Page 13 of Slap Shot at a Second Chance

“She hates it when I talk like that!” I murmured to myself, as I brought my hands to my head trying to knock some sense in.

I opened the door and decided to wing it. Sitting in my car trying to practice what to say to her would only result in me driving away from her building with that booster seat in my backseat and I so badly wanted to see her!

I carried the booster in my hands and as I entered the building, I saw an elderly woman heading to the elevator and quickly asked her to hold the elevator for me. We stood side by side, the soft music playing and she was looking up at me the entire time.

I wasn’t sure if I had been in much more awkward situations than these but I found it cute. She reminded me of my nana and I hoped and prayed she would be coming soon for a visit. She preferred her house more than mine and that broke my heart.

My house was just as nice.

“Are you here to see your girlfriend?” she finally asked in her soft voice and I felt my cheeks warm.

Avery? My girlfriend? Yeah.

“Yes, but she doesn’t know it yet. Can you keep it a secret?” I whispered and she snickered as she shook her head and stepped off on the same floor I was.

“Well, she’s a luckyunknowinggirlfriend. You’re sohandsome,” she spoke softly and her cheeks widened into a big smile.I miss my nana!“Good luck, son.” She waved as she walked away to her apartment and I chuckled as I waved back.

I had crammed Avery’s address and apartment number because I was so desperate to know everything that involved her. I walked past the few apartments on the floor until I stood in front of number 18—which was coincidentally the same number as my jersey and I just knew it was fate putting us together.

Ugh, the heavens must truly be on my side!

I knocked on her door, and her sweet voice answered immediately. I could hear the soft sounds of television in the background and I was relieved she didn’t sound sick.Thank God!

“In a second!”

My heart hammered against my chest as I waited for her to open the door, I should have bought her flowers or something. How could I just come with a booster seat? Perhaps I should turn back and quickly get her flowers.

The door was pulled open before I could turn on my heels and go purchase her some flowers. She stood in front of me barefooted, with a messy bun tied on top of her head, and a shirt dress that slightly hung off her left shoulder. She stared at me in shock and I mustered up a smile as I looked at the person I had pined away for the entire day.

Gorgeouswas my first thought, and my second thought was why in the world would she open the door like that for anyone! Thank goodness the booster seat was in front of me.

“Nate?” she whispered softly and I nodded as I lifted the seat a bit.

“Brian se?—“

“Mommy, it switched off.”

Her eyes widened as my attention went to the boy who tugged at her dress while pointing to the screen behind them.

Mommy?

Chapter 6

Avery

What was he doing here? Did he find out about Nathaniel? Did Brian tell him about Nathaniel?

No, Brian didn’t know anything about Nathaniel... no one knew except for me and Rita. Could it be possible that Nate figured it out all on his own? Did he suddenly remember our one-night stand, which he seemed that he didn’t remember at all?

His eyes were glued on Nathaniel as he studied my son, who kept tugging my dress, commanding my attention.

“Mommy,” he groaned in annoyance and I looked away from Nate, accepting fate as it was. If it was time for him to find out the truth, then let it be. I couldn’t keep it from everyone forever.

“Give me a minute, okay, Niel?” I threaded my fingers through his soft hair and gently massaged his head as I looked back at Nate, who kept a tight grip on Niel’s booster seat. He was probably going to ask me all sorts of questions about Niel.

When did I get pregnant? Why hadn’t I told him that I had a baby and we lived together in my apartment? If he hadn’t figuredit out yet, he would ask about the father and I absolutely hated those questions.

It always meant rejection in the end, whether it came towork,friendships,ordating—which only happened once when Niel was three years old. I thought that maybe by finally opening up to the possibilities of other men, I would forget about the man that left me alone in his captain’s cottage.

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