The guys mauled him. All I heard was “Best food of my life!” and “You took the ice’s virginity!”
But when Rob stepped forward with Carter, the entire hallway quieted.
“Good game, bud.” Rob said.
Logan seemed at a loss for words as he crouched and touched Carter’s hand. “Can’t believe this. He’s so cute.”
“Do you want to hold him?”
Logan’s face went white. “I don’t—I’ve never held a baby before.”
Rob pulled out his arm. “It’s a football, that’s it.” He set Carter into Logan’s cradle, and Logan’s eyes went wide.
“He feels like air.”
Shar laughed. “Not after four hours.”
Logan looked up and met her eyes. “You did good.”
“So did you.”
Rob grunted. “Except that shift in the second. Looked a little sleepy.”
Logan smirked. “You say that while I’m holding your son?”
The guys chatted for a few minutes. Reminiscing, hockey talk. Another moment that felt like a cozy blanket.
I was talking with Maddie when Logan appeared next to me. “Good day?”
I paused mid-sentence and turned. “I’ve had better.”
“Obviously.” Logan could barely contain his glee. “Did they do everything? Breakfast, lunch, and?—”
“They did more than everything, and I can’t believe you put them up to that.” I was half aware of the eyes on me, but I couldn’t stop smiling. “That was probably the nicest thing anyone’s done for me.”
“Yeah?” He glanced up to see if anyone heard it, brushing off his shoulder.
“Okay stop, forget I said anything.” I pretended to push him, but he caught my arm. My whole body went still.
“You had a good time?”
I nodded, blood rushing in my ears. “The best.”
He soaked that in, then dropped my wrist. “Okay. Good.”
“Thank you.”
“You’re welcome.”
The air between us thickened, the noise from the conversation around us blending into a low hum.
“Yo, Kemp!” someone shouted, jarring me out of the moment.
Logan turned and held up a finger, then looked back at me. “You want to come out?”
A rope seemed to yank at my middle.Yes. I’d love to.“No, I have to pack. I’m heading home for the weekend. Helping with Christmas prep.”
Logan’s face fell. “Oh. I didn’t realize that was tomorrow.”
