares at him.
Kensley and Nova head out together, leaving me standing alone with Zeke. I don’t mind it. They’re both getting ready to head to the party. I’m getting ready to take Zeke home to bed.
“It’s past his bedtime,” I explain when Zeke cuddles into my arms and his eyes flutter closed.
“Go, take him home. Don’t wait for me tonight.”
“Have fun at the party.” I don’t even ask if he’s going. I’m assuming that he is. The rest of the team is going to the old place where we used to live. Chase is hosting the party along with his new roommates, who also play for the Narwhals.
“Thanks,” he says, and his smile is genuine. His eyes flicker for a moment. “Are you okay with me going?”
“Just don’t hook up with any puck bunnies, but I’m happy you’re going out with the guys.” I am glad he has friends and he can still go do things with them. Just because we’re married and I have Zeke, doesn’t mean that he has to give all of it up. I don’t want that for him.
He laughs under his breath. “Don’t worry. I hear my room in the old house isn’t vacant any longer.”
That doesn’t make me laugh or smile.
We had good memories in his bedroom. The new house, all I feel is cold and distant in our new room. I can only blame myself for that frigidness.
“Bad joke?” Luca offers a crooked grin, and my stomach dances with those little butterflies.
“I miss those days,” I say, wishing the plexiglass wasn’t the only thing standing between us.
Luca nods. “Me too.” He takes off his helmet and rubs at his hair. “I should go shower up. See you later tonight?”
“Pillows and all,” I mutter under my breath.
His gaze tightens, but he nods. I’m not sure if he caught what I said or not. The crowd has dispersed, so it’s not nearly as loud as it had been earlier.
“Give Zeke a goodnight kiss from me,” Luca says.
I pause, surprised. He’s never tucked Zeke into bed. I’m not sure I’ve ever seen him give my son a kiss or say that he loves him.
“Yeah, will do.” I force a smile but can’t help but feel confused.
Luca glances around me. “Do you have a ride home? Where’d Kensley and Nova go?”
“They’re heading to the party. I walked here with Zeke. I’ll walk back. It’s fine, there’s plenty of people out tonight, and the weather is nice.”
“It’s single digits outside. It’s not nice. Just wait by the locker room. I’ll drive you back to the house before the party.”
“You don’t have to do that, Luca.”
“I’m not asking. Wait for me outside the locker room.”
I give a curt nod. “Yeah, sure.”
He skates off to shower and change. I wander through the stands, making my way toward the entrance of the Narwhals’ locker room.
A few other girls are standing around waiting, Nova and Kensley included.
“Hey!” Nova’s eyes widen, surprised to see me and Zeke. “I thought you were taking the little tiger home for bed?”
“We are, but Luca is driving us home. He didn’t want me to walk alone.”
Kensley smiles and leans against the wall. “That’s really sweet of him.”
Nearly thirty minutes later, Luca steps out of the locker room, Chase and Ashton right behind him.