Page 68 of One Pucking Surprise
“Zach!” Wyatt shouts, his voice slicing through my thoughts. He’s skating straight at me, stick ready, and I barely manage to block his shot, deflecting the puck toward another teammate. Wyatt coasts to a stop, giving me a look that sayswhat the hellbefore skating off.
The rest of practice passes in a blur of half-hearted drills and missed opportunities. When Coach finally blows the whistle, dismissing us, I’m the first off the ice. I yank off my helmet in the tunnel, running a hand through my sweat-soaked hair. I don’t even make it to the locker room before Wyatt catches up.
“Alright, what’s going on?” he demands, planting himself in my path. “You’ve been off all day.”
“I’m fine,” I lie, pushing past him, but he follows, not letting up.
“Bullshit,” he says, keeping pace. “You’re playing like your skates are tied together. Come on, man. Spill.”
I glance around. The rest of the team is still milling around the rink, too far to overhear, but I motion for Wyatt to follow me to the quieter corner near the equipment room. Once we’re there, Ilean against the wall, gripping the edge of the boards like it’s the only thing keeping me upright.
“Lainey’s pregnant,” I say, the words coming out flat and heavy.
Wyatt freezes, his eyebrows shooting up. “You’re serious.”
“Yeah,” I mutter, running a hand through my hair. “Dead serious.”
Wyatt stares at me like I’ve just confessed to robbing a bank. “I didn’t even know you two were sleeping together like that.”
“We weren’t. I mean, we did. It’s complicated.”
“When?”
“The night of your engagement party.”
Wyatt’s jaw drops. “Seriously? That’s why you disappeared? I figured you hooked up with someone, but Lainey? You two could barely stand each other that night.”
“Yeah, well, things changed,” I snap, then exhale sharply. “It just happened, Wyatt. One thing led to another, and… long story short, the condom was expired.”
Wyatt groans, dragging a hand down his face. “Man. That’s… I don’t even know what to say.”
“Join the club,” I mutter.
After a long pause, Wyatt shakes his head, a wry grin tugging at his lips. “Well, I guess congrats, bro.”
“Don’t.” I glare at him. “This wasn’t part of the plan. It just… happened.”
“Plans never work out the way you think they will,” Wyatt says, leaning against the wall beside me. “Look at me and Jasper. Do you think I planned for Chloe to show up one day and tell me I had a seven-year-old kid? Hell no. But now, I can’t imagine my life without him.”
“This is different,” I argue. “You and Chloe are in love. You’re building a life together. Me and Lainey? We’re in a fake relationship, for Christ’s sake.”
Wyatt raises an eyebrow. “So what? That doesn’t mean you can’t figure it out.”
“It’s not that simple,” I say, my voice rising despite myself. “I suggested the fake dating thing to keep things uncomplicated, not to end up in a relationship, have a baby, and settle down. I don’t do relationships. You know about the Darling curse. They all end badly.”
Wyatt snorts. “That’s just an excuse.”
“No, it’s reality,” I insist. “Every relationship in my family ends in disaster. My parents, my siblings—they’re all miserable. Why should I think I’d be any different?”
“Because you’re not them,” Wyatt says simply. “And this isn’t about you anymore. It’s about Lainey. And the baby.”
I flinch at the word, but Wyatt presses on.
“Lainey’s a good person. She’s smart, patient, organized. Hell, she’ll probably have everything planned out before the baby’s even born. All you need to do is show up and be there for them.”
I shake my head. “She deserves better, Wyatt. She deserves to find her Mr. Perfect. Not some guy who’s been faking it with her for weeks.”
Wyatt gives me a long, hard look. “You know, I’ve seen you with her. And I don’t think it’s as fake as you want it to be.”
