Page 2

THEO

THEO: Be home soon after practice, Trav.

TRAV: I have a surprise for you, Daddy.

“ M y rep is just fine,” I grumbled as I shot the puck at the empty net as LeCav shrugged next to me, then followed me like a damn golden retriever puppy off the ice. The memory of Travis texting me and calling me daddy never got old. My heart still was doing flip flops from his message earlier.

“It’s better,” he conceded. “But reps are hard to get past, even as a newly single dad. Now that one? Pretty sure adds to the whole dickhead rep you’ve been trying to-”

I raked a hand over my face, as I tossed my helmet and along with my gloves onto the bench in front of my locker.

“It’s not like I ignored Travis. I didn’t even know he existed until not too long ago.

” And it was something I’d regretted so fucking much.

But it wasn’t like his mom and I had a relationship.

We hooked up a few nights six years ago when I was still in Chicago and was taking advantage of everything playing professional hockey offered.

Including the girls. But then, she disappeared, and honestly I hadn’t thought about her until the lawyer showed up at my place.

And even then, I didn’t believe it. Until he showed me Travis’ picture.

The spitting image of me when I was his age, but with his mom’s eyes. And when the lawyer told me his mom had recently passed, naming me his guardian in her will, I knew without a doubt, I’d do anything to protect him.

And then I was traded to the Triumph only a few weeks later, uprooting him all over again.

Fucking father of the year.

“And while I personally love your weekly romance novel round ups,” the goalie droned on while I tried to get into the shower as fast as possible before picking up Travis from the team’s PR rep, Laney, who was helping me out until I found a nanny who could help me take care of Travis.

Being a dad and a professional hockey player was crazy enough with a family and a partner to balance shit out, but a single guy who just learned he was a dad?

Failing fucking miserably.

Last night, Travis finally slept through the night.

No nightmares that had plagued him since coming to live with me.

Laney thought it was because he was getting into a routine after months of being shuttled around.

The woman was a saint, and I didn’t know what I’d do without her.

From the moment I’d become a Triumph, she, and the entire front office and coaching staff as well as my teammates pitched in to help with the transition.

“So, I take it from you not saying no, that’s a yes?”

Fuck. My brain, lost in my thoughts and worrying about failing Travis, zoned out on everything LeCav had said. Which in and off itself was not a good fucking idea. And the fucking goalie had followed me into the showers, grinning like an idiot. “Dude, space? And what did I just agree to?”

Noah grinned and held his hands up as he backed out of the room. “I’ll add you to the chat, Theo. And I’ll let Indie know.”

I hung my head as the hot water sluiced over my body, the muscles melting under the scalding heat.

Wait. Did he just say Indie? I nearly broke my neck trying to run after him, but when I rounded the corner, Noah was nowhere to be seen.

Shit. Water dripped onto the floor, and the last words Noah said echoed in the empty room.

And I’ll let Indie know.

A somber-faced five year old greeted me at the kitchen table when I walked into the house, and not for the first time, guilt ate at me. Tore at the person I’d been becoming. Even before Travis came into my life, I realized things had to change. And fuck, thank God I realized it before he did.

Even if reading a teammate’s wife’s romance novel wasn’t exactly a total fix, my agent, Serena, had sponsorship offers slowly coming in after only a few posts on my socials. At first, it was nice, because God knows no one really wanted me before. Now that I had Travis’ future to consider?

And hell, even I had to admit it, I enjoyed reading them. Not just hers, either. Once it all took off, and it did fucking quick, book lovers started leaving recs in the comments.

I ruffled his hair, his somber brown eyes shifting to me before going back to the book in front of him on the table that sat next to his bowl of Goldfish crackers.

“Hey, buddy. How was your day?” The way he shrugged, but turned his head to look at me, broke my heart.

Even if it was a huge step up from our first few weeks trying to navigate our new normal. “That boring?”

“We went to the park, and then made cookies,” Laney said as she walked into the kitchen from the hallway. “And we picked up a few new books after the grocery store.”

Laney had been a life saver these past few weeks, because almost everyone I interviewed or had the agency send over either ended up not being able to take the position because of the demanding schedule, or once they started as our nanny, had to leave.

For one reason or another. Thank God Travis was in school, unless I’d really be screwed.

It was like I was fucking cursed.

“Laney, I can’t thank-”

She stopped me with a grin, and put her hand on my arm. “Triumph family, Theo. And I can do most of my daytime work in between. Got a sec?”

I nodded and swiped a few Goldfish, which made Travis attempt a ghost of a smile. “Thanks for the snack, kiddo.”

“You always steal my fishies,” he said. “But I don’t mind.”

This kid.

Laney jerked her head in the direction of the living room, and I followed her with a last glance at my son. “Everything okay?”

She nodded. “He’s opening up, and even decided he wants to be Batman for Halloween.

But, I think the agency found someone who can help out until at least Christmas.

I know it’s not ideal, but she can’t start until the first week of November.

Between school, me, and Helen, it gives us a little breathing room until we find someone permanent.

Since you're so picky,” she added wryly.

I huffed out a breath, but didn’t deny it. “I don’t want to fuck this up, and pick anyone. Poor kid’s been through enough already. Unless Mary Poppins shows up at the door with a carpet bag and a talking umbrella…”

She laughed. “I’ll be sure to keep an eye out. Oh, and Noah said you’re good with the haunted house, so I’ll get your costume ready. Travis will love the kid’s zone. I’ll be there, so no worries about someone watching him while you scare the adults.”

“Fucking Noah,” I grumbled. “I knew he was up to something.”

“You’ll love it. And then I’ll have Indie get in contact with you after about the book boyfriend calendar.

The team is working with Book Boyfriends and Lattes, but the photoshoot is the week after the haunted house.

It’s a bit of a time crunch, but the auction is usually during the Holidays, so having you onboard with the romance book posts will be amazing.

I don’t know why Indie didn’t think of it, honestly.

” She glanced in the direction of the kitchen.

“I think Travis might want to watch a movie with you tonight. The cookies we made were his mom’s favorite, and he can’t wait for you to have one.

Even if it seems like he’s a little quiet. ”

I nodded, and murmured my thanks before walking her out. “Laney, I don’t know how I-”

The way she smiled and waved me off lessened the guilt. Then she grinned. “Oh, Theo. Don’t think I’m not going to be getting all kinds of favors from you. But,” she teased gently, “you’re a part of the Triumph family now. No thanks needed. We take care of our own.”

I shut the door after her, and rested my forehead against the smooth wood. Because my head was spinning, thinking about my best friend’s little sister.

The same girl whose heart I broke when she needed me most. And the same one who has hated me ever since.

A week or so later…

The night had grown later and later as I relived the moments from when I saw Indie, and the second I walked away from her.

Again.

Did I just take Indie, my best friend’s little sister and the girl I vowed to stay away from, over my damn knee in the middle of the fucking woods and spank her? And then watch her like a damn stalker in the shadows for the rest of the night?

What the ever loving fuck was wrong with me? And why did I like the fire and hate in her eyes every time she looked at me? That skirt teasing me with glimpses of her ass, reminding me she was a woman now, and not the girl I’d last seen in college six years ago.

The Jason mask ricochet off the wall as I tossed it, and stared out into the night. Noah chose that exact moment to walk in.

He stopped, took in the mask on the floor, my face, then the mask again, then said, “Tonight was really fucking weird, Theo. And I don’t think my life will ever be the same.”

I let out a breath. “I think I know what you mean, LeCav.”