Chapter 19
I hobble my ass down the hallway as fast as I can, but it’s no use. I’m never gonna catch up to Sadie and Sophia. Sadie may be short, but those little legs can move.
The uneven rhythm of rubber tips echoes down the empty hallway; a not-so-subtle reminder of the shit situation I find myself in.
I couldn’t express my frustrations in that room with Sophia and Sadie, but fuck am I mad.
Game one of the playoffs, and I’m out for the next three games at least. They told me they want me resting it, even going as far to say I can’t travel to games three and four in Columbus.
“We want you resting and healed up in case we need you back here at home for game five.”
Yeah, that did not go over well. If they’re gonna keep me off the ice, there’s no way I’m not at least traveling with my team to support them in any way I can.
Thankfully, my coaches were there and understood my passion, going to bat for me.
The training staff didn’t put up too much of a fight once Lincoln spoke up and finally agreed I could travel.
I turn the corner to see Sadie waiting for me at the door that leads to the players’ and staff parking lot.
Something lodges in my chest at the sight.
My baby girl melting into Sadie’s embrace, Sadie’s arms wrapped protectively around my sleeping daughter, as if she was made to fit there.
With how hard sleep has been for Sophia, she must feel extremely safe with Sadie to be out like a light again so soon after waking.
I try not to imagine it, but I can’t help it. How right it looks, the two of them there together, waiting for me. It feels so natural, I can almost believe it’s real. Them. Mine.
Just as fast as I imagined it, it’s gone.
I can’t go there. There’s a reason I’ve locked myself up from that kind of feeling, and that reason is asleep in Sadie’s arms. Sophia deserves stability.
She doesn’t need another woman coming in and blowing our life up.
I don’t know if Sadie would do that, but it’s not a risk I’m willing to take.
Not now. Maybe not ever.
As soon as I approach the girls, Sadie holds the door open for me to go first. She falls in step next to me and silently we make our way to my vehicle.
“I got it from here, Sadie.”
Sadie huffs and turns toward me, a scowl painted on that pretty face of hers.
“Would you just let me help you? I’d rather you not fall on your ass attempting to get Sophia into her car seat. Now, what side is her seat on?”
Not wanting to poke the bear more than I already have, I let Sadie have this win.
“She’s on the passenger side.”
Sadie moves around the car and quietly opens the rear passenger door.
Because I’m an overprotective jerk, I follow her and watch as she works.
With the grace of an angel, Sadie gently places Sophia in her seat, not even waking her in the process.
I watch on as Sadie straps and buckles Sophia up, unashamedly impressed with how quick she handled that.
Once she’s closed the door, she eyes me suspiciously.
“What?” she asks, crossing her arms over her chest.
“Nothing. Just impressed with how fast you got her buckled in without waking her up.”
She moves past me, and, like the sucker I am, I follow her like a puppy dog to the back of my SUV where she leans and sits on the bumper.
“Oldest of six, remember? It’s basically muscle memory at this point.”
I hum and nod my head, taking a seat next to her. “I’ll never be able to thank you enough for what you did tonight. For me. For Sophia.”
Sadie scoffs. “Niko—”
I cut her off before she can say another word. “No, let me get this out.”
She mimes zipping her lips and throwing away the key, and, fuck me, I’d like to kiss the sass right off those lips. Clearing my throat, I shake all those images from my head.
“If she hadn’t been with you when I got injured, I would’ve been an absolute mess wondering how she was and who was taking care of her.
But knowing she was with you…” My voice trails off as I try to decide how honest I want to be.
Deciding that honesty is the least I can give her, I confess everything.
“Peace is not something I feel when it comes to leaving Sophia with people. Hell, it took me a year after Claire left to even think about leaving her with anyone other than my mom. But tonight I felt peace, knowing she was in your care. I knew she’d be safe.
You’ve given me the greatest gift, and for that I am forever grateful. ”
I don’t even realize I’m wringing my hands together until Sadie places hers on top of them.
My eyes look down to where her soft hand lays and then back up to her.
Molten chocolate eyes stare back at me and then she smiles.
Suddenly every bullshit reason I’ve come up with for not pursuing this woman flies out the window as I stare at her mouth.
I’m fighting every single urge inside of me to lean in and kiss those soft lips when she speaks.
“You’re welcome, Niko. But honestly, I love spending time with Sophia. She brings out a joy in me I haven’t felt in a long time.”
She keeps her hand on mine as we consider each other. Sadie tilts her head, looking like she wants to say something, but changes her mind at the last second, averting her eyes to the ground beneath us.
Keeping one hand under hers, I reach the other one up to her face, gripping her chin and turning her head to look at me. “You were about to say something. I want to hear whatever you have to say, Sadie.”
I watch as she nervously swallows, my gaze locked in on the delicate movement of her throat. With my hand still gently grasping her chin, she nods.
“Okay. I was about to ask you who’s going to help with Sophia while you’re injured. You’ve mentioned time and time again how much you hate asking your parents for help.”
I open my mouth to talk, but Sadie holds a finger up to stop me.
“And they’re both sick right now. Don’t even try to tell me you’ll be fine alone because we both know it’s bullshit.
You said it yourself, you’ll do whatever it takes to get back on the ice.
I’m pretty sure chasing after and caring for a four-year-old alone is not in your recovery plan. So who is going to help you, Niko?”
Finally, I drop my hand from her face, and this time I’m the one to look away. I stare at my feet for half a second before her hand is on my own chin, forcing me to look at her.
“Who is going to help you, Niko?” she repeats her question, and this time I don’t cower. I’m embarrassed as hell to admit it, but I give her the answer she’s looking for.
“I don’t know, Sadie.”
She releases my chin but her hand finds mine again, resting gently on top, as if she knows her touch is literally holding me together right now.
“Let me.”
Her words should shock me. I should immediately refuse and adamantly remind her that it’s not in her job description to watch my child. I should tell her no. But that’s not what comes out of my mouth.
“You’d do that?”
I’m not sure why I sound so surprised. Sadie has made it clear that she is willing to help me out time and time again. Not only that, but she also enjoys spending time with Sophia.
Every fiber of my being is screaming at me to run. Don’t let this woman in. You can do this alone. She’s going to burn you just like Claire did.
Just as I’m about to tell her we’ll be okay and I don’t need her help, she laughs.
The sound slips through the cracks in my defenses, weaving through the armor around my heart.
“Niko, of course I’d do that. Have I not made myself clear that I care about you and Sophia?”
As if the sound of her laughter wasn’t enough, her words cut straight through me to my core. Hearing that this wonderful woman cares about us, not just Sophia, is the push I needed.
I can’t quite explain it, but there’s just something about Sadie that makes me feel something I haven’t felt in a long time. What is that feeling? I don’t know exactly. Content? No, it’s more than that. Safe? Maybe. Intrigued? Definitely.
My mind’s running through the different possibilities of what this feeling coursing through me is when her voice steals my attention.
“What do you say, Cap?”
The playfulness in her voice has me shaking my head and smiling. I surprise even myself with the words that come out of my mouth.
“You’re hired.”