“Let’s get you changed,” I say. “Isn’t it good the grumpy woman is gone? Right?”
He stares at me, probably wondering why I’m trying to force cheerfulness when things have never been so terrible.
Gaby should be living her happily ever after with Luca, but a truck driver who never should have been allowed to be behind the wheel of a commercial vehicle changed everything.
I take Luca into the bathroom and plop him into the shower. I turn the water on, and he screams.
Shit.
“I’m sorry, Luca. You don’t like it in your eyes. I’m sorry.”
He sobs, and I deserve it. I scoop him from the shower and turn the water on in the tub. I continue to apologize, and he continues to cry.
“Your uncle’s going to make a phone call,” I say. “I’ll be as quick as I can.”
I open my phone, then remember I never got around to programming in the nanny company.
I try to scroll to when I last called them, then click on a Cambridge number.
“Good afternoon, Cambridge Hill Hotel,” a bright voice says.
“S-sorry,” I stammer. “Wrong number.”
I hang up the phone and carry Luca to the couch. I start to sit, then remember we’re both dirty. I return to the bathroom and place him on the counter, standing in front of him so he doesn’t fall.
“One moment, Luca.” I frantically scroll through the phone.
I find the agency’s number and call, while Luca watches me from the counter, still sniffling.
“Someone will be there in an hour,” the voice promises.
An hour. I can survive for an hour.
I hang up and look at Luca. His blue-green eyes stare back at me.
Tomorrow I play my first game as a Blizzard. Tomorrow I share the ice with the man who abandoned my sister.
“It’s going to be okay,” I tell Luca.
I’m not sure which of us I’m lying to.
CHAPTER
THREE
Axel
Coach walks into the locker room, and I’m ready to explain exactly why putting Enzo on this team is a disaster.
“I’ve made some line changes.” Coach looks around. “Where’s Bellanti?”
The space under Enzo’s stall—his name already laser-etched on a brass plate, is empty.
“He’s not here,” I say. “Guess he’s not taking it seriously.”
Coach’s jaw tightens. “I’ll share the changes with him later. Knight, you play center now.”
“Evan plays center.”
