13. Jax
CHAPTER THIRTEEN
JAX
“Morrow, get your head out of your ass and focus before you get hurt,” my head coach barks at me after I miss a pass. When I go to retrieve the puck, one of our defensemen checks me into the boards. It wasn’t a malicious hit; he’s just doing his job, but I shouldn’t have missed that pass.
We’re in Anaheim at practice before tonight’s game, and I can’t seem to concentrate.
My mind is on my daughter and making sure everything is in place for when she makes the big move at the end of the month.
Not gonna lie, I’m nervous. Not only are my thoughts on Chloe, but also on Kiley.
I know this is a big undertaking for her and her son.
I need to make sure she stays happy so she doesn’t quit on me.
Juggling keeping two females happy was not on my bingo card for this hockey season.
“Dude, are you okay?” Kinner asks after the whistle is blown and play is stopped. “I didn’t mean anything by the hit.”
“I know. Good hit, by the way.” I roll my left shoulder around to work out the kinks from the hit. “I’ve just been distracted.” Kinner pats me on the head and skates away.
Bishop rolls up to my side and stops to lean into my ear. “You need to get your shit together, Jax. I overheard the coaches talking about possibly benching you for tonight.”
My head snaps up, and I look at him in disbelief.
“Are you fucking with me right now?” I haven’t been benched in over two years, and that was when I was going through my breakup with Jenna.
I deserved to be benched then. I was a moody asshole, and my toxicity was affecting the team.
I don’t feel I deserve that now. Sure, this hasn’t been my best road trip, but it also hasn’t been my worst. Despite my crap play, I’m still trying to be a leader in the locker room.
“No, I’m not.” He lightly punches my shoulder. “Don’t give them a reason to do it.”
I nod and try to shake off my personal thoughts, but it’s hard.
Kiley saying yes triggered a chain of events that had to get accomplished in a short amount of time.
The most important part was getting Chloe registered for her new school.
With Kiley’s help, I was able to get a meeting with the principal of her school that following week.
After a lot of pleading with a sizable donation, she agreed to let Chloe enroll starting after winter break.
The next hurdle is setting up Chloe’s room for her to live in full-time.
While she’s always had a designated room here, she’s barely lived in it.
It feels more like a guest room than a teenager’s room.
When I mentioned to Gretchen that I’ll get Chloe’s room all set for her, she surprised me by announcing that she and Chloe will take a mini vacation to Chicago and stay for a week to help decorate her room to her liking.
My brain almost short-circuited at the thought of living under one roof again with Gretchen, but thankfully, she’s coming the week I’m on a road trip.
Bullet dodged.
Having Gretchen stay at my condo and having access to snoop around my personal belongings leaves a sour taste in my mouth, but Chloe loved the idea of her mom helping her.
I’ll leave it to them to decide what she wants to buy.
Clothes will have to be part of that equation since she’s going to leave mostly everything behind in Canada and only bring the items she absolutely can’t live without.
Once that week is done, Chloe will go back to Canada with Gretchen and will remain up in Kelowna through Christmas.
Then my parents will bring her back to Chicago the day after Christmas for us to celebrate the holidays.
They will stay until the first of the New Year.
After that, Chloe will remain in Chicago for the rest of the season, except during her mid-February and spring breaks.
I promised Gretchen that Chloe could fly home during those two breaks.
Coach’s whistle brings me back to reality, and I chide myself for once again not focusing. I make a conscious effort to not let anymore thoughts of Chloe enter my brain for the remainder of practice, and I manage to succeed.
At the end of practice, Coach gives us his usual notes and words of encouragement.
“Alright, boys, let’s go shower, get a bite to eat and make sure you take a nap today, eh?
” He’s looking right at me when he says this, and I make a mental note not to call Chloe until after I get some Z’s.
“Be in the hotel lobby by three for the bus departure.”
We’re only given thirty minutes to shower and change before we head back to the bus to go to the hotel. I sit in my usual seat next to Harry, who’s already sitting by the window.
“What’s up with you, Jax? You’ve been distracted for weeks and it shows.”
I haven’t really told any of my teammates what’s going on in my personal life.
The guys I’m closest to are the ones who have been here as long as I have, some a couple years longer.
They were here when I completely shut down during my breakup.
They all tried to help me, but I was a lost cause by the end of that season.
That year in general was tough because I was sent back and forth between Chicago and our minor league team in Rockford.
Once I finally got back on the main roster, things with Jenna imploded.
“I’m sorry.” I look down in embarrassment because I don’t want to hear that everyone can tell I’m zoned out. “Things with Chloe’s bullying have come to a head, and she’s actually going to be moving in with me.”
“No shit,” Bishop responds, who is sitting across from our row and was listening in on our conversation. “Your ex is letting that happen?”
“As soon as Chloe asked, she was on board.” I now understand why Gretchen was gung-ho. As much as she loves Chloe, she needs a break. I get it and understand. I know it’s not easy co-parenting with someone like me with my demanding job.
“When is she moving here?” Saint pops up from the seat in front of me to ask the question.
“December 26th.”
“Dude, why haven’t you said anything? That’s a lot on your plate,” Harry asks with a sympathetic expression.
“Just didn’t want to be a burden.”
Bishop scoffs. “Fuck that, you‘re one of our brothers. We’re here to help, even if that’s just listening to you yap.”
I give him a small smile. “I appreciate that, man.”
“So, who’s going to watch Chloe when we’re on the road?” Beau, who’s sitting next to Bishop, inquires.
I feel a little uneasy because I know my answer is going to cause the guys to react like gossipy little old ladies. “Kiley will be my new temporary nanny and will stay at my place when we’re away.”
Harry gives me a shit-eating grin. Bishop and Beau exchange knowing smiles. Hutch has a confused look on his face. “Kiley, as in Kiley O’Shea, the bartender?”
“Kiley, as in Killian O’Shea’s very off-limits daughter… according to Jax.” Harry answers Beau with a wicked smile on his face. I give Harry a warning look to not say anything about that night in St. Louis. So far, he’s kept his mouth shut.
“Jax is going to play house with Kiley O’Shea?” Linc chimes in with a laugh. “I predict they will be engaged within a year’s time.”
I close my eyes and count to ten as the boys cackle and shout out their “theories” of a timeline on mine and Kiley’s relationship. This is exactly why I was afraid to reveal who was going to help me. They were bound to find out when Kiley started showing up at games with Chloe.
“I need to know how you got Kiley to even agree to this. Doesn’t she hate you?” Easton asks, causing me to frown. Does everyone know how Kiley felt about me?
“She doesn’t hate me,” I correct. “She misjudged me and actually apologized.” I continue to tell the boys about what’s happening with their bar and how part of me becoming a minority investor involves Kiley agreeing to be my temporary nanny.
The guys are quiet for a moment while they process what I just told them. “She kind of had no choice but to accept your offer,” Daniil Reznik, one of our right wingers, contemplates out loud, breaking the silence.
“Yeah, but Jax didn’t have to make any offer at all,” Harry counters back. “He could’ve used a nanny service. Would’ve saved him two hundred and fifty grand.”
I chuckle because Harry is right. It definitely wouldn’t have cost me that much to use a nanny service. “The money is worth it knowing that Chloe is being watched by someone I know and trust, as well as knowing the rest of the money is helping O’Shea’s stay in business.”
“Just another reason why we love that big, sweet, heart of yours, Morrow.” Harry ruffles my hair, and I knock away his hand.
“Yeah, but that new nanny of yours sure is a looker. Don’t see how you’re going to keep your hands to yourself when you’re coming home late from an away game and she’s asleep in your bed,” Liam’s mischievous grin makes me want to punch him in the face.
“I’ll have no trouble keeping my hands to myself because she will be sleeping in a different room. Not to mention, she’s off-limits. To all of you as well!” I give them all a look and they laugh.
“We’ll see, Morrow,” Harry responds, and fortunately, someone else changes the subject.
Once we get back to the hotel, instead of going out to eat with the guys, I decide to order room service and take the nap Coach recommended.
He was right—I needed it, and I wake up feeling better with renewed energy.
Since we’re leaving right after the game, I pack my suitcase and dress in my game-day attire.
Once everything is packed and I’m ready to go, I take a couple of minutes to call Chloe and check on her.
“Dad, how funny is it that next week you’ll be in Canada playing hockey while I’ll be in Chicago without you getting my room ready?”
“Pretty ironic, kiddo, but at least we aren’t playing the Lynxes. That would just be really weird me being there when you’re not.”