Page 18 of Her Hat Trick Daddies
This would rock the Avs if it ever got out. It would be a gossip nugget for who knows how long. But I trust anyone in our circle to keep this news close to the vest.
I wait patiently as she explains all of this to Sven. Then, she announces, “Hey, I’m putting you on speaker, okay?”
“Hey, Leigh. Kinda crazy, huh?” Sven begins.
“Tell me about it.”
“Well, considering my own situation, I think you should tell the guys,” he continues.
“Oh, trust me. I plan to. And soon.”
“Now, I can’t speak for them, but having Ava and Trevor in my life has been the greatest gift ever. There’s a chance they could feel the same.”
“They might not, though,” I counter.
“Then they’re not worth you, Leighton. You’re a good woman with the whole world to offer. If they don’t see that, they can just fuck off.”
His tone is dead serious, which somehow makes me laugh a little. It’s the way he says it—so matter-of-fact, like their opinions won’t count unless they’re the right ones. And honestly? He’s not wrong.
“It’s not about being sweet. It’s the truth. Ava was taken advantage of, and I don’t want the same thing happening to you. If I could’ve spared her that pain, I would’ve. But with you, maybe I still can.”
My tone softens. Sven’s always been the most protective, the quiet strength in the group, the leader of the pack. No surprise that Trevor’s so protective of my Luna. He clearly gets it from his dad.
“I know. And we love you for it.”
“Someday, Leighton,” he says, voice thick with emotion, “I hope you find the kind of love and commitment that Ava, Eric, Levi, and I have. You deserve that, and more.”
“Thanks, Sven. I hope so, too.” And I mean it. I really do.
My heart sinks to the bottom of my stomach, eyes stinging from the weight of his words. But there’s no time to get lost in that now. I need to pull it together, slap on a game face, and get ready to confront the men who changed my life forever.
Chapter 6
David
The game might’ve only been a scrimmage, but I always have the same problem, nevertheless. Boundless, untethered energy. When it’s a loss, that energy is tense and often miserable. And even when it’s a win, that zing of restlessness gallops through me like a racehorse on crack.
It wouldn’t be difficult to find a woman to expend that energy with. Hell, in my early days, I was one lucky son of a bitch to have them lining up for me. I hadn’t had to chase or pursue a single one.Theywantedme.
Truth be told, since the divorce, there would still be plenty of takers if I wanted to take a dip in the puck bunny pussy pool.
But I’m just not up for that. I’m not some rookie in my twenties, fresh out of college. I may only be thirty-five, but on many days, I feel older. Not physically, so much. Out there on the ice, I can still slam my stick down and score as often as any other guy.
After having a wife—now an ex-wife—the thrill of waking up next to some random woman every other night just doesn’t hit the same. We made it five years before it all crumbled. Sometimes I wonder if I’m just not built for marriage… or if I wrecked it by choosing the wrong person. I thought we were solid, thought we wanted the same things, but in the end, she wanted what I couldn’t give her. I guess life had other plans for me.
Whatever dream I had of settling down and building a life together, it blew up spectacularly, leaving nothing but smoke and wreckage in its place. Even now, years later, the idea of walking that road again feels like heading straight for a dead end. I’m in no hurry to put my heart through that kind of hell twice.
Only one night in the past few years refuses to fade—Phoenix.
A masquerade ball full of shadows and secrets, the kind of reckless abandon that only happens when everything, and everyone, is a mystery.
And yet, she still haunts me. What if we’d just exchanged numbers? What if I’d learned her real name? Too late for that now.
So here I am, jacking off in my hotel room in San Jose, phone in hand, working my way through the newest porn drops.
The only thing that matters right now is getting this out of my system. I need to calm down and get at least five hours of sleep. Otherwise, my concentration will be shot tomorrow. And as the Avs’ new captain this year, I don’t dare risk that.I was alternate captain back in Minnesota, and I quickly rose through the ranks to captain here in Colorado. And that’s a responsibility I take pride in.
So, I won’t forgive myself if I fuck it all up.
