Page 63 of Slapshot
“Eleven. Not as late as you, but I understand the push you’re feeling to prove yourself and make up for lost time.”
“Wow.” The word slips from my lips. “I didn’t know. Kaitlyn never said.”
He studies me as he takes another drink. “Are you and my daughter close?”
Oh shit. If there’s a right answer, I can’t find it in the seconds that Declan Dalager stares me down, waiting for one. Paxton and Tate have joined her at the bar. She looks everywhere but at us.
“I like to think I know her pretty well.”
“Is she happy?”
Fuck. This guy throws punch after punch at me, and I am not prepared. He’s either a really good actor or he cares more than Kaitlyn thinks he does. Maybe it’s guilt that makes him ask. I don’t pretend to think he’s some great guy just because he was an amazing hockey player. He hurt my girl—intentional or not and that makes me distrustful of him.
“I don’t know, sir.”
He nods and gives me an apologetic smile as if he realizes it’s a tough ask to speak to anyone else’s mindset. Especially Kaitlyn’s.
“You don’t have to worry about her, though. She’s resilient and tough, and just… amazing. And if she needs it, we’ve got her back. She’s one of us now.” If he doesn’t already know that, he should. And with that, it’s definitely time for me to walk away.
I bow out just as Coach Keller steps up to talk to Declan and I do what I should have done a few minutes ago. I check on my girl because the team might have her back if she needs it, but I want to be there even when she doesn’t.
I nod to Pax and Tate. Kaitlyn is turned toward the bar. I take her hand and tug. She smiles hesitantly.
“Let’s go home, baby doll.”
* * *
Kaitlyn’s dad stays through the next week. We don’t have any classes after Tuesday, but the extra time is spent practicing and preparing for our games this weekend. And in the in between time, Kaitlyn is either working or with her dad. The rest of the guys might be glad the amazing Declan Dalager is in town, but I kind of wish the guy would go away. Selfish, I know, but I miss having her to myself.
Wednesday he drops by practice and I can tell it makes Kaitlyn less confident. The verdict is still out on whether or not I think he’s a decent person. Maybe he’s unaware of the difference in his daughter when he’s around, or maybe he doesn’t care. I haven’t figured it out.
Other than that, practice is going well, though. Coach was right—Ash and I are good together, and I’m feeling more comfortable on a line with him and Hudson than I have any other combination. Maybe all this switching will have been worth it.
Thursday, after a long, grueling practice, we load up for the three-hour drive to Amherst. We’ll get in, have a dinner out to celebrate and then hit the hotel for an early night. I’m excited about the game, but more pressing at the current moment is that I get to finally spend some time with my girl.
She scoots over to make room for me, and I take the seat next to her. She’s looking out the front of the bus and then the windows as if she’s looking for something.
“Did you forget something?” I ask.
“No. My dad is coming. He’s following the bus.”
“He’s going to the game?”
She nods, still feverishly looking for him.
“Wow. Does that mean things are going well between you two?” I’ve tried not to ask, hoping she’ll confide in me if needed, but I’m dying to know how she’s feeling.
“Yes. No. Maybe.” She sighs and slumps down in the seat and abandons her search. “I can’t tell if he’s interested in spending time with me because I’m his daughter or because it’s something hockey-related.”
“You two have done other stuff since he’s been here. It hasn’t all been hockey.”
“True. I just wish I’d have found a job doing something else so that I’d know it’s me he truly cares about.”
“Is that why you quit hockey when you were a kid?”
She searches my face.
“What? I know you didn’t really quit because you suddenly stopped enjoying it. I saw the look on your face when we had the shootout. It’s the same one I see during a game when we score or when you get called on to make a quick adjustment or change. You love it. Even if you wished you hated it.”
