Page 10

Chapter ten

Beck

The scent of fresh-brewed coffee fills my kitchen as I lean against the counter, scrolling through my phone. My eyes land on an email from the team’s PR department—details about the upcoming Ice Hawks VIP Kids’ Day.

Perfect. The event is a big deal—an exclusive behind-the-scenes experience where a handful of lucky kids get to meet the players, tour the locker room, and skate on the Ice Hawks’ practice rink. But this year, there’s more to it.

We’re turning it into a charity event to support kids from underserved communities—kids who might never get a chance to lace up and experience the magic of hockey.

I scroll down, reading the details again. Donations will fund scholarships for hockey programs, provide gear for kids who can’t afford it, and sponsor after-school clinics.

This isn’t just an event. It’s a chance to change lives.

And Jake should be a part of it.

And maybe… Abby will see how serious I am about being part of their lives .

I sip my coffee, the warmth doing little to chase away the nerves creeping in. Ever since that private skating session with Jake, I haven’t been able to stop thinking about them. Abby’s laugh, Jake’s bright smile, and the way they make my world feel… complete.

But Abby’s walls are still up. I see it in her eyes—the hesitation, the fear that letting me in means risking her heart again. And I get it.

But I’m not going anywhere.

My phone vibrates, pulling me from my thoughts. I glance at the screen and smile when I see Abby’s name.

“Hey,” I answer, leaning against the counter.

“Hi.” Her voice is soft, a little hesitant, but there’s warmth there, too.

“Everything okay?”

“Yeah.” She pauses, and I hear the faint sound of Jake chattering in the background. “Actually… I was wondering if you might want to come over this afternoon. I, uh… I thought I could make lunch.”

A slow grin tugs at my lips. “You’re inviting me over, huh? Are you sure you can handle Spotty and me in your kitchen at the same time? We both seem to be accidents waiting to happen.”

She laughs softly, and the sound sends a warm ache straight to my chest. “I think I can handle it. But… there’s something else.”

“Yeah?”

“Jake’s been talking nonstop about that puck you gave him. He wants to know more about how it works… the tape, the stick, everything.”

“Ahhh.” I chuckle. “A future playmaker in the making. I’d love to talk hockey with him. But…” I glance toward the framed photo of me with my cats on the shelf near the TV, an idea forming.

“How about I have you and Jake over to my place after lunch?” I suggest casually, trying to keep my voice even. “I’ve got all my gear there. He can check out my sticks, my old jerseys… and maybe meet the other important members of the Hayes household.”

“Other members?” Abby sounds curious.

“My cats.” I grin. “Biscuit, Mitts, and Hat Trick. They’re quite the welcoming committee.”

Silence stretches on the line for a beat before I hear her soft laugh. “I do remember the pictures of your cats. Pretty funny for such a jock as yourself, Mr. Hayes.”

“Yep. Three of them. They’re a handful.” I smile, picturing Jake’s reaction. “I think Jake would love them. I’m not completely sure about Sir Spotsalot or Lotsaspots, or …”

“Okay,” she says softly, her tone filled with something I can’t quite place. “That sounds… really nice. Let’s just settle on Spotty for the name. And this time I think we’ll leave him behind.” Her grin makes me laugh.

Score.

“Great. I’ll see you both in a bit.”

***

Her invite to lunch has been a wonderful surprise. Seeing her and Jake in their own home shows me even more what a great mother she is. Their place is warm and friendly. The minute I walk in I feel good being there.

Jake chatters non-stop as I sit at Abby’s kitchen table, polishing off the last bite of her homemade grilled cheese.

I think I complemented her three times, at least. Probably a little overkill but dang, I’m nervous.

“And then I turned my stick just like you said, Beck!” Jake’s eyes shine with excitement as he demonstrates an exaggerated wrist shot with an invisible hockey stick. “Boom! Right past Spotty!”

“Nice form, buddy.” I grin, punching him gently in the arm. “Keep practicing that wrist shot, and you’ll be unstoppable.”

“Can we practice at your place?” Jake asks eagerly, bouncing in his seat. “You said you have all your gear, right?”

“Yup.” I glance at Abby, who’s been quietly watching us with a soft smile that makes my chest ache. “I thought maybe after lunch we could head over there.”

Jake’s grin stretches from ear to ear. With one knee up, he pumps his arms, elbows bend, fists tight. “Yes!”

“Only if it’s okay with your mom,” I add gently, my gaze meeting Abby’s.

Her eyes soften, and after a beat, she nods. “I think that’s a great idea.”

***

“Whoa…” Jake’s eyes widen as we step into my penthouse. His gaze sweeps across the open-concept living space—exposed brick walls, modern furnishings, and a massive wall-mounted TV displaying highlights from the latest NHL games.

As I see Abby taking in the view from the wall of windows, I’m immediately wondering. Should I worry that she’s afraid of heights? But as she walks toward them with a smile on her face, I let out the breath I didn’t realize I was holding.

Score one for the living quarters.

My focus turns back as I hear a drawn out “Cool!” Jake’s eyes are locked on the framed jerseys hanging on the wall—one from my rookie year, another from my Stanley Cup win.

“Make yourself at home,” I say, setting my keys on the counter. “But Jake, be warned… you’re about to meet the real rulers of this house.”

“Rulers?” Jake’s brow furrows.

“Wait for it…”

As if on cue, Biscuit saunters into the room, her fluffy orange tail held high like she owns the place. Which basically she does. Mitts, my black and white tuxedo cat, follows closely behind, while Hat Trick—a mischievous tabby—peeks around the corner, his green eyes full of curiosity.

“Whoa! Yeah, that’s right! You have cats!” Jake drops to his knees, his face lighting up with pure delight. “Hi, guys!”

Biscuit, ever the diva, sniffs the air and approaches Jake cautiously. The moment Jake sits down and extends his hand, she nuzzles against it, purring loudly.

“She likes you,” I say, amused as Mitts circles Jake, inspecting him like he’s a new recruit on the team.

“Biscuit’s the boss,” I explain, crouching beside Jake. “Mitts keeps the peace. And Hat Trick…”

“Where’s Hat Trick?” Jake asks, glancing around.

“Right… there.”

Before I can finish, Hat Trick pounces—leaping onto Jake’s lap and sending him into a fit of giggles.

“Whoa!” Jake laughs, his hands gently stroking the playful tabby. “Hat Trick, you’re funny!”

“Careful,” I warn with a grin. “He’s a sneaky one. Always looking for an opening.”

Abby watches from the sidelines, her arms folded but her expression soft. Her eyes follow Jake’s every movement, and I can see it—the warmth, the affection, but also the flicker of hesitation.

She’s still afraid.

I get it .

But seeing Jake so happy—so completely at ease—makes me even more determined to show Abby that this…

This could be their home, too.

***

As Jake continues bonding with the cats, I glance at Abby and motion for her to join me in the kitchen. She follows, her expression guarded but curious.

“I, uh… wanted to ask you something,” I begin, keeping my voice low. “About something special for Jake.”

Her brow furrows slightly. “Special?”

“Yeah.” I pull out my phone and scroll to the email about VIP Kids’ Day. I hand it to her, watching as her eyes skim the details.

“It’s a charity event,” I explain softly. “The team’s hosting it for kids from underserved communities—giving them a chance to experience hockey firsthand. We’re raising money for scholarships, equipment, and after-school programs.”

Her eyes lift to mine, and I see something flicker there—something warm and unguarded. “That’s… amazing, Beck.”

I shrug, but my heart pounds harder than it should. “Hockey gave me everything. I just want to give back. Make sure kids who wouldn’t normally get a chance… get one.”

Her lips part, but no words come out.

“And I want Jake to be part of it,” I continue softly. “I’ve got VIP passes. He’ll get to tour the locker room, skate on the practice rink… meet the whole team.” I know he’s done a little of that already, but this will be a more structured event, and I think he’ll really enjoy being part of a group of kids.

Jake’s laughter echoes from the living room, making both of us glance toward him.

“He would love that,” Abby murmurs, her voice barely above a whisper.

Okay then, here goes.

“Hey, Jake, can you come in here for a minute? I’ve got something to show you.” I find the pictures from last year’s event and hand my tablet over to Jake who’s now cross-legged on the kitchen floor.

I glance and see Jake’s eyes widen as he scrolls through the photos from last year’s event.

“Whoa…” Jake’s voice is barely above a whisper as he leans closer, his gaze locked on the images of kids skating alongside Ice Hawks players, the wide grins on their faces mirroring pure joy.

“Pretty cool, huh?” I murmur, flipping through the images slowly to let him take it all in.

Jake’s eyes flick to mine, his excitement barely contained. “Is… is that what we’re doing?”

“Even better,” I grin, crouching down so we’re at eye level. “The VIP Kids’ Day is even bigger this year. We’re turning it into a charity event, so kids who wouldn’t normally get a chance to play hockey can experience it for themselves.”

I swipe to the next screen and let Jake and Abby take in the details.

“The event’s happening at the Ice Hawks’ arena,” I explain, pointing to the calendar on my phone. “It’s an all-day experience, starting with a private tour of the locker room.”

“Whoa…” Jake whispers, his eyes practically glowing.

“Yeah, buddy.” I smile, feeling a tug in my chest at how much this means to him. “You’ll get to check out where we suit up before games. You’ll see all the gear—helmets, sticks, skates—and even some of our lucky charms and personal items.”

Jake’s mouth drops open. “Like your stuff?”

“Yup,” I chuckle. “I’ll show you my stall, where I tape my sticks, and where we go over game plans before we hit the ice.”

Since he is so into what I’m saying, I add more. “After the tour, there’s a meet-and-greet with the team,” I continue, watching Jake’s face light up. “You’ll get to meet the guys, ask questions, and take pictures.”

Jake’s jaw drops. “With all of them?”

“Every single one,” I confirm with a wink. “And they’re great with kids. You’ll get to hang out, talk hockey, and maybe even learn a few new tricks.”

“Will Griffin be there?” Jake asks eagerly, referring to my best friend and teammate, Griffin Shaw.

“Of course,” I grin. “And knowing Griff, he’s probably planning to teach you a few fancy dekes.”

Jake’s eyes practically sparkle. He’s breathless when he asks me with even wider eyes what dekes are. His intensity makes me chuckle when I explain that a deke is a type of feint or fake technique where we try to draw an opposing player out of position so we can skate by the opponent and keep control of the puck. It comes from the word decoy. “Oh, I got it.” he says. “It’s like this” and he jumps up and demonstrates a perfect maneuver.

Oh yeah, this is going to be a blast .

“But that’s not all,” I add, swiping to another photo. “After the meet-and-greet, there’s a station where you get to decorate your own Ice Hawks jersey.”

“Wait, what?” Jake’s eyes widen yet again. I’m afraid they’re going to pop out of their sockets before I’m done.

“Yeah,” I chuckle. “We’ve got white practice jerseys, and the kids get to design them however they want—paint, markers, patches… anything. You’ll even get to add your name and a number.”

Jake’s grin stretches ear to ear. “I can be number nine, like you?”

“Absolutely.” My chest tightens at the excitement in his voice. “You’ll be rocking your own custom jersey by the end of the day.”

“Can you handle any more?” I ask, watching his eyes closely for any hint of unexpected forward movement. At his yes while jumping up and down, I go ahead.

“After that,” I continue, “we hit the ice.”

Jake’s eyes widen again. “We get to skate?”

“Not just skate,” I say with a smile. “There’s an on-ice skills session on our practice rink where some of the Ice Hawks guys will teach you stickhandling, passing, and shooting. You’ll get to practice your wrist shot, just like we talked about. Any kids who don’t have their own skates get some… to keep.”

Jake nods so hard I think his head might pop off.

“And then…” I pause for dramatic effect.

“What?” Jake leans in, his eyes glued to me.

“We finish with a scrimmage,” I say with a grin. “You’ll get to play a real game with the other kids—coached by me and some of the other players.”

Jake’s mouth drops open. “A real game? With you coaching?”

“Yup.” I tousle his hair affectionately. “I’ll be right there on the ice with you.”

***

Leaving him looking through the pictures, I turn to Abby. She looks absolutely beautiful as she watches her son, and maybe me too. I lead her to the sofa in the other room where it’s quiet and a bit more private.

“But I also…” I clear my throat, my eyes locking on hers. “I want you to be there, too, Abby.”

Her eyes widen slightly, and I see the hesitation flicker back.

“Beck…”

“I know,” I say softly, stepping a little closer. “I’m not pushing. But… I’d like for you both to be part of it. No pressure.”

“I’ll be working with the kids on the ice and, of course, Jake will be part of the group activities. I was thinking that you might be interested in helping at one of the booths for the kids. It could be fun. “I have it on good advice that I can get you whatever job you want,” I tell her with a smirk.

“Beck, working with kids is top of my list for volunteer work, so yes, I’d love to help.”

Then her lips press together, and I can see the battle in her eyes—the part of her that’s starting to trust me… and the part that’s still afraid.

“One step at a time,” I murmur, echoing the words I told her earlier.

She nods, her gaze dropping to the floor. But I see it—the tiniest crack in her walls.

It’s a start.