Page 22 of Hat Trick
After morning skate, I'm on the stationary bike, trying to work out the lactic acid when my phone rings with a FaceTime request from Emily. She never fucking calls me.
I answer.
"Hey baby, miss me?" I ask sarcastically, my cocky grin reflecting back at me on the phone.
"Is Carter with you? I need him." She asks, her voice tight and anxious, concern, maybe even fear written on her face. Instantly, I'm on edge. The hairs on the back of my neck rise as I imagine something happening to Annie.
"Yeah, he's on the machines. What's up? Are you okay?"
"I've tried to call him. Just get him please! Now!"
I hop off the bike and jog to the machine Carter's lifting weights on. I smack his thigh to get his attention and shove the phone at him. He pulls out his ear pods and looks at me confused.
"Emily? What's wrong?" He asks.
"I think she's going to do it." I move to behind Carter so I can see the screen too. Luca and Jonesy wander over as well, curious as to what's going on. Emily flips the phone upside down so we can see Annie, in a pretty pink onesie, chunky thighs on display, standing next to the couch, holding onto it so she can stand.
"See dada? See dada, baby girl?"
Annie coos something before saying "Dah-dah."
"That's right! That's Dada. Walk to Dada. You can do it!" Annie looks at the phone, smiling, her chubby cheeks almost covering her eyes. She twists towards the camera, only one hand holding the couch.
"You're doing so good baby! Come to Dada!" Carter coos, completely unembarrassed by his gushing. A crowd has gathered behind the machine now so we can all witness Annie's first steps. Annie takes a step forward, releasing her hand from the couch so she's standing on her own. She sways a little, unsure on her feet.
A low "ohhhhhh" starts from the boys that have gathered behind Carter now, watching Annie's first steps. With a swipe of his finger, Carter casts it to the TV mounted to the wall so the entire gym can watch.
She sways as the 'ohhhh'ing gets louder, now that thirty or so hockey players are watching. She takes one studder-step, her arms held out to the sides before taking another before she falls back down onto her butt, giggling. The half dozen, giant hockey boys erupt in shouts and cheers and clapping. They're hugging and climbing over each other celebrating. It's deafening. You would have thought we'd won the Stanley. Children. They're all children.
"Great job, baby!" Carter coos over the commotion.
I can hear Emily laugh. "I'm sorry Carter, she just looked like she was ready, and I didn't want you to miss her first steps."
"Woman, you have just made my day." Then, in a quieter voice, strained with emotion he says, "Thank you, Emily."
"No worries. I'm sure she'll want to show off her new skill more when you get home." She brushes off Carter's gratitude easily. Carter says his goodbyes and hands my phone back. I turn back to face thescreen, hoping to catch her before she ends the call, and cancel the cast.
"Hey Em?" I ask, climbing back on the bike. Her beautiful face fills the screen, but she scowls at me suspiciously. I think back to the months she's lived with us.
I had been angry and skeptical and terrified she would ruin us. I'd spent the first few weeks she lived with us imagining a hundred different scenarios in which she would screw us.
She'd get pregnant and claim it was one of ours. She'd claim rape and go to the police and tabloids. She'd turn Annie against Carter. She'd use Annie as blackmail to get something else she wanted. My mind went to a really dark place for a while there. I'd been an ass to her to try to get her to leave, in an attempt at protecting Carter and Luca and myself, and the little family we had formed ourselves.
But she hadn't done anything of the sort. Over the weeks since she moved in, she's loved and protected Annie and supported Carter and helped him figure out how to be a dad. She cooked and cleaned and made our house a home, even though she didn't have to. She'd given me space when I pushed back against her being in our house. In fact, both Luca and Carter seemed happier lately, having her at home. She hasn't destroyed us or been a distraction. She moved into our little unit and filled the gaps we didn't even know where there.
She's always playing music of some kind, and the scent of her candles or something she'd cooked recently has created its own warm ambiance. She started making our washing soap by hand so our clothes smell cleaner without any harsh chemical scent.
Even just watching her play with Annie when she doesn't know I'm looking has become one of my favorite pastimes. She's stunning, butnot in a way that turns heads when she walks into a room. Hers is a subtle beauty. The glimmer her eyes take on when she smiles at Annie, the way she brushes and plays with Annie's hair subconsciously. The softness of her curves that she hides under loose clothing. How her hair is always pulled back in a sloppy pony or bun, and her face always fresh and makeup-free. She's the type of beautiful you can imagine waking up next to wearing only one of your t-shirts to bed.
I smile when I remember how she slapped me that night after I called her a puck bunny. I'd never admit it out loud, but my dick had gotten rock hard before she'd even run back inside. That was the turning point where she'd begun to earn my respect. But then she made good on her promise.
I'd walk by Carter and Luca's rooms to see their clean laundry folded on their bed, mine untouched. She'd make just enough dinner for the three of them, and not me. She'd play Taylor Swift, which she knows I hate, whenever I walked into a room. My smile deepens as I remember all the little ways she reminded me she could be a friend or an enemy. I'd given in to her weeks ago, but I got a sick little thrill with every little thing she did to put me in my place.
But I was ready to give in now. I wanted more with her. I wanted her friendship, her smiles, her laughter. I wanted her as relaxed with me as she was with Carter.
I look around the gym to make sure none of the other players are looking at me, as I let my smile deepen.
"You're good people."
