Page 12 of Hat Trick
"She's still pretty grumpy and out of it but the doctor said she would be feeling better by tomorrow. Her little body's just doing it's job building up her immunity." Emily says, giving me a reassuring smile.
Emily had left the oven on 'warm' so the chicken thighs and broccoli she had cooked was still warm. I put them into bowls and bring themto the couch. I hand her one of the bowls and her eyebrows raise. "Oh, thank you."
"You made this but weren't going to eat?" I challenge.
"I...uh..." she says frowning. "I don't know the rules, if you wanted me eating your food or not."
"Of course you're allowed to eat the food, Ems." She smiles at my nickname. Her brother had called her Ems when he was over, so I wanted to try it out - make her feel more comfortable with us. With me. "I mean, during the season our meals are pretty boring, so you can of course make yourself something different if you ever get bored of chicken and broccoli." I snort. "But if you buy any junk food you'll have to keep it in your room. Luca has zero self-control when it comes to chips."
She laughs, Annie's little head bobbing up and down slightly on her chest. "Note taken."
"Oh, that reminds me. I need to give you a credit card so you can buy whatever you and Annie need."
"You don't need to do that." She looks at me, almost spooked.
"Of course I do. What, are you going to call me for approval every time you need to buy diapers? And you're certainly not buying them with your money." I explain, eating.
She's silent for a moment, and I wait for her to protest again, but she doesn't.
"How did the house visit go?" I ask.
"Oh, just fine. I was nervous since we haven't had a chance to baby-proof anything yet, but Mrs. Washington said it as all fine. Once she starts walking, we might have to pad some things, so she doesn't get hurt."
"That's good to know. Will she be walking soon?"
"From what I've seen, probably. She can already stand on her own and scoot along the couch."
I nod.
"Where are Luca and Gabe, anyhow?" She asks.
"They went out for beers with the guys. They won't stay out late, not with a game tomorrow. Oh! Speaking of, Luca got you, your brother and your dad tickets to the game Thursday. Does that work for you?"
"Carter," she shoots me a glare. "I said you guys didn't have to do that. My brother can pay for his own tickets."
I shrug and grin at her. "Yeah, but why if we can get them for him? He seems like a good guy. Consider it a signing bonus for your new job."
She shoots me an affectionate smile, one that warms my chest and makes me feel like a superhero. Fuck, I'd buy her brother a box if it made her look at me that way more.
"What do you normally do after a game, to wind down I mean? My brother was always amped up on adrenaline after a game."
I lean back against the couch and pull her feet into my lap, forcing her to recline more. "Usually, I'll hit the treadmill or bikes at the arena for half an hour or so and then just come home and play video games until I feel tired enough to go to sleep."
"You don't go out with Gabe and Luca and the team?"
"Nah. I want to set a good example as Captain. I went out a lot to celebrate when I was in college, but that scene gets old fast. You just want to go out and drink a few beers with the guys but can't even carrya conversation without being interrupted by bunnies. I'd rather invite them over here so we can actually relax and talk."
She giggles.
"What?"
"I'm literally imagining you beating women off with a stick." Her nose crinkles when she giggles and it's the cutest damn thing I think I've ever seen. I pick up the controller and load Mario Cart.
"You laugh, but these bunnies are ruthless. There are entire websites run by women we've hooked up with previously, ranking our in-bed abilities, what we like, what we don't like, how big our...'s are, and hints for other girls who want to bag a hockey player."
Her smile fades. "God, that's awful." Her brows furrow in thought. "I mean, I've only had one real relationship and I can't imagine how mortified I would be if the details of that became public knowledge. I get why Gabe's so blocked off."
And now I'm imagining my nanny under some prick who probably couldn't even satisfy her. I want to ask her if he was the only one she'd been with. How many?
