Page 31 of The Winning Hat Trick (The Steel City Knights #1)

The rest of breakfast is filled with light, laughter, and messiness, and I wouldn't change a second of it.

I have to rush to make it to the arena on time, but I wouldn't change a thing if I had the chance.

I finally feel like everything I want is falling into place, and this press conference will hopefully get the vultures off our backs and let us continue to settle into this new world we are building together.

"Will you stop pacing?" Thor grumbles from one of the chairs set up for the press conference.

"Sorry, I can't help it. I need her to get here already."

"Dude, calm the hell down. She's still got a few minutes before she said she'd be here. Plus, she's got all three kids to get ready and all of the shit they'll need for the rest of the day. I'm sure that's a lot to handle."

"Fuck." I run a hand through my hair. "You're right. I know you're right." I flop in the chair beside him.

"Why are you so worked up about this all of the sudden? You were fine at lunch and during the morning skate."

"I don't know." And I really don't.

If you asked me an hour ago if I was worried about this press conference, I would've said no and meant it. But sitting here in this room while I wait for Celeste to arrive has anxiety coursing through my body as if we are tied with only seconds left to win the Stanley Cup.

"You two are solid. Your agent, hers, and Jessa hand-picked the reporters who will be here. It's going to be fine."

"Logically, I know you're right. I swear I was completely fine with everything this morning. I don't know why I'm so freaked right now. I think I'll be fine as soon as she gets here. I—"

Just then, I hear them—Celeste urging the kids to hurry up, Calla whining about something, Talon grumbling as only a big brother can, and Layla babbling away. Relief fills my veins, and everything is right in my world again.

"I'm so sorry we're cutting it close. Talon couldn't find your jersey, then Calla had a meltdown because she couldn't find the stuffy she wanted when it was in the car the whole time." Celeste is frazzled as she drops a huge bag at her feet, then readjusts a squirming Layla in her arms.

Closing the distance between us, I pluck Layla from her arms and hold her on my hip. With my other arm, I pull Celeste to me and kiss the hell out of her.

The startled gasp that escapes her lips lets me plunge my tongue into her mouth as I lick away both of our anxiety, and my woman melts in my arms. Slow clapping pulls me from my Celeste-filled haze.

"Damn, girl. I've seen the pictures, but you two are fire together." A stunning woman in sky-high heels, jeans, a Knights tank, and a sleek blazer smirks beside us.

"Aunt Gabbie!" Talon yells, then lunges at the woman.

"Hey, punk. How are you? How's the arm feel?" She scoops him up with ease, which is even more impressive with the heels she's wearing.

"Ugh, it's so itchy," Talon whines. "But Mac and Mom said it gets to come off soon."

"Oh, that's exciting. Just in time for Halloween."

"Yes, and Mac said I might even be able to play in a few of my hockey games."

"Is that so?" Gabriella turns towards me.

"It depends on what his doctor says, but kids heal way faster than adults do.

Plus, he's got the best physical therapists at his disposal, so I have no doubts he'll be bouncing back and be able to play a game or two.

" I squeeze Talon's shoulder. Reaching out a hand to Gabriella, I introduce myself.

"Hi, I'm Maclan, or Mac. It's nice to finally meet you. "

"Gabriella, and it's a pleasure."

"Oh, good! You've met." Della comes in like the storm that she is and stops beside me.

"Hey, Del." Turning towards Cel, I pull her to my side. "I'd like you to meet Celeste."

The ladies fall into comfortable conversation, and Jessa joins them, so I snag the kids and head over to Thor.

"Still nervous?"

"Not at all. How can I be with this girl in my arms, her brother and sister playing happily, and their gorgeous mom just a few feet away?" I nod towards Celeste as she laughs at something Gabriella said.

"Good. You've got nothing to be nervous about. Don't let anything that the press say, or try to stir up, get in your head because what you've got here is fucking special." Thor stands, then joins Calla and Talon.

"Alright, big guy. It's time to hand over the baby. The press are starting to show up, and we all decided it would be best if the kids are out of the spotlight, hence doing this whole pony show." Della has her tablet in her hand as she scrolls on it, not paying much attention to me.

"Fine, if I must."

Hearing the pout in my voice, Della finally looks up and giggles.

I squish my face against Layla's, and we're both giving Della our best puppy-dog eyes.

Suddenly, she has her tablet up and is snapping a picture.

"That might have been the cutest thing I've ever seen. Especially since you're in your Knights gear and she's wearing your jersey." Della does a happy dance while Layla and I are still stunned. "But seriously, hand over the cutie patootie. We're about to let the reporters in."

Celeste and I say goodbye to the kids then make our way to the small stage that we use for post-game interviews.

"Are you ready?" I pull her chair out for her to sit.

"As ready as I'll ever be to sit for a room full of reporters who want to scrutinize my love life." She glowers.

"At least we get to tackle this together."

"That's true. We've got this."

I smile at her as I take her hand in mine.

Gabriella calls out to us to make sure we're ready, then opens the door.

I'm surprised to see how many reporters are filling the room.

Sure, I play professional hockey and Celeste was a top model, but I really didn't think our relationship would garner this much attention.

I recognize several reporters from the major sports networks in the audience, but there are several unfamiliar faces.

The press conference starts out well enough, with the reporters throwing out easy questions. I start to relax the longer the interview goes on and am relieved that most of the reporters seem to respect our desire to keep the kids out of the spotlight.

We're almost done with the interviews when a woman in the back raises her hand.

"Yes?" I point in her direction.

"Maclan, it seems you've taken to parenthood quite easily where Celeste's children are concerned." She pauses.

"Sorry, I didn't catch your name, but we'd like to keep the kids and my relationship with them out of the spotlight as much as possible," I remind the woman as an evil glint flashes across her face.

"I can understand that since you don't seem to want to have any responsibility for your own child."

"Excuse me? What the hell are you talking about?" I'm stunned as the room erupts around me.

"Isn't this your child?" She holds up a tablet with an adorable baby whom I've never seen in my life. "According to their mother, you've been informed and yet want nothing to do with your own child but have no problem helping raise someone else's."

"I have no idea what you're going on about but—"

"That's enough." Della steps in, but the damage is done. "This is a baseless claim that my client has obviously been blindsided with. We will not be taking any further questions. Let's go." She grabs my arm and tugs hard.

Still holding Celeste's hand, I drag her with me as we hustle out of the press room and into the hallway. "What the fuck was that, Della? Who was that?" I growl as anger races through me at the audacity of that woman who tried to destroy everything I've been building.

"I didn't recognize her." Della types frantically on her cellphone. "I'm not familiar with the reporters from the modeling world. Where the hell is Gabriella?" Della turns to see a frazzled Jessa coming to join us in the hall.

"Could it be true?" Celeste asks quietly from beside me, tears in her eyes, and it feels like I've been shot in my heart.

Does she really think I could've fathered a child and left them on their own?

"No, gorgeous. At least not the part where I knowingly abandoned a potential child, which you should fucking know," I growl, the hurt bleeding through my words.

Celeste winces. "Mac, I—"

"Ashford," Coach barks from the other end of the hallway, where he's talking to Jessa. "Come.”

"I have to go. You've got Thor's number. Take the kids home. There will be too many eyes on them if you stay for the game." I start walking towards Coach.

"Mac, I—"

I can hear her voice crack, but I can't turn around.

I know I need to fix whatever the hell is going on, but the fact that Celeste could even for a second think that what the reporter said is true is crushing. I feel like I've shown her the man I am, and for her to think I would willingly walk away from my own child means she doesn't know me at all.

I can't deal with her breaking my fucking heart, so I square my shoulders and make my way towards Coach and Jessa.

"I have to go. I'll talk to you later, Celeste." Unable to help myself, I stop and glance over my shoulder. "Let me know when you and the kids get home safely."

Then I walk out of the hallway as Celeste's cries fill my ears and break my heart a little more.