Page 17

Chapter 17

Jacob

T he physical therapist finally gives me the all-clear, and I can’t stop the relieved grin stretching across my face.

Despite the lingering ache in my wrist, a tiny fracture isn't going to keep me from the ice any longer.

Now, with the playoffs heating up and the Western Conference Finals against the Seattle Sparks breathing down our necks, I need to have my A-game sharp as the blades on one my skates.

Here in Seattle, it seems the rain isn't the only thing in the air.

It's Gabi. She’s always in my thoughts.

Being almost eight months pregnant, we decided together that she’d stay behind in Chicago for this series.

I thought it would help clear my mind and let me zero in on our goal of winning. It's done anything but. The last conversation we had about our "relationship"—I can't stop replaying it in my mind.

The tension between wanting to make things real and the fear of ruining everything is almost as intense as the pressure of the playoffs.

And now, with this baby on the way, everything feels more tangled than a pile-up in the crease.

Thoughts about everything, Gabi, the baby, the playoffs, are all vying for position in my mind as I sit at tonight's team dinner less than twenty-four hours away from Seattle Game One.

We’re packed into a long table at a local seafood joint, the smell of fresh fish and lemon butter filling the air. The chatter around us is loud and boisterous. Just as I'm about to dig into my crab legs, Halstead clinks a spoon against his glass loudly, instantly catching everyone's attention.

"All right, break it up, boys! I've got pressing questions for our newly injured star here,” Halstead says with a mischievous twinkle in his eye. I can already tell I’m in for it. “So, Jacob, how's Gabi doing with the whole pregnancy gig?”

"I don't think she'd call having a baby a 'gig', Halstead." I grab a crab leg. "But she's doing great. Not that it’s any of your business, of course.”

“Oh, come on, we all know she’s the real MVP keeping you in check,” Manning chimes in, earning a round of laughter.

“And how do you feel about becoming a dad? Ready to trade your skates for a diaper bag?” Parker adds, winking.

I roll my eyes but can’t help chuckling. “Honestly? It’s terrifying. But also exciting. Gabi’s been amazing, though. She's a trooper through and through." Her dark hair and green eyes flash through my mind, and I can feel myself smiling. I crack the crab leg in my hand and place it on the plate. "She’s got this glow that—”

“Bet that’s just the heartburn,” Parker interrupts, inspiring a few snickers.

Halstead leans over, feigning seriousness. “Listen, Jacob, fatherhood is like hockey. You’ll skate around in circles, occasionally get body-checked, but it’s all worth it for those goals.”

“Except you can’t send the baby to the penalty box when it's crying at three a.m.,” Manning quips, nudging our star goalie and resident grump Evan Daniels.

“Yeah, speaking from experience, that crying doesn't stop until they're...well, still waiting on that," Daniels retorts dryly.

Parker chimes in. “Better get used to weirdness on the regular, my friend. Fatherhood is a wild ride.”

Daniels glares at Parker over his nearly empty plate. "It's not that bad. You just learn to roll with it."

Halstead snorts. “Easy for you to say, Daniels. You’ve already been through the gauntlet. Any sage advice for our soon-to-be dad over here?”

Evan leans back in his chair, crossing his arms. “Sleep now. All you can. Bank it if possible.”

Halstead smirks, not missing a beat. “A sage indeed. The Gandhi of goaltending.”

I shake my head, grinning. “Thanks, Evan. I’ll take that into consideration.”

Manning nudges Halstead. “What about you, man? Your wife's pregnant, ain't she? Any words of wisdom for taking care of a pregnant woman?”

Halstead raises a beer in the air, brows lifted towards the sky. “Just keep your head down, nod a lot, and never, ever eat the last piece of chocolate in the house. Seriously, dude, that’s a death wish.”

I’m laughing along with the guys when Giovanni, sitting beside me, leans in. His trademark grin is missing, replaced by a more serious look. "So, Jacob," he begins, a little too casually. "How's Gabi doing lately? Any exciting plans coming up for the two of you?"

"Oh, you know, she's busy with...running the world and all that." I try to keep my voice steady, but I can see his eyebrow arching higher.

"Busy, huh? And you two, everything still going as 'planned'?" He emphasizes the word “planned” in a way that suggests he’s not just asking about our calendar.

"Yeah, of course. I mean, what could possibly go wrong with a fake engagement, right?"

"Right,” he says, his voice dropping. "Look, Jacob. Gabi’s my sister, and I don’t want her getting hurt. Especially with your...track record.”

I glance around the table. The other guys are still caught up in their banter, oblivious to this side conversation turned interrogation session.

I lean in closer to Giovanni, lowering my own voice. "I get it, Gio. Really, I do. But trust me, Gabi knows this is all for show." I swallow, the lie in my throat going down like glass. "Nothing's going to happen that Gabi doesn't want to happen."

He narrows his eyes, studying my face like he’s looking for cracks in a dam. “Bro, I love you. But it better not. Because if it does, you’ll have more than just midnight sessions with a crying baby to worry about. You get me?"

His smile returns, but it doesn't quite reach his eyes.

I nod. "Gio, bro. You're about as subtle as a bull in a china shop. I'll be careful, I promise."

Giovanni claps me on the shoulder, a little harder than necessary. "Good. Now, let's get back to dinner before they start thinking we're plotting an escape or something." He flashes a quick smile and turns back to the group.

I exhale slowly, catching Halstead’s eye across the table. He raises an eyebrow, and I just shake my head, mouthing, "Later."

Tonight’s definitely more than just a dinner—it's a dance on a very delicate tightrope.

The team's laughter fills the room again, pulling me back into the moment, but the guilt sits like a stone in my stomach. I've lied before—to my father about skipped classes, to press reporters about my injuries, and even to dates when an exit strategy was my only escape.

But lying to Gio? My best friend?

That's a first, and it stings.

I start to wonder if all this deception is even worth it. Is Gabi really in love with me, or is she just swept up in the whirlwind we've created?

A part of me can't shake the doubt.

What if this bubble of chemistry between Gabi and I bursts and leaves us both shattered? And then there's the impending fatherhood. The thought sends a jolt through me, as if I've just been body-checked on the ice.

How will I juggle being a dad while trying to maintain my career in hockey? My mind races through scenarios, each one more daunting than the last.

I reach for my water glass, my hands suddenly feeling like they belong to someone else. Everything's happening too fast, and for the first time in a long while, I feel completely out of control.

The decision can't wait any longer. With the baby's arrival inching closer and my relationship with Gio hanging by a thread, Gabi and I need to figure this out before it all comes crashing down.

Maybe it's for the best that she's back in Chicago right now. The distance might give us both the space we need to think clearly. I'll be back in Chicago for Game Two in three days.

Three days to breathe, to plan, and hopefully to find some clarity.

I grab my phone and shoot off a quick text to Gabi, "Hey, we need to talk. Let's meet when I get back to Chicago. We need to decide what we're doing about us."

As I hit send, my stomach flips like I've just taken a hit on the ice.

Three days. That's it.

Three days to come up with an answer that'll determine the rest of our lives. The thought is terrifying, yet oddly relieving. At least there's a deadline now, an end to this emotional hell.

I glance over at Gio, who's absorbed in conversation, completely oblivious to the tornado of decisions swirling in my head. I just hope that when the dust settles, we're all still standing.

For better or worse, Gabi and I will have our answer soon enough.