Page 9 of Pucking Strong (Jacksonville Rays #4)

I find a glass in the cupboard and make myself a coffee, mixing the cold brew and milk over ice. I even find a very Swedish-looking glass straw to stir it. I’ve just managed to set our breakfast plates, adding a garnish of fresh berries, when the terrace door swings open.

Karlsson comes charging back inside in a fury, his phone clutched tight in his hand. “Fuck!” He lets out a string of other words in Swedish that are most definitely curses.

“Whoa, what happened?”

The skin of his chest and arms is pink from the cold outside.

It can’t be more than forty degrees, but he stood out there for almost twenty minutes in nothing but a pair of athletic shorts.

Oblivious to the cold, his eyes blaze with a fire like I’ve never seen.

He paces in front of the kitchen island, still muttering in Swedish.

“Karlsson, what happened?”

His chest heaves as he turns, glaring at me. “That was my lawyer. She seems to think my case for guardianship of Karro is not strong.”

It takes a second for his words to even register. “What? But that’s absurd—”

“It’s criminal!” he bellows, resuming his pacing.

“You’re next of kin, right? You said your parents can’t take her—”

He spins around. “My parents are seventy! They cannot care for a five-year-old child. My god!”

“Okay,” I soothe, both hands raised. “So, it has to be you. What’s the holdup?”

He groans, dropping his phone to the island. “Elin seems to think the Child Welfare Office will take issue with Karro leaving the country while she requires medical care. She says they will call it negligence.”

Negligence? Seriously? I lower my hands to my sides. “Okay, I know I sound like a broken record here but … what?”

“She says the only way a court will agree to grant me custody is if I stay with her in Sweden, where she can get the proper medical care.”

“But you work in America—”

“I know!”

I wince. Yeah, that was dumb, Teddy. “Well, they do know we have, like, doctors and hospitals and stuff, right? The United States can also manage to reset a tibia and cast a broken ulna.”

“The American medical system is the laughingstock of the developed world, Teddy. And the child’s welfare comes first, even at the expense of the wishes of the family.”

My shock is only matched by my outrage. “That is complete bullshit. She belongs with you. There has to be a way.”

His shoulders sag as he stops his pacing. “God help me.” He drags a hand through his tousled hair. “I spent all this time worrying about how to get Karro back to Jacksonville. It never crossed my mind that they wouldn’t let me take her.”

My brain is processing in overdrive as I try to think of a fix.

“I mean, sure, we don’t have the world’s best healthcare system, but you’re also not some random accountant or retail worker selling shoes at the mall.

You play for the freaking NHL. Did you tell them you play for the NHL?

Because I really think that could help your case—”

“It’s hurting my case!”

I flap my arms helplessly. “Well, that makes no fucking sense. You have access to some of the best medical care in the world. You’ve got doctors and physical therapists and athletic trainers on speed dial.

Hell, you’ve got a literal doctor of physical therapy standing in your kitchen right now.

What else could they want for her? Why is this a problem? ”

He rubs the back of his neck with another pained groan. “I don’t know … I do travel a lot. During the season, I’m away more than I’m home. Honestly, I see Elin’s point. Maybe Karro deserves better than having me as a parent—”

“Whoa.” I hold up a hand, my own anger rising now.

“I’m gonna stop you right fucking there.

My mom raised four kids on her own, often working two jobs, and we all turned out fucking amazing.

Hell, your sister was a single parent. Don’t you dare say single parents can’t raise awesome kids.

Not in front of me. Not if you want to keep all your damn teeth. ”

He has the good sense to look chastised. “I’m sorry, Teddy. I spoke in anger.”

“Being a single parent isn’t a crime,” I go on, ignoring his apology.

“And being a single parent who travels for work is totally manageable, especially for you. If you need help, it’s not like you can’t afford it.

Hire some live-in help, even rehab specialists, for the season.

That should more than satisfy some snooty child welfare board. ”

He nods, considering my words.

“Don’t give up, Karlsson. We came here to bring Karolina home, and that’s what we’re gonna do. I’ll be here to help however I can. The whole team will. Together, we’ll have that girl doing cartwheels inside of six months.”

His mouth twitches with the smile he can’t bear to manifest. “Ballet is her current obsession.”

“Even better. She’ll be back at the barre, I promise.” Stepping around the island, I dare to reach out and take him by the shoulders. His skin still carries a slight chill from the air outside.

He holds my gaze, wholly unashamed that we’re both standing half naked in his kitchen.

“Call your lawyer back. Fight for Karro. I swear, you’ll be glad you did.”

His jaw tight, all the emotions he feels but won’t express lie buried in his eyes. He just nods again. He raises a hand and squeezes my wrist. “Thank you, Teddy.”

“No problem.” Swallowing my own feelings, I drop my hands away from him and take a step back. “Now, about this breakfast … I may have burned the bacon a little. But I broke off the burnt ends and gave you only the middle pieces.”

“All the bacon is for you.”

“What? No. We’re sharing it, right?”

He steps around me into the kitchen. “I ate two hours ago.”

I glance at the clock. “You’ve been up since five?”

He just shrugs. “Couldn’t sleep.”

I gesture to the plates of eggs, bacon, and Swedish cinnamon rolls. “So, all this is …”

“For you.” The words hit me like a coconut dropping on my head.

Ignoring my awkward silence, he steals a few berries from one of the plates.

Popping them in his mouth, he heads across the apartment towards the bathroom.

“I’m going to take a shower. When you’re ready, I’d like to return to the hospital. ”

“Yeah, sure,” I call after him. “I’ll be ready lickety-split.”

For you.

That’s what he just said, right? I didn’t imagine it? The food currently cooling on the kitchen island seems like proof enough. Henrik Karlsson made me breakfast this morning.

In his apartment.

Shirtless.

Yeah, watch me ride the high of this moment until the next freaking ice age.