Page 23

Chapter Twenty-Two

STELLA

“Whoa,” Harper says as she smushes her face against the car window, watching closely as we pull up to the arena. I hold back the urge to tell her not to get Grey’s window dirty, but the smile on his face tells me he couldn’t care less about finger and face imprints.

Grey barely has the car in park and Harper starts trying to undo her car seat buckle.

“She’s not excited at all,” I deadpan to Greyson.

“Yes, I am! Get me out of this thing, please.” She tugs at the straps over her chest, and I laugh. I’m about to open my door when Greyson reaches out to stop me.

Frowning, I turn to him and find his eyebrows pinched together.

“What’s wrong?” I ask, lowering my voice so Harper doesn’t hear.

“I didn’t think about the photographers waiting by the entrance,” he tells me, glancing back at Harper. “I can call Dom and have him meet us at one of the other entrances so we don’t have to worry about all of us being seen together.”

“Do you not want to be seen with us?” I ask. Before any doubt can settle in, Grey is shaking his head.

“No, I mean yes. I will always want to be seen with you. Both of you.” He takes my hand in his and brings it to his lips. “I don’t want you uncomfortable with Harper’s picture being taken.”

My eyes widen. “Shit, I didn’t even think of that.”

“Neither did I until just now. It’s completely up to you. Say the word and I’ll call Dom.” I think it over, weighing the pros and cons. Plenty of hockey players get pictures posted with their families. I only have one social media account so I can stay in touch with some people from college, and even that’s private.

After a few moments and Harper getting more restless, I make up my mind.

“I’m okay with us all being seen together.”

Greyson smiles and I know I made the right decision. Not that I think he would have been disappointed if I decided not to be seen together.

As it turns out, Harper absolutely loves the photographers. Greyson carries her, his gear bag slung over one shoulder and Harper in his other arm. She waves at every camera they pass, making everyone laugh.

That girl is definitely made for the spotlight.

Unlike the last game I went to, Greyson decides to escort us up to the suite, not once putting Harper down.

Arianna’s laughter echoes down the hall as we approach and for the first time today, I find myself nervous. I never told Ari and Lilly about Harper, and now here I am, showing up with a toddler. I didn’t lie, but I also skirted around the truth a few times. Guilt gnaws at me as we enter the suite, and all conversation comes to a crashing halt.

I can’t bring myself to look at the other women in the suite, so instead I focus on watching Harper as she takes in everything.

“Is that the lake?” Harper asks, unfazed by the eerie silence and breaking the tension.

Greyson smiles at her, crossing the space to the door that heads out to the seating overlooking the rink.

“It’s not a lake. That’s called an ice rink. That’s where my team will be playing.”

She asks him another question that I don’t hear because Ari pops up in my line of sight.

“Oh my God. She is adorable .” Her arms wrap around me, pulling me in for a hug. “Now it makes sense why you haven’t been able to make it to girls’ night.”

Lilly slides up beside me and nudges my shoulder. “Next girls’ night will just have to include dinosaur nuggets and chocolate milk.”

“Wait, that was an option all along?” Ari gasps. She points to where Harper now stands beside Greyson. “In that case, she’s coming to every girls’ night.”

I laugh, bracing myself when Harper sets her sights back on me and comes running. I catch her with a grunt but smile.

“This is so cool,” Harper says with a grin.

“And they haven’t even started the game yet.”

“I know!” she squeals, eliciting laughter from everyone here. I glance between my daughter and the others in the room.

“Harper, this is Lilly. Her fiancée plays with Daddy,” I explain, pointing to Dominik. I’m pretty sure he and Grey are supposed to be heading down to get ready, but I keep that to myself. “And this is Ari. Her brother is on the team.”

“Daddy showed me how to skate,” Harper tells them instead of normal greetings.

Greyson comes up beside me, opening his mouth to say something, but cuts himself off. His face pales and before I can ask what’s wrong, he’s wrapping an arm around me and guiding me to stand behind him.

“What are you doing here?” He seethes and I blanch at the anger in his voice. Adjusting my hold on Harper, I peer around his shoulder to see who caused that reaction.

All blood drains from my face at the sight of his mother and father standing in the doorway. Kelly Moreno looks completely out of place, wearing a long pencil skirt and button-up coat. The pearls around her neck pop out in a stark contrast to her pale skin and dark pinned back hair.

“We wanted to watch our son play,” she answers innocently, glancing quickly at her husband before raising a single eyebrow in challenge.

With that one look, I can’t help but wonder how much Eric Moreno knows of his wife’s interference.

From the corner of my eye, I notice Dominik step up beside Grey. He doesn’t say anything, but the shift is noticeable and even Kelly eyes him up. Swallowing thickly, I glance over my shoulder at Ari and Lilly. They stand close behind me, worried expressions on their faces.

“Well, thanks for the reminder to have your name removed from the family list.”

“Greyson, that’s no way to speak to your mother,” his father says, scowling and looking between the two of them.

Grey chuckles, but there’s no joy in the sound. “Let me guess, Mom. He doesn’t know?”

Kelly doesn’t respond, simply lifts her chin.

“Know what?” his dad asks. “We just figured it was long overdue for us to come see you.”

Ari sneaks up behind me and taps my shoulder. “Why don’t I take Harper onto the balcony?”

Harper squeals in excitement and I set her down, eyes on her until the door closes behind them. With my arms now free and my child out of earshot, I step around Greyson.

“Stella?” Eric’s eyes widen when he sees me.

“Do you want to tell him, or should I?” Greyson asks, still glaring at his mother.

Kelly just rolls her eyes. “There’s nothing to tell.”

“Wait, so he doesn’t know that he’s a grandpa?” I interject, playing confused for my own entertainment.

Eric sputters, and if looks could kill, the utter disdain Kelly shoots my way would have me six feet under.

“What the hell is going on?” Eric asks and Greyson shrugs, softening a bit as he shifts his attention to his dad.

“Mom lied and hid my child from me. She made me miss four and a half years of my daughter’s life by telling Stella that I didn’t want her or my baby.” He turns his glare back on his mom. “I told you to give me space. Showing up here and thinking this would go any other way is delusional.”

Kelly narrows her gaze at Grey. “You aren’t even supposed to be up here. Don’t warm-ups start soon?”

Greyson steps closer, Dom hot on his heels. Whether that’s to back him up or restrain him, I don’t know.

“So you planned on ambushing Stella then?” Greyson shakes his head in disgust. “Dad, get Mom out of here.”

“I’m not leaving. We came all this way. You don’t get to?—”

“Enough,” Eric interrupts. The shock on Kelly’s face shows she’s not used to him raising his voice. His dad looks at Greyson.

“Can you call me tomorrow?”

Grey’s shoulders relax slightly, so I reach out to take his hand in mine. I don’t miss the scowl on Kelly’s face as she tracks the movement.

“As long as Mom’s not around, then yes. I’ll tell you what really happened, since I doubt she will.” Grey nods in Kelly’s direction.

Eric nods before ushering Mrs. Moreno out. She puts up a fuss the whole time, yelling about how no one has the right to kick her out and everyone’s being too sensitive.

“Dude,” Dominik says once her voice disappears. “Your mom’s kinda…”

“Insane?” Greyson finishes for him. “Yeah.”

He scrubs a free hand over his face before turning to me. “Are you okay?”

I nod, reaching up to cup his cheek. “Are you?”

“No clue.” Grey huffs out a sarcastic laugh. “I just assumed my dad was in on her lies. But the fact that he was in the dark too?”

I wrap my arms around his waist. “You okay to play?”

He hugs me back before kissing my forehead.

“I’m good. Gotta give Harper a good game.” He tries to smile, but it doesn’t quite reach his eyes. “You gonna be okay up here?”

I smile, hoping to ease his worry just a bit.

“I’ll be good. I got the girls.”

Lilly steps up beside me, looping her arm through mine. “We have wine and cheesesteaks on the way up. We’ll be fine. You guys go beat the Nighthawks.”

Greyson nods and I slip out of Lilly’s hold to press a kiss to his lips.

“Don’t fall down,” I whisper and this time, I don’t scurry away.

I let his shocked eyes search mine, hoping he sees the sincerity behind those words.