By the time we reach baggage claim, my arms ache, and my nerves are frayed. I sway Savannah gently while we wait for the carousel to bring our suitcases into view.
“Do you want me to hold her while you grab your bag?” Nalani asks, looking like she could use the calm Savannah brings, and since I also need two or more hands, I hand her over.
While waiting for my luggage, I watch as Nalani smiles at my daughter and talks to her as they pace back and forth, never leaving my peripheral vision. I can tell she’s staying within eyesight to ease a worry she sees that I thought I was masking. I make a mental note to mask up so that none of my fears can be seen when I meet with Kyle tomorrow.
I see my bags, Savannah’s stroller, and car seat, and quickly grab them.
As I head toward them, I see a very large man, who looks familiar, talking to her as she juggles her phone while holding Savannah against her.
As I approach, he and another large man walk away, and it hits me, they’re Bears players.
“Was that the NHL player they call …” I lower my voice, “The Cock?”
She nods. “Yeah.”
“Word of advice?” I say, taking Savannah and setting her in the stroller. “Stay away from the athletic ones; they’ll cause you nothing but heartache.”
“Why do I feel like you’re speaking from experience?” she asks, grabbing the handle of the luggage cart.
I feel my eyes burn, “My ex is a hockey player.” Ex is an exaggeration, but he is in fact an ex.
“Savannah’s father?” She asks.
“I was here for an internship. We only dated, or hooked up, or whatever, for a couple of months. I found out I was pregnant when I went back to start my last semester. I did the responsible thing and told him. He called me a gold digger.”
“Are you kidding me?” She asks, anger in her tone.
“Honestly, it was the biggest relief of my life. I would graduate with my doctorate in psychology a few weeks before she was born, and then it would be her and I. Now he’s demanding to meet her, which is fine, but I’m so afraid he will try to get shared custody. I have a job lined up in Texas; he plays in LA.”
“For the Lancers?” She asks.
“Yeah. He was traded from the Bears.” I shake my head. “He was so angry they kept Deacon and not him. Truth? Deacon is a legend.” I lift a shoulder. “Kyle’s flying in tomorrow, a day before their game, to meet Savannah.” I force a laugh. “I can’t believe I’m laying this all on you.”
“You going to the game?” She asks.
“Not sure it’s the best place for a baby. Why? Do you need a wing woman and a half to live out a puck bunny fantasy? If so, let me be your cautionary tale.”
She shrugs. “Koa Olu Kelekolio—aka, The Cock—never disappointed me. I disappointed him.”
“What?” I ask, shocked.
“I’ll tell you all about it on our way to your hotel.”
“Are you sure it’s not out of your way?” I ask again.
“Yep, she thinks I’m crazy.” Nalani laughs to herself as she pulls her phone from her pocket, manages to scroll a bit while pushing the luggage cart, and hands it to me. “I screwed up.”
I scroll through and see picture after picture of her and Koa and then I seemy letters. “Wait—you were K.E.T?”
“Once K.E.T, always K.E.T.” I hold up both hands and make our sisterhood sign.
“We’re sisters!”
The city feels tooloud and too gray after having Savannah and our time in Maui. A distraction from the ease I expected as we moved to Houston and started our life, I not only imagined but promised to her. Not that Houston is a small town, but New York is just so big, and yes, I know what the chaotic feelings I am beating back with a damn stick are all because of Kyle and whatever confrontation will be had.
By the time the cab pulls up in front of the hotel, my nerves are frayed, but Savannah is peacefully sleeping in her car seat, her tiny head tilted to the side, soft breaths steady in the dark.
When the vehicle pulls in front of the hotel and stops, I step out first, squaring my shoulders against the wind, and look up at the building Kyle booked for us.
