Page 14

Chapter 14

Was I going to have to dress up?

Cooper

I stepped out of the shower at the practice arena and wrapped a towel around my waist. Grabbing another to rub through my hair, I ambled into the locker room, rolling my shoulders to ease what tension remained.

“So how was your golf lesson?” Ducky asked slyly.

I flicked a towel at him. We’d had another hard workout today and I was feeling it. I wasn’t twenty-four anymore, like my teammate.

“We went to the driving range and hit some balls. She’s improving.”

“That’s it?” Ducky sounded disappointed. “No kissing? You didn’t go out for dinner or anything?”

“We stopped for food after. No kissing.” Not that I was opposed to the idea. Wrapping myself around her at the driving range had definitely inspired some non-platonic thoughts. What would Callie do if I tried to kiss her? She’d been more relaxed last night, but other than her flirty rescue from the guy who wanted to explain exactly how we’d lost that last game, she hadn’t given any indication that she would welcome anything beyond golfing instruction.

“Maybe we should go out tonight then, instead of playing poker. Go to a club, hook up, have some fun.”

My days of hooking up at clubs were over. I’d rather meet someone at a bar than a noisy club, where everyone was sweaty and overstimulated. But it would be Ducky’s kind of scene.

“No.” Petrov’s voice was flat. “We have training in the morning. This is not the night to drink and sex.”

“I get your point about the drinking, Petey, but sex—come on, that’s another kind of workout.”

“You are young, but soon you should be serious. Find a girl who will help you calm down. Not just for fun, no?”

Ducky’s face fell. “Yeah, don’t know if that’s happening again.”

Again? As long as I’d known Ducky, he’d been a lighthearted fuckboy.

Before Petey could ask him about it, Crash, JJ and Royston returned from the shower, and Seb Hunter walked in.

“Hunts!” Ducky never stayed down for long. “What are you doing slumming here?”

“Came to talk to your captain. Thought he might be up for lunch?”

“Sure.” Something was up with Hunter, but I wouldn’t ask him in front of the guys. Seb worked in player development, and he might have some inside news for me that wasn’t for the whole team. Or it could be something about his daughter Hailey, my best girl.

We went to a place nearby that I’d found over my years playing on the Blaze. It was a hole-in-the-wall with good food but plain decor that discouraged most diners. The owners spoke very little English and cared nothing about hockey. Once we were at our table, waiting for our food, I found out that Hunts had news about the team and my goddaughter.

“They’re announcing this tomorrow. Trading two of the Inferno and a high draft pick to Edmonton for Daniel Astrom and a kid named Chromy. Chromy will be playing in net in Hamilton.”

“So what’s happening to Mitchell?”

“They’re keeping mum on that, but with this trade, they’re either moving him next, or keeping him as backup for Petrov.”

“For Tempo’s sake, I hope they keep him. I think he could do pretty well, but that playoff goal is going to be hard to get over.”

Our food arrived, and for the next couple of minutes that kept us busy.

“Speaking of Mitchell,” Hunts started.

“You’re going to see him next week, right? You and Faith are helping with his camps?”

“Yeah, we’re flying out Friday. And we’ve got a problem.”

“What’s that?” I couldn’t help with a flight cancellation, but I could maybe pull some strings if they needed to get there.

“Faith’s mom is taking care of Hailey while we’re away.” I nodded. “But she’s at the cottage. She was getting a ride back with a friend, and now that’s been delayed.”

“Ah, you need a Hailey sitter.”

He grinned. “Yep. Grammy should be back about noon on Saturday, but her ride doesn’t want to deal with Friday night traffic.”

“You’re asking if I know of any babysitters? Maybe someone on the team?”

Hunter laughed. “Ducky? Or even better, Petrov?”

“The thought of Petey trying to handle Hailey? I’d give money to see that. But of course I can do it. What time is your flight?”

“We have to be at the airport around three.”

“I’ll get there by two? How about I bring some lunch and come right after our workouts here?”

Hunts’ shoulders dropped, but he shouldn’t have worried. Whatever he needed, especially when it came to Hailey, I’d do it.

With that out of the way, we discussed what we knew about Daniel Astrom. He’d been born in Sweden, so played for their national team sometimes, but his family had moved to California when he was young and he’d gone to college there before being drafted by LA. He’d signed with Edmonton a couple of years ago, and now Edmonton had traded him to Toronto.

“Married, right?” Hunter said.

“I hear that’s ended.”

“Maybe he’ll like a new start here.”

* * *

Callie

I stood in front of the door to Faith Deveraux and Seb Hunter’s apartment and wondered what the hell I was doing.

Cooper had called to tell me he couldn’t make our…not really a date, but kind of. He needed to babysit his goddaughter, so I’d have to pick up the meal tab another time. And I could have left it at that.

I hadn’t babysat since I’d been in foster care, and I remembered it being a chore. But after the uncomfortable time Cooper had at the driving range, and since I owed him a meal…I’d offered to help babysit and bring food.

I’d still been surprised when Cooper accepted the offer. So here I was, with pizza, including a cheese one for the kid, beer and juice boxes. I hoped that was good. I’d considered finding a toy to bring as well, but I had no idea what this girl would have or want. And that was almost as if I was bribing her to like me. Which was ridiculous. It didn’t matter. I was just helping out a friend who was helping me.

I must have taken too long to knock, second-guessing what I was doing, because the door opened and I was not ready for this.

Cooper was a good-looking guy. I mean, he was on those billboards everywhere, so objectively, yes, he was very attractive. Seeing him in the doorway, with those blue eyes and blond hair and that ridiculously fit body, wearing a sparkly pink tiara and a purple tutu? That did something extra, chipping away at shields I had inside and putting a ridiculous smile on my face. Especially when he didn’t apologize for it or show any signs of embarrassment.

A blonde head, also in a tiara, appeared around his knees. Narrow blue eyes peered at me suspiciously.

“Come on in. Hailey, this is my friend Callie. The pizza smells good. Step back, Hailey monster.” The little girl stayed tightly behind Cooper’s legs as he moved back so I could enter.

“I have plain cheese, for um, the monster.”

Cooper laughed and bent down to pick up the girl, who I could see now was also wearing a purple tutu. Oh god, was I going to have to dress up as well?

As Cooper carried the girl to the kitchen, I looked around with interest. The condo was a little bigger than mine, but not too much fancier. The kitchen was large enough to have an island, instead of just a counter between the kitchen and living room.

The walls were mostly neutral, with color added in pillows and throws. Everything was chosen for comfort, not show. I could feel my body relaxing as I got farther into the space.

“This is nice,” I said as I set down the boxes of pizza and bag of drinks.

Cooper sat Hailey on the counter. The girl was still watching me warily. I tried to smile at her, but I wasn’t good with kids. And this one? Was not impressed.

“Hailey likes pizza.”

Hailey shook her head.

“What are you up to, Hailey? You always eat pizza.”

She crossed her arms. “Not dis.”

I stared at the boxes. They were generic pizza boxes, showing a cartoon Italian holding a pepperoni pizza in his upraised hand. How could she hate the pizza without having seen it? Or did they only eat fancy organic pizza shit in different boxes?

“That’s not polite. Callie brought you cheese pizza, special.”

The little diva shook her head hard enough to jostle the tiara.

“Well, there’s pizza to eat, and chicken and broccoli. Which do you want?”

Hailey’s lower lip jutted out impossibly far and she shook her head again. This was why I’d given up on babysitting. How the hell was I going to help Cooper?

Cooper stared at the girl who was staring back at him just as hard.

“Okay.” He picked her up and set her on her feet. By the frown on the small face, this was not a move she approved of. “Callie and I are going to eat now. You can go play.” Cooper turned and reached for plates in a cupboard. “Hope you don’t mind, but I’ll have to augment the pizza with some boring protein and veg.” He gave me a grin. “Training.”

I mentally slapped myself. I hadn’t considered that. “I’m sorry, I didn’t think.”

“It’s okay. I don’t expect the world to revolve around my training regimen.”

He opened the fridge and pulled out some prepared containers. “I’ll just warm this up in the microwave.” Once he’d set it inside and punched some buttons, he headed to the table. “You can find cutlery in the drawer under the microwave.”

I turned. Hailey had moved to stand in front of the drawer I needed. She’d done that on purpose.

“I brought juice boxes. If you let me get into that drawer, you can have one.”

She shook her head.

But then Cooper was back. “I thought you were going to play, Hails.”

She stepped aside for Cooper to open the drawer, giving me a triumphant look. Yeah, I wasn’t good with kids, but I didn’t remember one hating me like this.

I followed Cooper back to the table, bringing the beer along. “Can you drink beer with your training?” Looked like I could have come empty-handed for all the good I was doing.

“Absolutely. What did you get?”

I’d texted Darcy for advice, and I’d picked some overpriced labels that he swore were good. Cooper nodded, so at least that part was working.

Cooper opened the boxes and invited me to help myself while he went back for his healthier portion. “What are you gonna do, Hailey? The pizza looks pretty good.”

I pulled out a piece of the combination pizza. If I didn’t seem to want the cheese, maybe Hailey would eat it and I’d feel like less of a failure. When she didn’t respond, Cooper continued as if she wasn’t there.

“Faith and Seb flew out to Montana today. They’re helping a teammate run some hockey camps.”

“Both of them?”

He picked a slice of combination pizza and added it to his plate of broccoli and chicken. Not even cheese sauce to make the plain vegetable more palatable.

“Faith plays for the Bonfire, the women’s professional team here in Toronto. Hunts used to play, but he got a concussion, so now he works an office job for the team.”

“That’s how you met him?”

I took a bite of pizza, and yeah, it was good, despite what little divas might think. Cooper shared the story about meeting his friend in college, and helping the couple overcome some problems they had in their relationship.

The whole time, Hailey crept closer to the table, finally climbing up on a chair. Cooper didn’t skip a beat. He pulled out a piece of cheese pizza and put it on a plate. He slid it over to the toddler and opened juice box for her too. I carefully ignored her as she took a small bite of the pizza.

The whole piece finally disappeared. Neither Cooper or I said a word, but he kept an eye on her, and when she was done, he turned to her. “So how was the pizza?”

She shrugged.

“You should thank Callie for bringing it.”

She crossed her arms and shook her head.

“Don’t worry about it.” I expected a full-fledged tantrum if he insisted.

“Her mom and dad wouldn’t let her be rude,” he said, standing and taking the plates to the kitchen. Then he took the tiara off his head. “Sorry Hails, but I can’t play with someone who isn’t using their manners.” He started to wiggle out of the tutu.

I fought to keep back a smile.

“NO!” Hailey shouted.

Cooper set the tutu on his chair. “Now you’re yelling? That’s not going to fly.”

For a full thirty seconds, she struggled. Finally, “Tank you.” The glare she shot me proved that she was doing this under duress.

“And the yelling?”

“Sorry,” she muttered.

“That’s better.”

“Dwess up?”

“Maybe Callie wants to dress up?”

Not sure which of us was quicker to shoot down that idea. “Why don’t you let me clean up while you do…your dressing up or whatever.”

Cooper cocked his head at the girl. “Callie is being pretty nice to offer that so we can play.”

She nodded. Then grabbed Cooper’s hand and dragged him away.

It didn’t take long. I put the leftover pizza in the fridge and washed the dishes by hand rather than filling up only part of the dishwasher.

Cooper came out with Hailey again. This time the girl was in pajamas, but she and Cooper were now dressed up as some kind of animal, wearing headbands with ears. Hailey’s pajamas included feet and a hood. Cooper suggested a movie, so we spent an hour on the couch, Hailey on my side of Cooper, snuggling in tightly against him. I hated to admit it, but it was adorable.

When the movie ended, Cooper said it was bedtime. I asked if I should go, making Hailey’s face light up, but Cooper asked if I could stay for a bit. I was tempted to stick my tongue out at Hailey when I agreed, but I refrained. I was an adult, after all.

I scrolled on my phone while I waited. I wasn’t surprised it took a while. Hailey did not want to share her godfather, at least not with me. And yeah, she was just a kid, but it didn’t feel good, having someone immediately dislike you.

Cooper reappeared without any dress-up accessories. “Thanks for waiting.”

“You sure you don’t want me to go?”

He nodded. “Appreciate you coming.”

“I didn’t do much.”

“I love the kid. But I can only take so much toddler time before I need some adult company.”

I lifted my brows.

He ran a hand over his face. “Hell, that sounded wrong. No adult expectations here. Hailey’s grandmother will be here tomorrow morning, but I don’t care if we just watch a movie, as long as it doesn’t have animated animals.”

“Sure.” Maybe coming over hadn’t been a waste. Maybe I’d helped after all.

I didn’t care what we watched, so he picked some action thing with a lot of explosions. This time there was no tiny diva separating us, and I had to fight a strange urge to snuggle up in the space she’d occupied.

It must be a reaction to Hailey, because I didn’t snuggle people.