Page 15

Chapter 14

Taylor – A Week Later

I check my phone as I climb off my bike but curse when I don’t see any message from Penelope. Instead, several from Elena demanding a meeting, apologizing, begging for her job back, and begging me to speak to Coach.

Ever since she got fired, not just by me but by the team for what she did, especially when more players came out and expressed what she’d been like with them, she’s been blowing up my phone, but I’ve ignored every call, my main focus right now, Penelope.

I’ll sort that bitch out once I have Penelope in my arms again.

After I basically begged Pen to give me a chance, she told me she’d think about it and contact me. That was a fucking week ago. I haven’t seen her or Hudson because I’ve been at away games which we won three out of four, but I haven’t heard from her after I gave her my correct number – poor Kaylah mixed up the last number with an eight instead of a three – and it’s pissing me off.

For months I tried to find her, and when we finally came face to face with a baby to fucking boot, she wanted nothing thing to do with me. I couldn’t cope with it, which is also why we lost the fourth game.

Like an idiot, I checked my phone before going in, Tony had messaged, letting me know that Pen hasn’t contacted her sister either. I may have gotten into a fight, allowing one of the Panther players to get in my head. I ended up in the sin bin when we were tied, and I still haven’t forgiven myself. I mean, we are a shoo-in to win the cup again, but it isn’t the fucking point, anything can change and that one loss is not okay.

Groaning, I climb the stairs to my parents’ home with anticipation. Mom is going to flip, and so are Hannah and Kaylah when they realize Nurse Vine is the girl I’ve been looking for.

I haven’t spoken to my parents about everything yet. After leaving Pen’s condo, I had to grab my shit and catch a flight with the team, so before practice, I’m going to inform my parents that they are grandparents again – the DNA test came back confirming paternity even though I already knew he was mine. I felt the connection when I held his little body in my arms.

I know mom will be upset, especially with Hudson being just over a month old, but this isn’t about her right now. It’s about Pen, Hudson, and me. I’m just giving them the courtesy of letting them know he exists before it gets out to the press, I can use practice as an excuse to run out like my ass is on fire.

“Mom, Dad,” I shout as I walk into the house.

“Uncle Tay-Tay ,” Kaylah shouts back, and I catch her as she barrels into me, making me chuckle.

“Hey, sweet girl,” I mumble and hold her close, squeezing my eyes tight as she wraps her arms around my neck.

This little girl, she’s everything.

“Hey, baby boy,” Mom says as she approaches me.

I smile as she kisses my cheek, then walk into the living area where my brother sits. I lower Kaylah, who runs straight to him, and he places her on his lap. Hannah smiles beside him while Xanthe scowls from the chair near the window as my dad smirks before looking my way.

“Since when do you come over before practice? I thought you’d be on your run by now,” he says with concern.

I take a seat on the dark brown couch and reassure him, “I went for a run this morning.” He nods, but his concern doesn’t disappear while Dylan winces. He managed to get everyone here for me without mentioning my name. He is also well aware I’ll be running out here as soon as I’ve dropped the bomb.

Kaylah kisses Dylan's cheek, making him smile, before she jumps off him and runs to me again. I chuckle, pick her up, sit her on my lap, and hold her close.

“Kaylah has a dance show next week,” Hannah says, and I look at her. “Will you be in town?” she asks while Kaylah gives me puppy dog eyes with her gorgeous green eyes, the brown more visible today.

I smile and state, “I will be. I wouldn’t miss it for the world, and I may be bringing two people with me if that is okay?”

Hannah blushes and admits, “I already invited Ezra, whichever other teammate you bring cannot hit on her dance instructor.”

I grin wide. “Finally decided to give into your true feelings and give him a chance, huh? Instead of acting like he disgusts you?” I ask, and she rolls her eyes, not replying, making everyone except Xanthe laugh.

Shaking my head, I admit, “Actually, it’s not Ezra I’m hoping to bring,” they look at me with confusion.

I swallow hard as I make eye contact with Dylan, who nods. “I’m hoping to bring Penelope,” I finally state, and Mom gasps, but Dad soon stands when I add, “and our one-month-old son Hudson.”

I see Xanthe’s body tense, but I ignore her and make eye contact with my father. He’s tense, and anger shines off him, yet he doesn’t say anything. I know he’s waiting for the whole story before anyone, mainly my mother and Xanthe, can make up stories.

“Turns out for nearly a year she has been trying to get a hold of me,” I gently run my fingers through Kaylah’s hair, “she was blacklisted from every place I attend, including the arena, which Ezra managed to undo that day for that one. She was banned from my building. The receptionist explained the situation, and I rectified it, and the day she went into labor, she was served with a restraining order, all without my knowledge.”

“Elena?” my dad questions quietly, and I nod, causing him to curse.

“For months, Elena has done everything she can to ensure Penelope couldn’t get a hold of me, even going as far as lying to my lawyer when a letter was delivered to him expressing Pen was pregnant with my child, stating it was all false,” I explain, then look at my sister and admit, “Nurse Vine who went on maternity leave, she is Penelope, my Penelope.”

Hannahs eyes widen in shock, and I give her a sad smile as Kaylah gasps, “Is Nurse Vine going to be my auntie?”

I chuckle, kiss her head, and admit, “Hopefully, squirt,” making her squeal.

I look at my shocked family and sigh, “It’s been a week since I’ve found out. I walked into Harry Calvin's house with Tony and Dylan when I saw her and Hudson. It was a shock for her as well because she was in the middle of serving me for a DNA test, and that was just so she could get in touch with me. She figured out what Elena was doing and decided to take it further,” I look around my family, again except for Xanthe and confirm, “I did do the DNA, and he is mine, something I didn’t deny at all. He has my eyes, my nose, and he’s perfect. I just wasn’t willing for anyone,” I side-eye my sister-in-law, “to claim otherwise.”

“Where are they now?” my dad asks.

“She lives in Brooklyn. She has had problems with her family. Uh, you know Carl Vine and the rumors about selling his daughters to get higher?” Dad nods, “Well, it isn’t a rumor; it’s true,” his eyes widen, “Avery, Pen’s younger sister, did marry Harry because it was arranged, though she’s now looking at a divorce because she’s in love with Tony, but Pen refused to bend backward for her family’s wealth as Avery did. She has worked hard all her life, refused to marry for them, and when she said she was pregnant, they disowned her. It was only when she went into labor that they finally begged for forgiveness.”

My family looks at me in shock, but my dad is eyeing me.

“What aren’t you telling me?” Dad asks, already picking up on my tension, which doesn’t shock me.

“She asked for some time a week ago when I showed up at her condo,” I admit, and Dad finishes, “and you haven’t heard from her.”

I shake my head, “Not a peep.”

He nods as Kaylah hugs my neck, making me smile, but my smile soon drops when Xanthe mutters, “Wouldn’t surprise me if she’s packing her shit ready to do a runner once she’s drained you dry.”

I glare her way because the bitch doesn’t know jack shit. Her eyes widen because not once have I given her any hostility even though I know she has caused nothing but hurt and drama for my brother, and then my mom chimes in, making my jaw tick.

“Oh god, she tried to trap you, didn’t she? And now she’s going to take my grandbaby away.” She cries, and I shake my head as Dad sighs.

“Fuck’s sake Xanthe, you couldn’t keep your mouth shut,” Dylan snaps making his wife jump, the smirk she had at mom’s outburst gone.

Kissing Kaylah on her head, I stand and walk over to my brother; putting our niece on his lap, I mutter, “Sorry big brother,” and he furrows his brows, but I just give him a small wince. I turn to his wife and decide to give her some real fucking truths.

“Just because you’re a lying piece of work who tried to trap my brother not once before he married your ass but every single month since that doesn’t mean every other woman is the same. Because unlike you, Pen had no idea who I was and only wanted to get in touch because she believed I had a right to know I was going to be a father. She isn’t after a cent because not everyone is you!”

Her mouth parts in shock as she gasps, and then I turn to look at my mother.

“She didn’t expect to see me last week. She thought it would be through lawyers. Her emotions are still high after giving birth, and she’s scared because she felt the connection we had that one night again. Her main focus is our son, while mine, yes, is our son, but it is also her. I want her. I wanted her before I even knew about Hudson. She is the last girl I have been with,” Mom's eyes tear up, and I finish, “She isn’t trying to trap me or take what’s in my bank; she isn’t Xanthe. She’s taking time to get her emotions intact, and I can guarantee she’s probably trying to harden her heart to me and claim we should just co-parent. I’m going to bulldoze it down, and when I know she’s ready, I’ll bring Hudson to see you. Until then, give her the respect she deserves and have patience. She’s gone through her whole pregnancy alone trying to find me, and if she wants time, she can have time.”

That said, I give Dad a nod, then I blow a kiss to Kaylah, who grins at me, then turn and leave my parents’ home, believing every word I say.

I just need the woman to fucking call me so I can get started on winning her over.

I slam my locker shut, ignoring the concerned looks around me as I put my jacket on.

“Tay,” Ezra calls out, but I put my hand up, unwilling to listen.

I lost my shit on the ice. The rookies were pissing me the fuck off, messing up left and right, and the more they messed up, the more fucking agitated I got. When Jace nearly fucking sliced off Liam's fingers in the net, I couldn’t keep my anger in. The fucker shouldn’t have even been down there to begin with.

Mom’s and Xanthe’s words kept running around in my head about Pen maybe taking Hudson and running away. I know it’s bullshit like I told them, but it stuck and now everyone is my verbal punching bag.

Pen has been trying to find me, wanting me to have access to our son. I’ve seen all the letters and calls that Coach found on Elena’s work phone. Thousands, fucking thousands of calls are logged from Penelope, which gave Elena the easiest restraining order opportunity.

The judge didn’t even question it, seeing how much Pen called, but she also messaged pictures of scans and appointments, and she even sent a photo of Hudson after he was born while demanding she tell me about him.

Elena never fucking did.

“You need to breathe, Taylor,” Levi says, and I sigh.

“Was I too hard?” I ask as I grab my bag and look at the boys.

Ezra shrugs, “Not really, because as soon as you lost your shit, they buckled up. Jace could have seriously injured Liam and needed that lesson to hit home.”

I huff, “I need to leave, I need some fucking time.”

Levi nods and says, “She’ll contact you, Taylor.”

I take a deep breath but nod before walking past them while feeling everyone’s eyes on me.

Before practice, I met with Coach, and we decided to let the men know about Penelope and that I had a son. When I made it public about firing Elena, I didn’t express exactly why, only the continuous stalking which brought my teammates to come forward, but now they know exactly what brought everything to a head. They all were shocked that a woman could be so fucking evil.

“I’ll see you guys later,” I say as I walk out the door, looking down, feeling really fucking defeated.

I just want to speak to her, for her to give me a chance.

“Fighting on the ice then shouting at your teammates,” an angel says, and I look up in shock as my body zings and I lock eyes with my gorgeous girl’s dark green ones. “Not very captain of you, is it?” she asks as she pushes off the wall she was leaning on, her dark blue tank hugging her body nicely and showing the shape of her large tits, making my cock twitch in my jeans but the way her hair frames her face, the way her plump lips call to me.

Fuck me, she is beautiful …

“Well, I had a message that a certain redhead was blocking everyone out, and it pissed me off, especially when I haven’t heard anything from her since returning to New York,” I admit as I feel a few pats on my back from my teammates. Still, I ignore them, walk over to my girl, and crowd her in against the wall, forcing her back up against it.

“I needed time,” she replies, not breaking eye contact.

I nod, then ask, “And now?”

“Have dinner with me?” she asks, and my eyes race between hers, and I question, “Where’s Hudson?”

She smiles, her eyes softening at the mention of our son, making her look even more fucking beautiful, and says, “With my dad.”

I nod and look over her for a moment before I reply, “Okay, let’s go get some food,” and then push away from her reluctantly. And when she goes to walk past me, I grab her hand and link our fingers, making her gasp as tingles spread up my arm. I pull her along with me, keeping my hold on her tight so she can’t let go.

I swear to fuck, if this whole dinner shit is to try and push me away, then she has another thing coming.

I went nearly a year without her, without getting to know her, fuck, I missed her growing our son. I won’t miss any more.

This girl will become my world, I just need her to get on board.