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Which is exactly why I know I need to talk to him about my current situation.

I’m the last in the locker room and find my spot as everyone’s already stripping free from their gear. Nash and Lincoln are sitting next to each other, talking about whatever their women have planned for dinner tonight. I tune both of them out, making my way next to Rowan, who’s removing his goalie pads.

I haven’t talked to him since earlier this morning when I abruptly ended the call with him. “How did it go with Hadley?”

Hadley is his girlfriend or fake fiancée...or real fiancée? Hell, I don’t even know what she is at this point. She’s been living with him the past few months while he was sorting out custody of his daughter and adjusting to life as a new single dad. This morning, Hadley was supposed to be getting on a flight to California for her next nursing assignment and Rowan finally had a come-to-Jesus moment where he realized he’s madly in love with her.

It’s been clear to everyone except for the two of them apparently.

“It didn’t take much convincing,” he admits with a smirk as he tips his head in my direction. “Really, it was just a big misunderstanding between both of us and it could have been avoided if we would have just told each other our feelings.”

“Well, duh,” I laugh, shaking my head at him after untying my skates. I slide my feet out, strip off my socks, and I stretch my toes. “I could have told you that.”

“What happened to you at the store?”

Shit. I forgot about that part of our interaction earlier. “Um, there was just some kid who needed help.” I shake my head in an attempt to dismiss the thoughts that push to the forefront of my mind. It’s not just some kid...he might bemykid.

“Did you find what you needed for tonight?”

I shrug with indifference as I start to take off the rest of my gear. “No. I’ll figure something out, if I end up going.”

Rowan raises an eyebrow at me. “You gave me shit earlier about not going and now you’re thinking about bowing out?”

I stare at Rowan for a moment, contemplating how many lies I should tell my best friend. As soon as I know the truth, I’ll have to tell everyone else. I don’t want to dig myself into too much of a hole right now.

My lips part and just as I’m about to give him an explanation, Caleb steps in front of me. I close my mouth, directing my attention to my brother instead. He’s already changed and in his street clothes. “You ready?” he asks, his eyes surveying my half dressed body.

“Give me two minutes.”

He nods and doesn’t say anything. Instead, he crosses his arms over his chest, almost as if he’s standing guard while I finish getting undressed. Rowan leaves the whole grocery store thing alone and when he finishes changing, he stands up and looks back at me again. “Text me later to let me know about tonight.”

“Sounds good.”

He walks over to Lincoln and Nash, saying something to the two of them before half rushing out of the room. Our lives are about to get insane with playoffs and I’m sure he wants to go spend time with Hadley and his daughter Lucy before we’re cut off from the rest of the world. Lincoln and Nash aren’t far behind him and I know Caleb would be doing the same if I hadn't told him I wanted to talk to him before we left.

Caleb waits until I’m ready and then we both head out to the parking lot together. It’s not until we’re at Caleb’s car before either of us talk about anything that isn’t hockey related.

“So, what’s going on?” Caleb starts as he pulls open his car door and motions to the passenger’s side. “Get in, we can talk in the car.”

Nodding, I follow suit and we both get into the car before I respond. “I went to the grocery store today and ran into this woman I slept with a few years ago.” I pause as he stares at me, giving me a look like he’s not surprised by anything I’m admitting. He’s waiting for me to get to the point. “She has a kid and based on the timelines, she would have gotten pregnant right around the same time we hooked up.”

“Did she say it’s yours?”

I swallow hard. “Yeah.”

His eyes widen and he turns his head to stare out the windshield for a few moments. The silence stretches between us as he slowly turns on his car, his hands resting on the steering wheel. “Did she just come out and tell you?”

“No,” I tell him, glancing out the window on my side as a few employees exit the arena. “I asked her after I started to put two and two together, after I saw him. She confirmed after I questioned her on it.”

Caleb turns to look at me. “And you think it’s your kid?”

I let out a breath, running a hand through my hair as I think back to my interactions with Matteo. His eyes. The hair color. His dominant hand was clearly his left, which is the same as me. Andi’s right handed and dexterity is hereditary. The way there’s a slight curve towards the end of his nose. My chest deflates, my heart racing inside my chest. “He looks like a Ford, Cale.”

He’s silent before letting out a sigh. “Shit,” he mumbles, a frown tugging his lips downwards. “You’re going to have to get a paternity test.”

“Is that really necessary?” I nervously lace my fingers together, cracking my knuckles as I stare at my older brother, looking for some kind of direction. “I mean, if everything addsup and makes sense—and the fact that he looks just like we did when we were five.”

“Do you know this woman other than the night you decided to sleep with her?”