Page 36 of Cross Check My Heart
Maybe my dad will be too caught up with his work to go out for lunch or he knows another way out.
Or maybe I suck it up and let whatever happens, happen. The chances of my mom and brothers seeing a picture of me are slim, but if they do, I’ll just brace myself for that call. They know I’m in the same city as Dad, so it wouldn’t be that shocking I might get in contact with him.
There’s a security guard sitting at the door reading a book. When she notices me coming, she closes it and stands up. Crossing her arms, she watches me closely as I walk up the ramp.If I had to put money on it, I would bet that she’s spent her day turning away fans or anyone looking for a story. That, mixed with the humid heat today, would make anyone miserable.
“Hey, I’m Lilly, I’m supposed to be meeting Coach James.” At my introduction, her unreadable expression breaks into a wide smile.
“My Lanta! Look at you! James told me you were finally comin’ by. Shocked me enough that I almost passed out. Although that mighta’ been the heat.” I can’t stop the laugh that slips out. Clearly, she knows I’m the coach’s daughter, something that I was unsure he would mention to anyone here. She extends a hand out toward me. “I’m Shawna. It’s nice to finally meet you.”
I take her hand and smile politely back, but the fact that she knows who I am only makes me nauseous. He hasn’t talked to my brothers or I in years, so the fact that Shawna knows he has kids, and who I am, has me wondering what he’s told people.
Does he tell them he left us? That he missed all our big dances, first dates, and graduations? Or does he paint a picture for people he works with and act like he has the perfect little family waiting for him to come home?
A pit forms in my stomach at the last thought.
Shawna must see the slight mood change as her smile turns sympathetic. Lifting her other hand to clasp mine between her two, she waits to speak until I meet her gaze.
“I have been working at this arena for ten years. Your father started with this team a year after me. It might not be public knowledge that James has kids, but a couple of us who have worked beside him for this long know bits and pieces. He never tells much, but having you here is the happiest I’ve seen him in a long while.”
I offer her a smile, unsure of what to say. If he came here a year after her, that means she has had nine years straight seeinghim almost every day. My throat tightens over the fact that others have spent more time with him than I have. Clearing my throat, I gently pull my hand away and gesture to the door beside her.
“I better get in and see if he’s gonna be ready to go.” Shawna smiles brightly at me, swiping her badge in front of a sensor to open the door. “Of course, dear. You’re gonna wanna go straight down this hall and take a right where you’ll see some offices. Locker rooms are on the left, so stay away from those.” She leans in and whispers, “Those guys might be amazing on the ice, but man do they let their gym bags stink up the place.”
I laugh and thank her as I head inside. During High School, Ian and Blake both tried every possible sport, so sweaty gear was always stinking up the house. By the time I hit my sophomore year, I’m pretty sure I became immune to the smell.
The long hallway walls are lined with team photos, starting with pictures in black and white of players on the ice, slowly transitioning into colored ones. When I get halfway down the hall, my eyes land on a picture that has me stopping where I am.
It’s a picture in color, red, yellow, and white confetti falling around players who are all done up in gear swarming around a man on the ice. Some players hold their helmets in the air as they yell, others thrusting their hockey sticks up in the air, hugging each other. Two players in the center of the group hug a man, their sticks squished between them as one of the guys lifts the center man up. I can feel the tears forming as I take in my dad being caught up in the excitement.
I have never seen him that happy. The camera caught him cheering, one arm draped over the player holding him up while the other was in a fist and punching the air. My eyes glance down at the “team champions 2015” plaque.
The sound of guys laughing drags me from my thoughts. I turn away from the picture, ready to focus on finding my dad, my breath catches as my heart rate picks up.
Dominik stands in the middle of five other guys. The one on his right, a tall man with bright red curls and an infectious smile has his arm thrown over Dom’s shoulder while he grins toward a man who is best described as tall, tan, and intimidating. He gives off all the grumpy vibes, but I notice the small smirk on his face as he shakes his head in response to the red head. On Dom’s left is a guy who’s practically jumping along next to them, reminding me of a toddler who was given too much sugar. The other two guys hang back from the group just a bit.
Dom is laughing, that dimple I love popping out on his right cheek. He elbows his friend in the stomach, grinning as he finally looks forward, his smile only grows as he spots me. The brooding man follows Dominik’s gaze toward me and stops, causing the red head to turn back to check on him as he pulls Dom to a stop. Bouncy man notices me, smiling crookedly as he stops and puts an arm out to stop the two behind him as well.
They could have gone around me, only one of them would have had to move out of my way. My palms start to sweat as they watch me for a moment, my gaze flicks to Dominik. Unsure of what to do, I step closer to the wall, hoping to get out of their way. Instead, the redhead speaks up.
“Well, hey there darlin’. You need help findin’ anyone?” He drops his arm from Dominik’s shoulder, Dom tenses as he watches the redhead step toward me. Squaring my shoulders, I move to continue down the hall to find my dad.
“No thanks. Shawna told me where to go.” The redhead doesn’t miss a beat, his smile staying perfectly in place. He seems like the kind of guy who’s friends with everyone, which also means he’s most likely a giant flirt.
“I’m Landon.” I slowly step closer, smiling politely in response. After a few steps, I pause, realizing they’re taking up the entire hallway. Before I can introduce myself, I’m cut off.
“Y’all better be behaving right now.” I straighten as my dad appears next to Dominik. Seeing them stand next to each other has my nerves going haywire, but I force myself to smile back.
He looks so at ease next to these bulked up guys, and while he’s not as tall or filled out as them, my dad is still an intimidating man. His questioning gaze bounces between the guys before meeting mine. I nod to his unanswered question, his smile widens even more.
“I’d like for y’all to meet my daughter, Lilly.” I laugh at the shocked expressions that cross over all their faces. Well, everyone except Dominik’s. Landon manages to wear his surprise better than the rest of them, but still takes a small step back.
The grump appears more impressed than shocked, but his expression stays difficult to read. The bouncy man smiles like a kid in a candy store as he watches the coach.
“Daughter? Man, that’s cool, she clearly gets her looks from you.” I choke on a laugh as Dom and my dad glare at the bouncer. The grump pinches the bridge of his nose, letting out an audible sigh while the other two take a step back. The grump elbows him in the gut before shooting a small apologetic smile my way.
“Excuse him. He has no filter sometimes.”
My dad shakes his head and finally chuckles as he turns back to me.
