Page 63 of Keeping it Real

“Let’s have it,” he said after he killed the engine.“Sheridan isn’t going anywhere.Why would you even say that?”

The little boy shrugged, keeping his face averted.Alek gently placed a hand on the boy’s shoulder.

“Finn,” he pleaded.“Talk to me.Where is this coming from?”

“My parents used to fight about her,” he mumbled.

Alek felt as if someone had sucker punched him.Madison and Jamie fought about Sheridan?Whatever for?The two women had always been thick as thieves.Madison was a big sister and mother rolled into one.Everything Sheridan needed at the time.

“My dad said Aunt Sheridan needed to live her own life.And she couldn’t do that in New Hampshire.My mom was mad that she only came home for a visit and then she left again.She said my aunt was ruining her life.”

Fucking Jamie.Sending his wife’s best friend away when their family was making the big adjustment away from the game of hockey.When Madison probably needed someone in her corner the most.

“Look, bud.If your aunt were going to desert you, she would have done it by now.Your dad named me as your guardian.Do you understand what that means?”

Finn nodded, but he still didn’t make eye contact.

“Well, in case you haven’t noticed, that didn’t sit well with your aunt.You are all she has left.”A painful lump formed in his throat.“And not even a stint in detention or relocating to Wisconsin in lieu of Spain is going to make her walk out of your life.She loves you, bud.Much more than you realize.”

Alek dug a napkin out of the center console and handed it to Finn who was sniffling in earnest.

“And while we are on that subject,” Alek continued.“I love you, too.And I’m pissed as hell that you didn’t come to me and tell me the nasty things the kids in the upper school were saying.”

“They said you would send me away!”Finn cried.“They want you to!”

He unclipped Finn’s seat belt and pulled him into a hug.“I can’t believe I have to keep saying this.No one in our makeshift little family is going anywhere.You hear me?”

“But what if itismy fault?”Finn mumbled against Alek’s jacket.

“What if what is your fault?The fact that my teammates and I are off our game?Shit happens.Nothing is guaranteed in sports or in life.But do you see any of us pointing fingers or giving up?No.That’s not how this works.We are a team.We’ll work out the kinks and move on, or we won’t.”He shifted Finn back into his seat and placed his hands on the boy’s face.“The only thing I know for sure is that no one person or thing is jinxing us.Especially not you.You hear me?”

Finn bobbed his chin up and down slightly.

“We are only six weeks into the season.Don’t you dare give up on us, Finn Cobert.All we have to do is make it to the playoffs.Didn’t your dad ever tell you about the time we won the Ivy League championship?”

The boy’s face brightened at the mention of his father.“He said you guys swept the other team.”

“Sure did.But we had the worst record in the conference.Every team gets an invite to the championship, though.We played lights out against each opponent until we reached the finals.Then we swept ’em.”He mussed Finn’s hair again.“Those upper school kids don’t even know they gave the Mayhem bulletin board material for the season.”

“You’re gonna post those notes in the dressing room?”

“Hell, yeah, bud.Unless you’d rather I didn’t?”

Finn jumped across the console and wrapped his arms around Alek’s neck.“That’s so awesome.”

Alek hugged him back, surprised with the ferocity of his feelings.This child was the product of two people who broke his heart.Yet Alek would do everything in his power to protect him, to shield him from the hurt of others, to give him a life of joy.

The growling of Finn’s stomach interrupted Alek’s introspection.

“What’s for dinner?”Finn asked, his mind already ping-ponging to needs more important to a second-grade boy.

“Your aunt wants garlic knots and a Caesar salad from Pirelli’s,” Alek replied as he started the car again.“That means it’s a meat lover’s pizza for us guys.”

“Yes!”Finn gave him a fist bump.

“Gotta keep your aunt happy.”Alek smiled smugly, recalling just how happy he’d made Sheridan an hour earlier.

“Miss Lane said she isn’t your girlfriend even though Gunner said she is.”

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