Her concerned tone made him twist to face her at last. The soft hurt radiating from her gaze battered Liam’s defenses, holding him immobile.
“I just think you deserve to be treated with more dignity, that’s all,” she continued. “As a person, not just a commodity with an expiration date.”
Liam was the one who had to look away then, his chest clenching. Because dammit, even when he insisted on wallowing in the mire of his humiliation, Sunny still saw him. Truly saw the man beneath the snarling facade and gruff defensiveness, flaws and all. He was scared. Unsure. Insecure.
He was spared having to formulate a response by Hailey choosing that moment to unleash a jaw-cracking yawn.
“I’m sleepy, daddy,” she mumbled, rubbing her eyes with her tiny knuckles as she swayed against Sunny’s legs. “And hungry. Can we eat now?”
The interruption lanced the tension enveloping the adults. Liam felt the familiar parental affection unfurl through his chest as he reached out to scoop Hailey into his arms, breathing in her clean little girl scent like a balm.
“You got it, kiddo,” he rasped, flashing her a small but genuine smile. “How ‘bout we all go get the biggest stack of pancakes in town to celebrate how awesome your daddy was on the ice today, huh?”
The infectious giggles at his sarcasm lifted Liam’s spirits marginally. As if sensing the heaviness had finally passed, Maddie sidled up to hug his thick leg.
“I’m pretty sure you got your butt kicked out there,” she announced with her trademark six-year-old cheek. “But pancakes would definitely help!”
Liam barked out a surprised laugh at her astuteness, glancing sidelong at Sunny as her own tinkling chuckles filled the mild springair.
As he ushered them into the SUV, Liam made a vow to be more mindful around his children. His struggles with envisioning life after hockey were his own cross to bear — his daughters deserved for their father to be mentally and emotionally present, not constantly distracted by his internal struggle over an uncertain future.
Sunny too, if he was being completely honest. She had stepped up time and time again to handle his baggage with more sensitivity and grace than he deserved. The very least he could do was honor her optimism by striving to meet it in kind.
Despite the lingering ache of humiliation, he felt some of the darkness dogging him since the disastrous practice begin to lift, simply from being surrounded by his favorite girls. All three of them.
Sunny
Sunny hummed contentedly as she prepared breakfast. The kitchen filled with the aroma of freshly brewed coffee and sizzling bacon. She glanced at the clock, knowing Liam would be along any minute, accompanied by the pitter-patter of Maddie and Hailey’s feet.
The thought of Liam brought a flush to her cheeks. While she felt a twinge of guilt every time she looked at the girls, she couldn’t deny the thrill of the clandestine arrangement with their father.
Following the drama of hockey practice yesterday, Sunny had found a way to perk Liam up last night with a practice session of her own.
The sound of the doorbell pierced through her lewd reverie.
Frowning, she wiped her hands on her apron. It was too early for visitors.
She hurried to the front door, noticing a sleek black Audi parked in the driveway through a glass panel.
She pulled open the door and felt her breath catch in her throat. Standing on the other side was a woman Sunny recognized from family pictures scattered around the house. Morgan Anderson — Liam’s sister.
Her designer heels clicked on the ground as she strode towards the door after having gone back to the car to retrieve a case.
Sunny’s stomach clenched. Liam’s sister was the epitome ofsophistication, with her perfectly coiffed blonde hair, expensive shades and tailored designer pantsuit. But behind that polished exterior lurked a heart as cold as the ice Liam played on, if he was to be believed.
“Good morning, Miss Thompson,” Morgan said, her voice dripping with exaggerated sweetness as Sunny opened the door. “I hope I’m not interrupting your… duties.”
“Not at all, Miss Anderson. Please, come in.”
Sunny stepped aside, trying to ignore the way Morgan’s eyes swept over her, lingering on her simple jeans and grease-stained apron with thinly veiled disdain.
“So you know who I am, good,” she replied, as if she were a Hollywood icon, as opposed to a divorcee living off the alimony provided by her hedge fund manager ex-husband.
“Where’s my brother?” Morgan asked, not bothering with niceties as she strode into the foyer.
“He’s just with the girls. They should be along soon for breakfast.” Sunny gestured towards the kitchen. “Would you like some coffee while you wait?”
Morgan’s lips thinned.
