Page 26 of The Winning Hat Trick (The Steel City Knights #1)

Maclan

W aking up and navigating a school morning versus a weekend with Cel and the kids is wild. The only way to describe the madness surrounding me is organized chaos. With Layla walking, there are little people all over the place, but Celeste manages to have them dressed, fed, and out the door on time.

After spilling the juice and packing the wrong snacks in Calla's bookbag, I gave up and let Celeste handle the rest.

I try not to feel defeated as I drive to practice, but I'd be lying if I said it didn't get to me.

I want to be there to help Celeste, to lift some of her burden, not add to it.

I know it's going to take time to find a rhythm with her and the kids, but I hate being bad at anything, especially when it's something I care about.

I'm one of the first guys to the facility, arriving well before our scheduled morning skate.

Needing to clear my head, I lace up and hit the ice.

The worry of how to navigate our relationship, the paparazzi, and juggling my schedule with Celeste and the kids weighs heavy on me as I push across the ice.

My body is sore, so I start out slow, gradually building until my muscles are warm.

As my muscles awaken, everything I'm feeling starts fighting to the surface.

Desire, fear, anxiety, pride, and worry are just a few that pour out as I race across the ice.

It isn't until a shrill whistle rips through the air that my skates stop, spraying a wave of ice.

Coach is standing at the bench, arms crossed and brow furrowed, as I slump forward, my hands resting on my knees as I suck in air.

"Come on over, Mac."

I throw my arms on top of my head as I try to regulate my breathing and make my way over to Coach. "What's up, Coach?"

"You tell me." His gaze is hard.

I try waiting him out but fail miserably.

"Fuck. Take your pick." I huff as I rest my hands on the boards, then step through when Coach opens the gate for me.

"I have a few guesses, but I have a feeling I only need one. From that display you put on the other night, I'd think you two were good."

"We are good. It's everything outside of my control that isn't." I toss my gloves on the bench in frustration.

"What do you mean?" He takes a seat on the bench and waits until I join him.

"Celeste is amazing, and so are her kids.

Her ex is a piece of shit who walked out of their lives and hasn't looked back until he found out about us being together.

He called her the other night and gave her hell, but didn't even remember his baby's birthday or care to acknowledge it.

There's also all of the attention from social media and news outlets that neither of us were expecting. "

"Well, if you wanted a low profile, you fucked yourself by putting her and that baby girl on stage for the entire arena the other night. Hell, that kiss sealed your fate."

"I know." I groan as I run a hand down my face. "That was our first kiss, if you can believe it. I got so wrapped up in her dropping her walls and letting me in that there was no way I was missing out when she was being so vulnerable."

"Hey, I get it, kid. I could see that they were different from the moment you stepped on the ice with her son the first time."

"You were here that night?" Surprise races through me.

"Of course I was here. You think I was going to miss out on watching you trying to woo a single mom and her gremlins? No way in hell, kid." He claps me on the back as I shake my head, a laugh escaping my lips. "So, what's weighing the heaviest on you?"

"Shit, I don't know." I lean back on the bench as I try to figure out what's really dragging me down the most. "Probably that I'm not good enough and I can't be what they need. I want to help Celeste and make her life easier, not make it harder and be a burden."

"I can't ever see you being anyone's burden, especially to someone you care about, son. Why wouldn't you be good enough?"

"There are a million reasons. My career. I've never had kids or spent a ton of time around them; they already have their routines. Celeste has her own claim to fame from modeling, so people will be interested in our relationship although she's trying to raise the kids out of the spotlight. I me—"

"Alright, let's pick that list apart before you start piling more onto it and spiral too far.

The career part is hard, for sure, but you've got a good head on your shoulders.

The away games are the worst, but technology makes it a hell of a lot easier than it used to be.

You can FaceTime and still be present for the kids even if you aren't physically there.

And from what you said about their father, that's way more than he has done since he stepped out.

"As far as not having kids or being around them, that's horse shit.

You're a natural. I've been to enough team events to see how the kiddos flock to you, and you eat it up.

Plus, that baby girl is just as much in love with you as you are with her.

And I know you've been to your fair share of the son's hockey practices. "

"Don't even get me started on that disaster." I groan.

"When he broke his arm? From what I heard, you handled it like a seasoned parent. Kept your cool while the good doc took a look at the little man."

"Yeah, I fucked up with Celeste that night.

It was her first meeting diving back into the modeling world, only as an agent this time, so I called her brother instead of her.

He met us at the hospital, along with her parents, and we got Talon casted and home.

She was livid with me, but her brother assured me she'd understand and everything would work out. "

"Ah, that's a tough situation, but I bet you learned from that one and won't make that mistake again."

"Fuck yeah, I learned my lesson."

"Good. As far as the paps, you know that's an unfortunate by-product that comes with what we do.

Reach out to your agent and Jessa, and see how they think is best to handle your relationship.

You said Celeste was a model and is going to be an agent now.

Is she making a go on her own, or is she working under someone? "

"She's mostly going to be independent, but her agent is helping her get on her feet and sending clients her way."

"Hmm, may not be a bad idea to loop them into the relationship discussion. Getting everyone on the same page is the best plan of attack. If you guys address the story head on, it might work best to keep the kids out of the spotlight."

"I didn't think of that angle, but it makes sense. We'd have the ability to control the narrative."

"Sure would. So, your head feeling any clearer?" Coach surveys me carefully.

"Actually, yeah. I think I just got caught up in a chaotic morning, where I couldn't find my place and everything else that happened over the past few days were all just fighting it out in my head."

"Good. My door's always open. I need your mind clear when you're on the ice. I can't have anything distracting you and you getting hurt out here 'cause you're not totally in the game."

"Thanks, Coach. I won't let that happen. That's why I was here early, to get some extra ice time. It usually works just as well as this talk did."

"That's good, just don't overdo it." He pats me on the back again, then stands and walks down the tunnel towards his office.

I sit in silence as I catalog how I'm feeling about everything now that I talked it out with Coach, and honestly, it's a hell of a lot better than when I got here.

As a professional athlete, I'm no stranger to putting pressure on myself to do and be the best. I just didn't realize how much I was doing that with my relationship with Celeste and the kids.

The silence doesn't last long as my teammates trickle out onto the ice. Today's practice shouldn't be too grueling since we had a day off yesterday. It's the day the coaches ease us back into the swing of things to prepare for our upcoming games.

"You good?" Thor drops on the bench beside me.

"Yeah, just needed to work some things out this morning."

"Everything okay with Celeste and the kids?" Thor's concern for my crew warms me as it reminds me of what a great guy he is.

"Yeah, they're great. It's just been a crazy few days."

"Yeah, I bet. You two are breaking the internet after that kiss. How's she holding up being back in the spotlight?"

"We haven't really talked about it, but we need to. Coach suggested I call my agent, Jessa, and even Celeste to come up with a press release so that we can control the narrative and keep the craziness away from the kids."

"That sounds like a solid plan. The girls are little, so they won't know what's going on, but Talon may get more attention with you two dating."

"Yeah, we're going to have to talk to them about it." I sigh as frustration creeps in when I remember I have to leave tonight for a stretch of away games.

"What's that face for?" Thor bumps his shoulder into mine.

"I just remembered that we have to leave tonight, and I'm not sure if I'll have time to talk to the kids with Celeste before we head out. I don't want to leave the conversation, since it's important, but I also don't want to have it on the phone either."

"I checked the schedule before I laced up. We don't have to be here until 9pm tonight. You should be able to see your gang before we have to leave. Now quit being so melancholic, and let’s go skate circles around these newbies." Thor punches my arm, then launches himself over the boards.

I hurry after Thor and quickly catch him, my body already warm from my early laps on the ice. We do not skate circles around the rookies, but we do school them with years of hard-learned knowledge. The little shits are fast, but we've got bulk and brains on our side.