Page 84 of Beauty
As long as I play hockey, I’ll never have that kind of life. It wouldn’t be fair to force a custody arrangement that revolved around my schedule. Ollie thrives on structure. Interrupting his schedule and asking Jen to jump through hoops to make it work would be a disservice to all of us. But damn does it suck not having my boy here when I’m not traveling. As it is, I already miss so much of his life.
The door swings open, but rather than greet me, Daniel practically barrels into me, his bag slung over his shoulder and his head down.
“Shit, sorry,” he says, pulling up short.
I chuckle. “It’s okay. Sounds like you guys had a busy morning.”
In the instant before the door closes, my sister breezes into the living room and drops a kiss on Mav’s head.
That pinch in my chest is back. This time, though, it’s a little softer. It’s accompanied by a gratefulness I wish I could feel in my own life. For so long, Hannah had no one but herself. Daniel and Mav have brought out a side of her I didn’t even know existed.
“You ready?” Daniel glances back at the now-closed door, then gives me a concerned frown.
I blink myself back to reality. “Yeah, sorry. Didn’t sleep much last night. I guess I’m still waking up.”
He cocks his head to the side. “Was Ollie over?”
“Um, no.”
“Why the hell didn’t you sleep, then?” Eyes widening, he rears back. “Wait, did you get laid?”
With a shake of my head, I stride toward the elevator. “No.”
“Then I’m not following,” he says, trailing me.
“Sleep can be disrupted even when women and children aren’t involved.” I stab the call button a little too forcefully. After the reminder of how empty my life is, my mood has officially tanked.
Chuckling, Daniel sidles up beside me. “Not me. I sleep like a baby when Mav is quiet and your sister isn’t?—”
I jab him in the chest the same way I jabbed the elevator button. “Do not finish that sentence.”
He rubs at the spot, his tongue pushing against the inside of his cheek. I know the look. He’s trying like hell not to blab all the details of what my sister did to him last night.
I don’t think anything could surprise me anymore. In the months I lived with them, I heard far too much. Hannah is not quiet in any facet of her life.
“So were you just craving my company, or did you stop by for a reason?”
I focus forward as we step onto the elevator, keeping my expression neutral. “I ran into Sienna Langfield in the hall last night. Was wondering if Hannah was the one who told her about the building.”
Daniel shrugs. “No idea. She’s moving in here?”
“Guess so.”
“Hmm.” He grins. “That’ll be nice for Hannah.”
I dip my chin, leaving it at that. He’ll find out eventually why Sienna’s whereabouts concern me, but I’m not ready to lay my cards out just yet.
Hours later, as I lace up my skates, I’m focused and ready to win tonight’s game.
Everyone has their own pregame ritual. Aiden sings, Daniel dances, War plays cards, Brooks puts his headphones on and zones out, and I do a crossword puzzle.
Yup. I’m aware that it’s a weird fucking ritual, but pouring all my focus into the task keeps me from worrying about what’s going to happen on the ice. Once I step into the arena, I divert my full attention to the game ahead. The routine allows me to channel all my energy more efficiently, I guess.
“Nervous about playing Minnesota tonight, boys?” Camden crows.
War chuckles as he deals a hand of cards. “When have you ever seen me nervous?”
Daniel surveys him. “Every time your wife yells at you.”
