Page 8

Chapter eight

Holt

“Let me get this straight, you haven’t seen Kat since April. Today she shows up at your door with your kid?” Hunter asks before taking a bite of pizza.

“Yep. Pretty much.”

They listened quietly as I caught them up on the fact that Kat and I split up seven months ago, giving them the barest of information about why. But I had a feeling they were going to ask a bunch of questions.

“I think the bigger question is why didn’t you tell us you two had broken up? You let us believe you were still together,” Wes says, and I can hear the hurt in his voice. He clears his throat. “I understand needing time to process it, but Holt . . . seven months?”

There it is, the million-dollar question.

Why did I wait so long to tell them?

Yep, I’m definitely a terrible friend. I tip my head back, staring at the ceiling. I take a deep breath, glancing around the room at my friends, my teammates, and Coach. Fuck, what must Coach think of me?

“I don’t know. Maybe because I didn’t want to hear ‘ I told you so’ . I wasn’t ready to talk about my failure of a relationship, I guess,” I tell them.

“Are you sure she’s yours?” Coach asks and I’m grateful for the change of subject. Even if it’s temporary .

“What he said.” Hunter points at Coach before turning to me. “From what you told us, Kat wasn’t exactly faithful in high school, so who’s to say she wasn’t cheating on you again?”

“The thought crossed my mind, but I wasn’t going to argue with her about it,” I tell him.

“We can find a place for a DNA test that will expedite the results,” Coach says.

“Thank you. I’m going to keep assuming she’s mine though, the timeline makes sense. Oh, I need to change her name because Kat named her after herself. There is no way in hell my daughter’s name is going to be Kathryn, after a mother who didn’t want her.”

“For fuck’s sake,” Elias mutters.

“Let me make a few calls.” Coach taps on the counter before weaving his way out of the kitchen.

“I’m sorry I lied to you all,” I say.

How did I get so lucky to have such good friends, who basically dropped everything to come over here and help me? Better question is how do I make sure I don’t fail those friends again?

“Let’s not worry about that right now.” Hunter pats me on the shoulder.

“What else can we do?” Brody asks.

“I don’t know. This is all so overwhelming.” I peek over my shoulder toward the living room where my daughter is.

“One thing at a time. Any ideas for a name?” Elias asks.

“Hazel. It was my grandmother’s name.” I’m silent for a second. “Hazel Marie. After both of my grandmothers.”

“Hazel. Haze. I love it,” Wes says with a nod.

We eat in silence for a few minutes, huddled around the kitchen counter, until Coach walks back into the room.

“I’ve got someone coming over tomorrow to do the DNA test for you, and you’ll get a call from a lawyer named Jerry Richards. He specializes in family law, but he can help with other legal matters too,” Coach says.

“Thank you. ”

He tucks his hands in his pockets, shifting from one foot to the other.

“We’re going to have to talk to the front office about this.

” I open my mouth to protest, but he puts up a hand to stop me.

“Not because you have a daughter, or the circumstances. Well, kind of. But mostly because we want to handle this gently. This might warrant you taking a leave of absence to get used to your new normal.”

“No.” I shake my head.

“Holt. I think it’s a good idea,” Caleb says.

“I agree,” Wes pipes up.

“No,” I repeat. “Caleb, did you take time off when your kids were born?”

“No.” He shakes his head.

“Why should I?” I cross my arms, glaring at the guys.

“Your situation isn’t what Caleb’s was. Same thing with the other guys who’ve had kids. They had nine months to adjust to the fact they were going to be fathers. You didn’t,” Coach says gently. “And if they had asked for it, the team would have granted them time off.”

“I’m already out day-to-day with a hip injury, probably for another few weeks. Isn’t that enough time?”

“We need you to be in a good mental head space when you’re in the net. Not worried about how your daughter’s doing, or what’s going on with her. We’ll be alright without you,” Hunter says.

The others mutter their agreement.

“I’ll think about it,” I finally tell them.

Aubrey chooses that moment to walk into the kitchen. “Little one is fussy. Is there a bottle we can give her?”

“I’m hoping Kat was smart enough to pack formula and bottles,” I say walking over to where the diaper bag is still on the kitchen table.

“The ladies and I were talking, and we’re happy to help with little miss, whenever you need. Or if you need someone to come over and watch her,” Aubrey says.

“Hazel,” I whisper. “Her name is Hazel.”

“Hazel’s a beautiful name,” Aubrey says.

“Thank you. For everything.”

She holds out her arms. “Seems like maybe you could use a hug. ”

I step into her embrace, and she pats me on the back. “It’s going to be okay, Holt. We’ve got your back. And your family will too. I’m sure of it.”

“Thank you,” I say, suddenly feeling exhausted.

Stepping back, I give her a small smile before turning my attention back to the bags Kat brought. Luckily, the diaper bag has formula and bottles in it.

We spend the next few hours rearranging my apartment and making lists of the things I need for Hazel. Eventually, everyone leaves until it’s just Wes and me.

“So,” Wes says, tucking his hands in his pockets.

“Please, can we not? I don’t have the energy.” I drop to the couch, glancing over at my daughter who is fast asleep in her bassinet, which is tucked into the corner by the window. I’ll move it into my bedroom when she wakes up.

He takes a seat next to me. “How are you holding up?”

“I don’t know,” I answer honestly.

“You should call your parents and your sister.”

“I know. I know.” I scrub a hand down my face.

“I’m going to head out. Unless you want me to stay longer.”

“Nah, I think I’m good.”

Wes nods, and we make our way to the front door. “If you need anything, call any of us. Any time.”

“Thanks.”

He gives me a hug and then he’s out the door, and I’m alone with my daughter.

“Hey, son. How’s everything going?” Dad asks when he answers the phone the next day.

“Good. Do you mind getting Mom and putting the phone on speaker? I’m going to add Hadley to the call. There’s something I need to tell you all.”

“Okay . . . ”

“What’s going on?” Hadley asks when I’ve added her. “You’re making me nervous, Holt.”

I clear my throat. Now or never. It takes me a few minutes to tell them my news.

“I’m an aunt,” Hadley squeals, earning her a laugh from the rest of us. “Even if I don’t like Kat and wish the mom was someone else.”

“You don’t have to worry. Kat signed away all her parental rights.” I shrug even though they can’t see me.

When I spoke to the lawyer this morning, he asked me to email him over the document Kat included to make sure it was legitimate.

Within ten minutes of receiving it, he was calling me back to tell me it was.

I have to bring him the paperwork so the office can keep a copy on file, which I plan to do later today. I also started the name change process.

“When can we come and meet her?” Mom asks.

“We could come now if you want,” Dad offers.

“I appreciate it, but aren’t you supposed to be leaving for your cruise next week?”

My parents have been talking about this month-long Mediterranean cruise since Hadley and I gave it to them for their anniversary over the summer. Well, I paid for it, but I insisted Hadley also take credit.

“Maybe we can reschedule it,” Mom says. “Besides, if you need us to come and help you with Hazel. . .”

“Nope. Go on your cruise. I got it.”

“I’ll come,” Hadley offers.

“You sure?” I ask.

“Of course. I’m between jobs at the moment. Plus, you need my help,” Hadley says without missing a beat. “I can stay for the rest of the season too. That is, if you want me to.”

“Really?”

I honestly didn’t know what I was going to do as far as childcare once I started playing again. I can’t enroll her in daycare since I’d be gone for days on end traveling with the team, and I’m really not keen on hiring a nanny.

“Yes,” Hadley says.

“Thank you, Hads.” I breathe out a sigh of relief .

We chat for a little while longer until Hazel starts fussing, and I hang up the phone after promising to send pictures and videos later.

“What should we do today?” I ask her as I feed her.

She gurgles in response.

I peer down at her, rocking her gently as she finishes her bottle.

I might only have been a dad for twenty-four hours, but if you ask me, I’m already doing an amazing job.

I can only hope Hazel continues to be this easy.