Page 28 of Her Hat Trick Daddies (Game On Daddies #3)

David

I understand why Shane’s losing it, but that doesn’t mean he gets a free pass to act like a damn lunatic fresh out of the asylum.

This thing’s already a powder keg, and if we hadn’t stepped in when I did, it would’ve blown sky-high.

The way Leighton stared at him, like he was a live grenade, made me want to knock his ass out. I don’t blame her.

But Shane isn’t violent. He never has been. It’s just that when he’s blindsided, he reacts. Loudly. And yeah, to a woman who’s already put everything on the line, he must’ve seemed like a raging wolf ready to attack.

Man, am I glad Andy’s here, all broad shoulders and quiet strength, the perfect buffer. “I’m going to take Leighton to the sunroom. Check on Shane, will you?” I tell him.

Right now, my priority is Leighton. I take her hand and lead her out, not stopping until we’re in the sunroom.

The pool outside shimmers with multicolored lights, throwing rainbow prisms through the French doors.

It’s always been a calming place for me, peaceful. So, I sure as hell hope it helps her.

“Shane would never hurt you,” I say gently. “He’s just… in shock. He needs time to process all this.”

She’s shaking, her whole body tense. It guts me. I’ve seen her confident and sharp, but now? She looks shattered. I pull her in, rubbing slow circles on her back, my chin resting on top of her head.

“It’s going to be okay. I promise.”

She gives a soft, humorless laugh against my chest. “That’s sweet of you, David, but I’m not sure you can promise that.”

“I can and I will. You’ve seen Andy. We’re going to be here for you and for Luna. And Shane… it doesn’t seem like it now, but he’ll come around,” I explain, shocking myself with how steady I sound.

She pulls back slowly and sinks onto the couch. “Somehow, I doubt that.”

“Look, you have to know something about him,” I begin carefully.

“He had a rough childhood. No parents, bounced around foster homes, bullied by his older foster siblings. Bullied by kids at school until high school. Wherever this confusion and anger are coming from, it starts there… in hurt and betrayal. Just please understand that his first reaction is always defensive, so he doesn’t get hurt again.

Callie reinforced that in more ways than one. ”

She sighs, nodding. “I see. Who’s Callie? ”

“His ex-girlfriend of three years. She did a number on him. I still can’t believe it. But you need to hear it from him. Now, I’m not excusing his behavior at all, but you’ll understand why he said some of the things he did tonight…”

“But it still doesn’t give him the right to be so ruthless,” she says. “Honestly? It reminded me of my dream.”

“What dream?” I ask, frowning.

“I dreamt all of you rejected me, rejected Luna. And laughed about it. I cried my eyes out and couldn’t wake up from it. I was literally stuck in the nightmare. At least now, it’s only one of you having a fit, not all of you.”

“I’m sorry,” I murmur.

She looks down, her gaze distant. “I know Shane’s Luna’s biological dad, but… I’ve always thought of all three of you as her dads. I know that sounds crazy. But in my mind, it’s always been you three.” She avoids my eyes. “Not that I expect anything from you. I just needed you to know she exists.”

I move beside her, gently tracing her cheek, tilting her chin until she meets my gaze. She’s not crying. No tears, no fear, just that raw, quiet pain that comes with truth. I press a soft kiss to her temple.

“What do you want from us, Leighton?” I ask quietly.

She blinks. “I’m not asking for anything.”

“I know. But if you could have anything, what would that look like? ”

Her voice is barely a whisper. “I want you to meet Luna. I want you to want to be her fathers. And…” she hesitates. “I want you to want me, too.”

My eyes widen, just a little. “You want a family?”

She nods, eyes shining with something fragile and sad. “I do. But I know that’s not realistic.”

“Don’t count us out yet. Shane had a rough start tonight, but trust me, he’ll be the one crawling to you, begging you.” I wink.

She chuckles softly, nudging my shoulder.

“I got you to smile, didn’t I?”

She nods, but the hope in her eyes is thin, delicate.

And for the first time in years, something shifts inside me.

I spent my whole marriage chasing the idea of a family, and came up empty.

But Leighton already has a child. The pressure I used to carry, the weight of trying and failing, that’s behind me now.

I can step in. I can be a dad. One of them, anyway.

“And what do you want, David?” she asks quietly.

Well, I didn’t see that coming. I take a deep breath.

“I was married once. Mallory and I were together for five years. We tried to have kids, but… I kept shooting blanks. Eventually, she left. She wanted a family of her own, didn’t want to settle for adoption.

And that hurt like hell. I loved her… but I guess that wasn’t enough. And…”

“And?” she presses.

“I still want a family. Always have. But for me, it doesn’t matter if the kid is mine or adopted. ”

“I see,” she says softly.

“I never really pursued another woman after that.”

Eventually, the room quiets, and she falls asleep against my shoulder. I carry her upstairs and tuck her into my bed. She’s out cold, completely drained. And for the first time in a long time, it feels good, right even, to take care of someone.

I head downstairs and find Shane and Andy in my study. Shane’s slumped over the bar, glass empty except for the melting ice. Andy’s nursing his drink, giving me a look that says ‘brace yourself.’

“I just can’t believe it,” Shane mutters. “How the hell is this my life?”

I get it. It’s a shock. But part of me? Part of me wants to shake him until he gets his shit together.

Andy catches my eye. I explain quietly, “No, he’s not going to do something stupid. He’s all bark, no bite. And would never hurt anyone, especially a woman.”

“Good to know,” Andy murmurs.

Shane, overhearing us, groans. “I can hear you, assholes. I’m the one dealing with a bombshell here.”

And that’s it. I snap.

“What the hell, Shane? She tells us about Luna, and you lose your mind? Grow the fuck up. You’re thirty-five.”

“I’m thirty-four,” he grumbles .

“Whatever, man. The point is, you’re acting like a kid. Work out your mommy and daddy issues and stop taking your past out on everyone else.”

“Fuck you, David. You’re not the one with a kid who’s a carbon copy of you.” His eyes widen as soon as the words leave his mouth. “Shit, man. I didn’t mean it li—”

I cut him off with a glare so sharp it could slice through steel. “And for someone who didn’t have parents growing up, you’re going to turn your back on Luna? What the fuck is wrong with you? You, of all people, are supposed to want to step up, to protect her from the life you lived.”

“I—”

“I nothing. Leighton didn’t deserve that shitshow just now. Save the bullshit excuses. You need to dig deep and figure your shit out, man. Fight to give them the life you never had. We all do. She laid it out there for us. All of us. And we’ve got the means to step up.”

Andy frowns. “You talking, like… child support?”

“For starters, yeah.” I lock eyes with both of them.

“But me? I’m thinking bigger than that. If you two aren’t, fine.

But I see the way you look at her. We all know she’s the one that got away.

Now she’s here, with this news, and I’m not about to let her slip through my fingers again.

I want her in my life, not out of it. And you know I’ve always wanted to be a dad. ”

Andy raises a brow. “Well, damn. You don’t mess around, do you? But let’s not forget, I’m the one who stopped her from walking out that door.”

“So… you’re in?” I ask?

“Well, first things first. We don’t really know her, so we need a paternity test. There’s no way around that.”

“I get it. And I’m not stupid. But unless I’m blind, and Luna’s not Shane’s, I’m telling you now, I’d still step up.

She’d be mine, too.” I turn to Shane. “You’re like a brother to me, man.

We got into this together. And straight up?

I like Leighton. A lot. Can’t stop thinking about her.

And yeah, I want to keep seeing where this goes. With her, and her kid.”

Andy lets out a breath, then says, “Well, shit… I’ll be forty next year, and honestly? I haven’t thought much about what’s next after hockey. I kind of gave up on the idea of kids since I haven’t found that one . But Leighton? She’s different. Special. And this just might be the next chapter.”

“We’re not getting any younger, that’s for damn sure,” I add with a chuckle.

Shane slams his glass down. “I fucked up. I just… I hate surprises. You know that. Callie fucked me up that way. Guess I haven’t really gotten past that shit she pulled.”

“So, what are you going to do about it?” Andy asks, gripping Shane’s shoulder.

Shane scrubs a hand over his face, eyes dark. “First? Apologize. But I know it’s gonna take more than a damn ‘sorry’ to get back in Leighton’s good graces. Once the test confirms what we already know, the next step would be meeting… my daughter. Damn . I just said that out loud.”

“Yes. Yes, you did,” Andy echoes.

“Yeah,” I add, “but make sure this is really what you want. And that you’re ready. Don’t just do it because we’re pushing or because you don’t want to look like the asshole who sat back while we stepped up. If your heart’s not in it, you’ll only end up screwing them both over.”

“I know. I won’t let them down,” he mutters.

We all sit there in silence. I’ll give him a few days to come around on his own. But if he can’t… this is going to be one long and bumpy ride.