Chapter 28
Chapter
Twenty-Eight
Serena
Fan fest is a zoo but it’s also a lot of fun.
Joey’s having the best day of his life, running from one thing to the next.
He’s eaten more than I’ve ever seen him eat in one day, to the point I’m worried he’s going to get a stomachache, but he seems so happy.
Especially doing things with West. Shooting little rubber pucks.
Playing a game that’s a weird combination of golf and hockey, where West wins him two huge stuffed animals that will take up half his bed.
It’s been more fun than I thought it would.
And West is a rock star within the hockey world.
People recognize him but also give him a lot of respect.
During the panel he spoke on, it took a lot of self-control not to swoon right there in front of everyone.
Because that strong, gorgeous, successful man up there is mine.
I’m not worrying about the future simply because I don’t want to miss a single second of the present.
I love everything about this guy, and it seems like he feels the same way.
He’s so sweet and thoughtful. Not to mention sexy.
And I’m finally seeing him show affection to Joey too.
I thought the night Joey cut his foot was a one-off, West just acting in an emergency, but it’s more than that. The way he talks to him and really listens. The way he scoops him up and makes him laugh. And last night he read eight stories to him before bed. Every book we brought with us—twice.
I’d be lying if I said that didn’t do something to my heart and pretty much every other part of me. Then he took me to bed and made love to me like a man claiming his property. In the most sensual, delicious way ever.
Now we’re on the ice, surrounded by players from all over the NHL and their families.
Aspen and I chatted for a while, but she moved off to talk to someone else, leaving me to my own devices.
West has Joey with him, alternately helping him learn to skate and just carrying him so they can talk to people.
I had to go to the ladies’ room and I’m just skating over to West and Joey when someone grabs my arm.
“Serena?”
The voice gives me chills, and I whirl, almost losing my balance as I come face to face with—Joey’s father.
Jesus. Fucking. Christ.
It never occurred to me he’d be here.
Why didn’t I think to look?
Shit.
“Tony.” I pry my arm free.
“What are you doing here?” he asks, blue eyes narrowing slightly.
“That’s none of your business.”
He smirks. “You fucking another hockey player? That’s sweet.”
I roll my eyes. “Whatever.”
“That my kid I saw you with?”
“My kid,” I counter quietly. “You told me to get rid of him.”
“I have a son?”
Fuck.
I didn’t mean to let that slip.
“Again, you gave me a choice and I chose my baby over an abortion. You and I have nothing more to say on the matter.” With that, I turn and skate away, hoping I don’t fall on my face since my whole body is shaking.
How could I have been so stupid? I should have checked whether or not he would be here. And now he knows he has a son.
Dammit.
“Hey.” West smiles down at me. “You okay? You look like you’re going to be sick.”
I don’t know what to do.
We’ve drawn clear boundaries around talking about our exes. Except mine is just a few feet away and—
“Holy shit, are you screwing McGregor?” Tony’s voice makes me cringe.
“Watch your mouth, asshole,” West growls in a voice I’ve never heard before.
Tony smiles, but it doesn’t reach his eyes. In fact, he looks downright menacing. “That my kid?” He’s looking at West but obviously talking to me.
“Actually, he’s not,” I say, trying to stay calm. “That was the deal, remember?”
“Aw, come on—don’t be that way.” He leans toward Joey. “Hey, buddy, what’s your name?”
Joey immediately turns and buries his face in West’s shoulder.
“You need to go, DeMarco,” West says in a gritty voice. “Do not make a scene here in front of friends and family.”
Tony chuckles. “She tell you she had my kid? Or did she lie about who the father is?”
“Our relationship is none of your business,” West says, eyes never leaving Tony’s.
Do they know each other?
Of course they know each other.
Duh.
A lot of these guys go back to high school or the Juniors or whatever.
Oh my God, what if they’re friends? Except, West isn’t behaving like they’re friends. And Tony is being a dick. No surprise there.
“Let’s go, West,” I say softly, reaching for his hand. He returns the pressure but doesn’t move.
“You and I are going to have a conversation,” Tony says to me. “About my son.”
“Not here,” I say firmly. “Not today.”
“You’ll be hearing from me.” He turns and skates away and tears immediately flood my eyes.
A wave of dizziness washes over me that’s so strong my knees start to buckle, but West is right there, holding me up with his free arm.
“Babe? Angel, breathe.” His voice is warm and steady, like always, no hint of the grittiness during his conversation with Tony.
“I didn’t know…he’d be…here,” I gasp, trying not to burst into tears.
“Shh, it’s okay.” He holds me close, whispering into my hair until I feel like I can stand on my own again.
“I’m sorry,” I say. “I had no idea…I’m so damn stupid! I should have looked… I never thought… Dammit.” I close my eyes and two tears leak out.
“Uh uh, don’t you dare give him the satisfaction of seeing you cry.” He takes my hand and tugs me off the ice.
We sink into two chairs with Joey on his lap, and he stares at me intently.
“Is he Joey’s dad?”
I nod miserably.
“Why didn’t you tell me?”
“You said you didn’t want to know! And I swear to you—I don’t follow hockey at all. I mean, a little bit the last week or two because of you, but I didn’t want to know where he was or what he was doing. Do you two know each other? Are you friends?”
He snorts. “Not hardly. He’s… Jesus, Serena, he’s one of the most hated guys in hockey. I literally have it in my contract that I wouldn’t sign with the Thunder if DeMarco was traded there.”
“Oh, God.” I bury my head in my hands. “I’m sorry. I had no idea. You made it sound like it didn’t matter, and I’ve done everything possible to forget him. He didn’t want Joey, or me. So, I walked away and never looked back.”
“He told you to get rid of it.”
“Yes. And he said if I didn’t, if I ever went after him for child support, he’d sue for full custody and take him away from me. So, I did everything in my power to stay out of his orbit.” I swallow. “Now do you understand a big reason I don’t date hockey players?”
He’s still staring at me. “Yeah, I do. I just wish I’d known so we could have avoided this. I know I told you I didn’t want to know but I guess I thought…I don’t know. Maybe I didn’t want to believe it was someone I might know. Maybe a guy who plays in the minors or something.”
“I’m sorry.”
“It’s okay. Not your fault. I told you not to tell me. I was dumb too. Kind of putting my head in the sand.”
“Because you thought we were going to stay casual. And now I’ve ruined it.”
“You didn’t ruin anything.” He drops his arm around my shoulders. “Come on, it’s okay. Fuck him.”
“No thanks. One weekend was more than enough.”
“Do you want to leave?”
I shake my head. “No. I refuse to let him ruin our good time. Besides, your coach wanted you to be here and you have that autograph thing at three.”
“I don’t want you to be alone, where he might harass you.”
“I’ll be fine. Promise.” I lean over and kiss him. “Thank you for not being mad.”
“It’s my own fault for being stubborn. It’s like we were in our own little bubble and the outside world didn’t matter.”
“I guess we know better now.”
“Does that mean you want to hear all about Briar?”
“Is she here?”
He chuckles. “No.”
“Then no. Not now. One prior relationship drama at a time.”
“There’s no drama with Briar. She’s part of my past. You’re part of my future.”
I love hearing those words, but they also worry me because I have a gut feeling we haven’t seen or heard the last from Tony.
And that scares the hell out of me.