Page 54 of The Slapshot and the Single Mom
“Okay. Like I said, I’ll go with you for sure, but I’ll ask Liam tomorrow if he wants to go. A barbecue with a bunch of hockey players might sound fun. But if he’s feeling shy, he might prefer to just hang out with his grandparents instead.”
“That seems reasonable,” Jack says, sounding like his normal self again. “Let him know they have a whole playground in their downstairs, a really huge jungle gym outside, and a bunch of fun yard games.”
Laughing, I resume putting my clothes away. I’m down to the last few things now. “I’ll be sure to tell him. Who knows? That indoor playground might be the deciding factor.”
CHAPTER THIRTY
Jack
I’m uncharacteristicallynervous as I walk up to Abernathy’s front door, Maggie and Liam walking with me. I’ve been here a million times before, but I’ve never brought anyone.
When I texted Abernathy to let him know I’d be bringing two guests, one of whom is a child, he’d immediately called me back. “What? I saw rumors about you dating, but you need to fill me in yesterday.”
So I did. I told him all about Maggie and her deadbeat ex and picking up her kid last weekend and taking them out to the movies. “I look forward to meeting them both,” was all he said in response. I’m glad I told him all the gory details, though, because I know he’ll go out of his way to make Liam feel included, and he’ll for sure fill Tina in, and she’ll make sure Maggie is welcome as well. Not that they wouldn’t otherwise, of course—they’re kind people and amazing hosts—but Tina’s the type to take in the lost and orphaned. That’s why I get invites to their American Thanksgiving every year. I go home for regularThanksgiving in October, but that doesn’t make a difference to Tina. American Thanksgiving is a time for everyone to gorge themselves with turkey, and she always has Nick invite the guys who don’t have anywhere else to go. I’m not going to turn down a delicious home-cooked meal, so I always show up. And over the years, I’ve gotten reasonably close with Abernathy and his family.
Nick opens the door when I knock, smiling and inviting us inside. “Come on in. Most everyone’s here already.” He looks at Liam and offers a closed hand for a fist bump. “Welcome. My kids are younger than you, but there are a few others here around your age. A few are out back on the jungle gym. The littles are downstairs with the nanny. Feel free to explore. There are sodas and waters in the coolers out back.” To Maggie he says, “And don’t worry. The adult beverages are in a different cooler that the kids can’t access easily.”
Grinning, I ask, “Locke?”
Nick nods, returning my smile. “Of course.”
Maggie’s smiling, but her brows are furrowed as she glances between us. “You have the alcohol locked up?”
Chuckling, Nick says, “In a manner of speaking. Locke is our goalie. We keep the beers in a cooler that’s in a bench. Locke’s sitting on it. So you can only get one if you want to go through him. He’s friendly enough, but he’s not gonna let any kiddos get what they shouldn’t.”
Maggie laughs. “Got it. Sounds like a good solution.”
Shrugging, Nick leads us through the house to their spacious back patio. “It makes it easier on everyone. The kids can play freely, and all we have to worry about is normal kid shenanigansand not little Timmy mistaking Daddy’s special juice for a soda. Or whatever. We have wine in the kitchen, and Tina made a pitcher of margaritas too, if that’s more your taste.”
“I’m good with just water for now,” Maggie says.
Once we’re on the patio, Nick steps up to a blue and white cooler, lifts the lid, and fishes out a water that he passes to Maggie. “What about you?” he asks Liam, who’s hanging back next to Maggie like he’s not sure what to make of all this. I wasn’t entirely sure he’d want to come based on what Maggie’d said when I first invited her, but she said he was excited when she made the offer. I guess now that he’s here in this large house with a patio and yard full of strangers, he’s maybe rethinking his choices.
Maggie leans down and whispers to him, but I can’t make out what she’s saying. “I’ll take a water for him,” she says to Nick after a moment.
When Nick closes the cooler, I spread my arms and utter a shocked sound of dismay. “What about me?”
Rolling his eyes, Nick makes a shooing motion at me. “You know how things work around here. You’re on your own.”
“Rude,” I shoot back, and Nick cackles.
“Actually, I am being rude,” he says, holding out his hand to Maggie. “I’ve seen pictures of you, and Jack filled me in a little about you when he said you were coming along with him, but we’ve yet to be formerly introduced. I’m Nick Abernathy, the captain of the Emeralds, and the host of this little shindig. Let me know if you need anything at all.”
Maggie places her hand in his, smiling. “Nice to meet you. I’m Maggie, and this is Liam.” She gestures at her son. “Thank you so much for having us.”
“Tina!” Nick calls, and Tina looks up from her spot at one of the tables where she’s talking to Marissa, Dozer’s girlfriend. He gestures for his wife to come over, and she stands, margarita glass in hand, and makes her way to us. “Tina, this is Jack’s girl—” He falters when I clear my throat meaningfully, cutting a glance in Liam’s direction. Last I knew, she’d only told Liam that I was her friend, not that we’re dating.
Clearing his throat, Nick recovers with a slight nod. “This is Maggie, Jack’s guest, and her son Liam.”
“Oh, wow!” Tina gushes, holding out a hand to Maggie, who shakes it. “It’s so nice to finally meet you. I’ve heard about you, of course.” She seems to realize that might be strange as soon as the words leave her mouth because she covers her lips with the fingertips of one hand for a second, seeming to change gears. “It’s so lovely to have you here. And Liam! We have tons of fun things for kids. I think they’re playing hide and seek right now. And later, we’ll get out squirt guns and maybe”—she darts a look around, leaning down so she’s closer to Liam and holding the back of her hand next to her mouth like she’s telling him a secret—“water balloons.”
That finally has Liam perking up. “Really?”
Straightening, she holds a finger over her lips. “It’s a secret, though. Don’t tell the others, okay?” He nods, a wide grin stretched across his face. “Do you want me to introduce you to the other kids?” she asks.
He glances at his mom, who gives him an encouraging smile. “That sounds fun. I’ll be over here if you need me, okay?”
“Okay,” he says, finally answering audibly, then he falls in step behind Tina, who threads her way through the crowd on the patio and takes him to meet the other kids.
