Page 31 of Power Play Daddies (Miami Icemen #1)

CHAPTER THIRTY

Daisy

I keep my face neutral, doing my best not to let on how much Mason’s mom is affecting me.

I can tell how much he cares about her, and I’m not about to make this awkward by rehashing that conversation we had earlier.

I really thought his mom was sweet. She smiled at me when I first sat down, and I tried to relax, but then Mason walked away to take that call.

The moment he was out of earshot, she changed. It was like a switch.

“You know, I can’t believe my son’s getting involved with someone right now,” she had said in this low, almost mocking voice. I had frozen, looking at her, unsure if I was hearing things.

She had leaned in closer, eyes narrowing. “He needs to focus on his career. I told him that. I think you guys should take it slow, you know? Maybe take a break for a while until the season is over.”

I had opened my mouth, ready to defend myself, but she had simply cut me off.

“I mean, how horrible would it be if you got pregnant right now? That would be a major distraction for him, and probably not great for you, what with your connection to the team. How can you publish articles about the team when you’re fraternizing with my son? ”

I felt like I’d been punched in the stomach.

“You okay, babe?” Mason says, bringing me back to the present.

“Uh-huh.” I nod. My hand moves to my belly before I can stop it, rubbing the spot where the baby is growing, even though his mom has no idea. Shit.

What the hell would she say if she knew? I want to scream. I want to tell her that I’m not here to trap Mason. I don’t care about his money.

I want him to take his career seriously. I want him to get to do everything he wants to do when it comes to hockey.

Heck, I wasn’t ready for this pregnancy, either, but we’re all making things work.

But now that she’s said all that, I’m starting to question everything.

I bite the inside of my cheek and look down at the table, trying to breathe through the nausea.

“Don’t worry. You’ll see the truth of my advice.” Her words ring in my head.

God, she was so smug.

He cups my cheek, his thumb brushing lightly over my skin. “You sure you’re okay?” His voice is soft, concerned, but he has no idea what just went down.

“Yeah,” I lie, forcing a smile. “Just a little tired.”

He looks at me for a second, like he’s not buying it, but he doesn’t press me. “You want me to drive you home?”

I shake my head. “No. You should stay. Spend time with your mom.”

He looks like he’s about to argue, but I give him a look that says I’m fine, really. “I’ll be okay. You don’t need to worry.”

He hesitates but then nods. “All right. If you’re sure.” He stands up and leans over to kiss me, quick but tender.

I nod again, squeezing his hand before he lets go. “I’ll see you later.”

I stand up, grabbing my purse, but not before turning to Mason’s mom.

“It was nice meeting you,” I say, my voice a little shaky, but I keep my composure.

She just nods at me, not saying anything, like she’s already dismissed me.

As I step out the door, I can’t shake off the sick feeling in my stomach. It’s like her words are eating away at me, and I can’t get them out of my head.

I should be angry, but mostly I just feel… small. The kind of small that comes from being misunderstood.

I take a deep breath, trying to keep myself together as I wait for my Uber. But I can’t. It’s like the world’s closing in on me, and before I know it, tears are welling up in my eyes.

I hate it. I hate this feeling. I don’t want to cry. Not here, not now. But when the car pulls up, I wipe my face and try to pretend like nothing’s wrong.

But before I can get in, someone calls my name.

“Daisy.”

I turn around, blinking away the tears, and there’s Uncle Ace standing there. He’s got this concerned look on his face.

“What’s wrong?” He steps closer to me, looking me up and down. His expression softens when he sees the state I’m in, and then—God, I don’t even know why—I step into his arms.

He pulls me into a hug, and it’s… the first time he’s hugged me in forever.

I don’t know why that makes me cry harder, but I can’t stop it.

“I’m fine,” I tell him, sniffling as I pull back, wiping my eyes. “It’s just… I just need to be alone.”

Uncle Ace doesn’t buy it, though. He raises an eyebrow. “You’re not fine. What’s going on?”

I try to hold it in, I do. But I can’t anymore.

“I’m pregnant,” I blurt out, my voice shaking, the words slipping out before I can stop them. I feel my face burn with embarrassment, but once I’ve said them, there’s no taking it back.

He just looks at me for a long moment. At my belly, then back at my face.

“Wow,” he says simply, not making a big deal about it like everyone else would. “You’re pregnant.”

I nod. I’m scared. So scared. And I don’t know why I told him, but there’s something comforting in his reaction. He doesn’t freak out. Doesn’t act like it’s the end of the world.

He pats me on the shoulder, nodding toward his car. “Come on. Let’s talk in the car. I’ll drive you. We’ll figure it out.” Then he leans in to speak to the Uber driver. I watch him pass the driver some money, then he takes my hand.

I nod, silently following my uncle to the car, feeling a little better already. It’s weird, but for the first time in a long time, I don’t feel completely alone.

We climb into his car. Uncle Ace hands me a box of tissues.

I take one, wiping my cheeks, trying to pull myself together. My hand shakes as I dab at my eyes, and then I notice the pictures hanging from his rearview mirror.

Two pictures. One is of a younger version of him, and my dad—back when they were friends, or whatever you’d call it. They can’t be older than ten in that picture.

The second one… it’s of a tiny baby in a bassinet. I blink, my breath catching as I trace the picture with my finger.

My heart starts to hammer in my chest as I pause, staring. “Is that… is that me?”

Uncle Ace doesn’t answer right away. I glance over at him, and I see him swallow hard. He nods, a tight, painful movement.

“Yeah, that’s you.”

I stare at the picture again. My tiny face stares up from the bassinet. I can feel the knot tightening in my chest.

My eyes shift from the picture to him. “Where’d you get this?”

He hesitates before answering. “It’s the only picture of you that your dad ever sent me.” He gives a small, humorless chuckle. “Guess he thought that would make up for… everything else.”

I don’t know what to say to that. I feel this strange weight in the air, a heaviness that I didn’t expect.

This silence is thick, suffocating, like the air itself is trying to choke me. I blink a few times, trying to get rid of the sting in my eyes.

My throat’s tight, and I hate how all these feelings are surfacing.

“What… what happened between you two?” I ask, though I already know.

He runs a hand through his hair. “I fucked up. I was young and stupid, and I destroyed both his and my futures.”

I glance back at him. “Uncle Ace,” I start, voice shaky.

He clenches his jaw, looking out the windshield.

“I know, kid. I know. I’m sorry. I regret it all.

I regret… everything.” He looks over at me, his voice cracking just a little.

“I was supposed to be his protector, his keeper. But when the chance came, I fucked up. I took it… and it cost us. It cost me my brother.”

His words hit me like a truck. I remember all the things I used to hear about my dad and Uncle Ace.

The way my dad always felt like his shot was stolen, the petty things that went down. I remember him talking about my mom—how she was a puck bunny, someone Ace had a thing for.

God, the way my dad thought about Ace—hell, the way he thought about everything. It was always revenge.

Petty, dumb shit that never went away.

I can’t help it—I laugh, but it’s not funny. It’s bitter. “Talk about a family drama show,” I mutter.

Uncle Ace’s expression is tight, like he’s forcing himself to hold it together.

“Yeah. It was all fucked. Your mom left right after you were born. Didn’t even show up to his funeral.

She never loved him. I was so angry at him that I didn’t even talk to him for years, and all for a woman who never even showed up on his last day here. That shit cuts deep, Daisy.”

“Shit,” I say, shaking my head. “Yeah, no kidding. It’s always been a mess.”

We both sit there for a minute, just listening to the sound of the car’s engine idling. It’s quiet, but it’s not peaceful.

I can feel all the years of regret and anger swirling in the space between us.

“So, you don’t talk to her, huh?” Uncle Ace asks quietly.

I shake my head, looking out the window. “My mother? Fuck no!”

He nods, eyes darkening a little. “I get that. I do.”

I wipe away the last of the tears, breathing through the lump in my throat. “It’s just… all that shit. It messes with you.”

“I know,” he says softly. “And I know it’s been years, but… you’re the only part of my brother I have left, Daisy. So don’t push me away, okay?”

I look at him, really look at him, and for the first time in so long, I feel something soft in my chest. He’s trying. I know he is.

And maybe that’s all I need right now.

I let out a deep breath and wrap my arms around him, pulling him into a hug. It’s awkward, but it feels good. A real hug. The first one in ages.

“I won’t. I won’t push you away.”

He pats my back, rubbing my shoulder gently. “You don’t have to go through this alone, kid.”

I pull back, wiping my eyes again. I don’t want to cry anymore, but the lump in my throat isn’t going away.

“I don’t know who the father is,” I say, my voice cracking, fears that were almost gone resurfacing. “I don’t even know if he’ll be around when the baby gets here.”

Uncle Ace’s hand freezes on my back, and he looks at me, his eyes full of sympathy. “You’re not alone, Daisy. You’ll never be alone, okay? You’ve got me. And I don’t care who the father is. You’ve got me. I’ll be here.”

I nod, swallowing hard. “I’m scared, Uncle Ace.”

“Don’t be.” He strokes my back again, his voice soft and reassuring. “You’ll be okay. I swear it on my brother.”

I nod again, feeling the weight of his words sink in. I don’t tell him everything—there’s no way in hell I’m telling him it could be one of the guys on the team. Or that we’re all together—for now.

“I think it happened before I even started the piece,” I add quickly, avoiding the look he’s about to give me.

He lets out a deep breath, more firmly this time. “I’ve got you.”

I smile weakly at him. “Thanks.”

Then, like he’s changing the subject, he leans back in his seat. “When I’m upset, I go to this place. Mint chocolate ice cream. It’s the best ice cream flavor. You ever had it?”

I blink. “Mint chocolate? Yeah, I love it.”

Ha! Turns out I have something in common with him.

He grins, this slight, sad smile. “Good. Let’s go, then. You need a little pick-me-up.”

“Hell yeah,” I say, finally feeling like I can breathe a little easier. “Let’s go get some ice cream.”